Lecturas del día

Oración matutina — primera lectura

Judith 11

Este libro no tiene ninguna edición de dominio público en tu idioma, por lo que este pasaje se muestra en inglés.

Holofernes said to her, “Woman, take courage. Don’t be afraid in your heart; for I never hurt anyone who has chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth. And now, if your people who dwell in the hill country had not slighted me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to themselves. And now tell me why you fled from them and came to us; for you have come to save yourself. Take courage! You will live tonight, and hereafter; for there is no one that will wrong you, but all will treat you well, as is done to the servants of king Nebuchadnezzar my lord.” And Judith said to him, “Receive the words of your servant, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night. If you will follow the words of your handmaid, God will bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord will not fail to accomplish his purposes. As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who has sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the beasts of the field, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live through your strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house. For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It has been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war. And now as concerning the matter which Achior spoke in your council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you. Therefore, O lord and master, don’t neglect his word; but lay it up in your heart, for it is true; for our race will not be punished, neither will the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God. And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whenever they do wickedness. Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to lay hands upon their cattle, and determined to consume all those things which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat. They are resolved to spend the first fruits of the corn, and the tenths of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified and reserved for the priests who stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem; which things it is not fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands. They have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders. It will be, when brings them word, and they do it, they will be given to you to be destroyed the same day. Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it. For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I will stay with you, and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins. Then I will come and show it also to you. Then you shall go out with all your army, and there will be none of them that will resist you. And I will lead you through the midst of Judea, until you come to Jerusalem. I will set your seat in the midst of it. You will drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog will not so much as open his mouth before you; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.” Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marveled at her wisdom, and said, “There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face and wisdom of words.” Holofernes said to her, “God did well to send you before the people, that might would be in our hands, and destruction among those who slighted my lord. And now you are beautiful in your countenance, and wise in your words. If you will do as you have spoken, your God will be my God, and you will dwell in the house of king Nebuchadnezzar, and will be renowned through the whole earth.”

Oración matutina — segunda lectura

Marcos 13

Y SALIENDO del templo, le dice uno de sus discípulos: Maestro, mira qué piedras, y qué edificios. Y Jesús respondiendo, le dijo: ¿Ves estos grandes edificios? no quedará piedra sobre piedra que no sea derribada. Y sentándose en el monte de las Olivas delante del templo, le preguntaron aparte Pedro y Jacobo y Juan y Andrés: Dinos, ¿cuándo serán estas cosas? ¿y qué señal habrá cuando todas estas cosas han de cumplirse? Y Jesús respondiéndoles, comenzó á decir: Mirad, que nadie os engañe; Porque vendrán muchos en mi nombre, diciendo: Yo soy el Cristo; y engañaran á muchos. Mas cuando oyereis de guerras y de rumores de guerras no os turbéis, porque conviene hacerse así; mas aun no será el fin. Porque se levantará nación contra nación, y reino contra reino; y habrá terremotos en muchos lugares, y habrá hambres y alborotos; principios de dolores serán estos. Mas vosotros mirad por vosotros: porque os entregarán en los concilios, y en sinagogas seréis azotados: y delante de presidentes y de reyes seréis llamados por causa de mí, en testimonio á ellos. Y á todas las gentes conviene que el evangelio sea predicado antes. Y cuando os trajeren para entregaros, no premeditéis qué habéis de decir, ni lo penséis: mas lo que os fuere dado en aquella hora, eso hablad; porque no sois vosotros los que habláis, sino el Espíritu Santo. Y entregará á la muerte el hermano al hermano, y el padre al hijo: y se levantarán los hijos contra los padres, y los matarán. Y seréis aborrecidos de todos por mi nombre: mas el que perseverare hasta el fin, éste será salvo. Empero cuando viereis la abominación de asolamiento, que fué dicha por el profeta Daniel, que estará donde no debe (el que lee, entienda), entonces los que estén en Judea huyan á los montes; Y el que esté sobre el terrado, no descienda á la casa, ni entre para tomar algo de su casa; Y el que estuviere en el campo, no vuelva atrás á tomar su capa. Mas ¡ay de las preñadas, y de las que criaren en aquellos días! Orad pues, que no acontezca vuestra huída en invierno. Porque aquellos días serán de aflicción, cual nunca fué desde el principio de la creación que crió Dios, hasta este tiempo, ni será. Y si el Señor no hubiese abreviado aquellos días, ninguna carne se salvaría; mas por causa de los escogidos que él escogió, abrevió aquellos días. Y entonces si alguno os dijere: He aquí, aquí está el Cristo; ó, He aquí, allí está, no le creáis. Porque se levantarán falsos Cristos y falsos profetas, y darán señales y prodigios, para engañar, si se pudiese hacer, aun á los escogidos. Mas vosotros mirad; os lo he dicho antes todo. Empero en aquellos días, después de aquella aflicción, el sol se obscurecerá, y la luna no dará su resplandor; Y las estrellas caerán del cielo, y las virtudes que están en los cielos serán conmovidas; Y entonces verán al Hijo del hombre, que vendrá en las nubes con mucha potestad y gloria. Y entonces enviará sus ángeles, y juntará sus escogidos de los cuatro vientos, desde el cabo de la tierra hasta el cabo del cielo. De la higuera aprended la semejanza: Cuando su rama ya se enternece, y brota hojas, conocéis que el verano está cerca: Así también vosotros, cuando viereis hacerse estas cosas, conoced que está cerca, á las puertas. De cierto os digo que no pasará esta generación, que todas estas cosas no sean hechas. El cielo y la tierra pasarán, mas mis palabras no pasarán. Empero de aquel día y de la hora, nadie sabe; ni aun los ángeles que están en el cielo, ni el Hijo, sino el Padre. Mirad, velad y orad: porque no sabéis cuándo será el tiempo. Como el hombre que partiéndose lejos, dejó su casa, y dió facultad á sus siervos, y á cada uno su obra, y al portero mandó que velase: Velad pues, porque no sabéis cuándo el señor de la casa vendrá; si á la tarde, ó á la media noche, ó al canto del gallo, ó á la mañana; Porque cuando viniere de repente, no os halle durmiendo. Y las cosas que á vosotros digo, á todos las dijo: Velad.

