Category: Bible Reading

Here are important passages of the Bible, from various translations, that help us celebrate the liturgical year like Christmas, Easter, and Lent.

Lenten Prayer for Forgiveness

Lent 2025 begins today, Wednesday, March 5, it ends Saturday, April 19. This is Psalm 51:1-17, it is an appropriate prayer to pray every day during Lent.

God, be merciful to me
    because you are loving.
Because you are always ready to be merciful,
    wipe out all my wrongs.
Wash away all my guilt
    and make me clean again.

I know about my wrongs.
    I can’t forget my sin.
You are the one I have sinned against.
    I have done what you say is wrong.
So you are right when you speak.
    You are fair when you judge me.
I was brought into this world in sin.
    In sin my mother gave birth to me.

You want me to be completely truthful.
    So teach me wisdom.
Take away my sin, and I will be clean.
    Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness.
    Let the bones you crushed be happy again.
Turn your face from my sins.
    Wipe out all my guilt.

Create in me a pure heart, God.
    Make my spirit right again.
Do not send me away from you.
    Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.
Give me back the joy that comes when you save me.
    Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong.
    And sinners will turn back to you.

God, save me from the guilt of murder.
    God, you are the one who saves me.
    I will sing about your goodness.
Lord, let me speak
    so I may praise you.
You are not pleased by sacrifices.
    Otherwise, I would give them.
    You don’t want burnt offerings.
The sacrifice God wants is a willing spirit.
    God, you will not reject
    a heart that is broken and sorry for its sin.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Version: ICB

Wise Men from the East

A Reading from Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Christ Born of Mary

A Reading from Luke 2:1-20

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.