Gospel and Saint of the day: 19 January 2020

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Isaiah 49, 3. 5-6

The Lord said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, on whom I will show my glory." Now the Lord has spoken, who has molded me his servant from the womb to bring back Jacob and him to reunite Israel - since I had been honored by the Lord and God had been my strength - and said: «It is too little that you are my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel. I will make you light of the nations, because you will bring my salvation to the end of the earth ».
God's word.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (From Psalm 39)

A: Behold, Lord, I am coming to do your will.

I hoped, I hoped in the Lord,

and he bent over me,

he listened to my cry.

He put a new song on my mouth,

a praise to our God. R.

Sacrifice and offering you do not like,

your ears opened to me,

you did not ask for a burnt offering or a sin offering.

So I said, "Here, I'm coming." R.

"It's written on the scroll of the book about me

to do your will:

my God, this I desire;

your law is within me ». R.

I have announced your justice

in the big assembly;

see: I don't keep my lips closed,

Sir, you know it. R.

SECOND READING
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
From the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Corinthians 1 Cor 1, 1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and his brother Sostene, to the Church of God in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by call, together with all those who everywhere they invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and them: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
God's word

From the Gospel according to John 1,29-34

At that time, John, seeing Jesus coming towards him, said: “Here is the lamb of God, the one who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one of whom I said: "After me comes a man who is ahead of me, because he was before me." I didn't know him, but I came to baptize in the water, so that he would be manifested to Israel. " John testified by saying: “I have contemplated the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and staying on him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize in the water said to me: “The one on whom you will see the Spirit descend and remain, it is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. "

19 JANUARY

SAINT PONZIANO OF SPOLETO

(in Spoleto it is remembered on January 14th)

The young Ponziano of Spoleto, of a local noble family of the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, during one night would have had a dream, in which the Lord told him to become one of his servants. So Ponziano began to preach the name of the Lord, fighting the persecutions of Christians promoted by Judge Fabiano. Tradition has it that when he was arrested a judge asked him what his name was and he replied "I am Ponziano but you can call me Cristiano". During the arrest he was subjected to three tests: he was thrown into the cage of the lions, but the lions did not approach, on the contrary, they let themselves be caressed; he was made to walk on hot coals, but passed without problems; he was put without water and food, but the angels of the Lord brought him food and water. Eventually he was led on a bridge where his head was cut. The martyrdom would have occurred on January 14, 175. Patron of the city of Spoleto. He is considered protector against earthquakes: an earthquake occurred at the time of his beheading and again on January 14, 1703 there was the first shock of a series that would have ravaged the area for about twenty years, without making victims.

PRAYERS

To you, young Ponziano, faithful witness of Christ, patron of the city and of the diocese, our admired praise and our prayers: look at this people who entrust themselves to your protection; teach us to follow Jesus way, truth and life; intercede peace and prosperity for our families; protect our young people so that, like you, they grow strong and generous on the way of the Gospel; preserve us from the evil of the soul and the body; defend us from natural disasters; obtain for all the grace and blessing of God.