First Reading Zechariah 12:9-12,13:1-9 © ‘When that day comes, I shall set myself to destroy all the nations who advance against Jerusalem. But over the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem I will pour out a spirit of kindness and prayer. They will look on the one whom they have pierced; they will mourn for him as for an only son, and weep for him as people weep for a first-born child. When that day comes, there will be great mourning in Judah, like the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the country will mourn clan by clan. ‘When that day comes, a fountain will be opened for the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem, for sin and impurity. ‘When that day comes – it is the Lord (of Hosts) who speaks – I am going to root out the names of the idols from the country, and they shall never be mentioned again; and I will also rid the country of the prophets, and of the spirit of impurity. If anyone still wants to prophesy, his father and the mother who gave him birth shall say to him, “You have no right to live, since you utter lies in the name of the Lord.” And while he is prophesying, his father and the mother who gave him birth shall run him through. When that day comes, every prophet shall be ashamed of his prophetic vision; they will no longer put on their hair cloaks to utter their lies, but they will all say, “I am no prophet. I am a peasant; the land has been my living ever since I was a boy.” And if anyone asks him, “Then what are these wounds on your body?” he will reply, “ These I received in the house of my friends.” ‘Awake, sword, against my shepherd and against the man who is my companion – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks. I am going to strike the shepherd so that the sheep may be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the weak. And it will happen throughout this territory – it is the Lord who speaks – that two-thirds in it will be cut off (‘will be killed’) and the remaining third will be left. I will lead that third into the fire, and refine them as silver is refined, test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name and I shall listen; and I shall say: These are my people; and each will say, “The Lord is my God!”’ Responsory You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. Let the sword be unsheathed against my shepherd and against the man who is my companion – it is the Lord who speaks. I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:16:03 +0000
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