Manuscript # 1

FIRST READING (Genesis 3:9-15)

RATIONALE: The first man and woman fall from God’s favor
because of their decision to eat of the forbidden tree. But even in
disappointment God sees hope for his greatest creatures.

AFTER THE MAN, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the
man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the
garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he
asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the
tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom
you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The
LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The
woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you
shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your
belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put
enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he
will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”

The word of the Lord.

Manuscript # 2

FIRST READING (Isaiah 49:1-6)

RATIONALE: Isaiah narrates how, from his mother’s womb, God has
called him to be a prophet. He is being commissioned by God o be a
light to the nations and not only for Israel.

HEAR me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from
birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-
edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a
polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my
strength, yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am
made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is
too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and
restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my
salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The word of the Lord.

Manuscript # 3

FIRST READING (1 Peter 4:7-13)

RATIONALE: In love and right action will we prove our union with God. St.
Peter tells us to cleanse to Christ during our trials in order to share later in the
Lord’s glory.

BELOVED: The end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and sober-
minded so that you will be able to pray. Above all, let your love for one another
be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one
another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve
one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it
be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God
supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if

something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you
share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may
also rejoice exultantly.
Manuscript # 4

FIRST READING (Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48)

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the pagan Cornelius and his family reveals
to Peter that God’s love embraces even the Gentiles. True faith in God
challenges us to go beyond our blood ties and narrow convictions and reach
out to others.

WHEN PETER entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him
homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a
human being.”

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no
partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is
acceptable to him.”

While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who
were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied
Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured
out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and
glorifying God. Then Peter responded, “Can anyone withhold the water for
baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.