First Reading

First reading

Reading from the first book of Samuel 

1 Samuel 16, 1b. 6-7. 10-13a

In those days, the Lord said to Samuel: “Go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have chosen a king from among his sons. Fill your horn with oil to anoint him, and go.”

When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem and saw Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, he thought: “Surely this is the one to anoint as king.” But the Lord said to him: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Thus, seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel; but Samuel said to Jesse: “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse: “Are all your sons here?” He replied: “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse: “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” And Jesse sent and brought him in.

Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said to Samuel: “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.

Second reading

Reading from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Efesios 5, 8-14

Brothers and sisters: Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John 

Jn 9, 1. 6-9. 13-17. 34-38

At that time, as Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 

But they brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had come to see. He answered them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He answered, “He is a prophet.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.