＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊  Gen 41:55–57; 42:5–7a, 17–24a

When the land of Egypt began to suffer from the famine, the people came to Pharaoh for bread. But Pharaoh told all the Egyptians,    “Go to Joseph and do as he tells you.”

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, priest 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

 Gen 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67

 Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years. She died at Kiriatharba —that is Hebron—in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to weep and mourn for Sarah.  Abraham left his dead one and spoke to the Hittites,““I am only a stranger among you; give me a burial place among you, so that I may bury my dead.” After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah. Abraham was now old and well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed him in every way.  

 Abraham said to his senior servant, who was his steward, “Put your hand under my thigh and you will swear to me by Yahweh, God of heaven and earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom we live; rather it is to my country and my kinsfolk that you will go to choose a wife for my son, Isaac.”

The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not want to follow me to this country. In that case should I take your son to the country you came from?” Abraham said to him,  “In no way will you take my son back. For Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and swore to me that he would give this country to my race. He will send his angel before you, that you may find a wife for my son. But if the woman is unwilling to follow you,you will be free of this oath.

In any case you are not to take my son down there.” Now Isaac had come from the well of Lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negeb.  As Isaac went out in the early evening to meditate in the field, he looked up and saw camels coming. Rebekah also looked up and when she saw Isaac she alighted from her camel and said to the servant,     “Who is this man in the field coming to meet us?” He replied, “It is my master!” She then covered her face with her veil. The servant related to Isaac all that he had done and Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of Sarah, his mother. He made her his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest & Companions, martys 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊ Genesis 32: 23-33

He took them and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, married woman, queen 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Gen 22: 1b–19*

 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you.”

Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac.(…..) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to the young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife.  As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, “Father! And Abraham replied, “Yes, my son?” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.”

They went on, the two of them together, until they came to the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son.

But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son.”(……)

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊       Gen 28:10–22a

  Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place the sun had set and he spent the night there.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, married woman, queen 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Gen 22: 1b–19*

 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you.”

Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac.(…..) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to the young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife.  As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, “Father! And Abraham replied, “Yes, my son?” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.”

They went on, the two of them together, until they came to the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son.

But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son.”(……)

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Is 66:10–14

Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her.   

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, married woman, queen 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Gen 22: 1b–19*

 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you.”

Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac.(…..) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to the young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife.  As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, “Father! And Abraham replied, “Yes, my son?” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.”

They went on, the two of them together, until they came to the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son.

But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son.”(……)

Blessed Virgin Mary /St. Maria Goretti, virgin & martyr 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊   Gen 27:1–5, 15–29

  (…..)Jacob went to his father and said, “Father!” He answered, “Yes, my son, who is it?” and Jacob said to his father, “It is Esau, your firstborn; I have done what you told me to do. Come, sit up and eat my game so that you may give me your blessing.”

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, married woman, queen 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Gen 22: 1b–19*

 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you.”

Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac.(…..) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to the young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife.  As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, “Father! And Abraham replied, “Yes, my son?” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.”

They went on, the two of them together, until they came to the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son.

But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son.”(……)