St. Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

December 7, 2023

Saints

Daily Readings:

  • First Reading

    Isaiah 26:1-6

    1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. 2Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. 3Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. 4Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. 5For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. 6The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

    1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! 8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation. 25Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success! 26Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!

  • Gospel

    Matthew 7:21, 24-27

    21"Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 24"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

  • First Reading

    Ephesians 3:8-12

    8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him.

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 89:2-5, 21-22, 25, 27

    1I will sing of thy steadfast love, O LORD, for ever; with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations. 2For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens. 3Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 4`I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations.'" [Selah] 20I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him; 21so that my hand shall ever abide with him, my arm also shall strengthen him. 24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 26He shall cry to me, `Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'

  • Gospel

    John 10:11-16

    11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, 15as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.