Oración vespertina — primera lectura

Judith 12

Este libro no tiene ninguna edición de dominio público en tu idioma, por lo que este pasaje se muestra en inglés.

He commanded that she should be brought in where his silver vessels were set, and asked that his servants should prepare some of his own meats for her, and that she should drink from his own wine. And Judith said, “I will not eat of it, lest there be an occasion of stumbling: but provision will be made for me of the things that have come with me.” And Holofernes said to her, “But if the things that are with you should fail, from where will we be able to give you more like it? For there is none of your race with us.” And Judith said to him, “As your soul lives, my lord, your servant will not spend those things that are with me, until the Lord works by my hand the things that he has determined.” Then Holofernes’ servants brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Then she rose up toward the morning watch, and sent to Holofernes, saying, “Let my lord now command that they allow your servant to go out to pray.” Holofernes commanded his guards that they should not stop her. She stayed in the camp three days, and went out every night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself at the fountain of water in the camp. And when she came up, she implored the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of his people. She came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she ate her food toward evening. It came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a feast for his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet. And he said to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, “Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman who is with you that she come to us, and eat and drink with us. For, behold, it is a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we don’t draw her to ourselves, she will laugh us to scorn.” Bagoas went from the presence of Holofernes, and came in to her, and said, “Let this fair lady not fear to come to my lord, and to be honored in his presence, and to drink wine and be merry with us, and to be made this day as one of the daughters of the children of Asshur, which wait in the house of Nebuchadnezzar.” Judith said to him, “Who am I, that I should contradict my lord? For whatever would be pleasing in his eyes, I will do speedily, and this will be my joy to the day of my death.” She arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman’s attire; and her servant went and laid fleeces on the ground for her next to Holofernes, which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them. Judith came in and sat down, and Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her. His soul was moved, and he exceedingly desired her company. He was watching for a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her. Holofernes said to her, “Drink now, and be merry with us.” Judith said, “I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.” Then she took and ate and drank before him what her servant had prepared. Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank exceeding much wine, more than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

Oración vespertina — segunda lectura

2 Corintios 9

PORQUE cuanto á la suministración para los santos, por demás me es escribiros; Pues conozco vuestro pronto ánimo, del cual me glorío yo entre los de Macedonia, que Acaya está apercibida desde el año pasado; y vuestro ejemplo ha estimulado á muchos. Mas he enviado los hermanos, porque nuestra gloria de vosotros no sea vana en esta parte; para que, como lo he dicho, estéis apercibidos; No sea que, si vinieren conmigo Macedonios, y os hallaren desapercibidos, nos avergoncemos nosotros, por no decir vosotros, de este firme gloriarnos. Por tanto, tuve por cosa necesaria exhortar á los hermanos que fuesen primero á vosotros, y apresten primero vuestra bendición antes prometida para que esté aparejada como de bendición, y no como de mezquindad. Esto empero digo: El que siembra escasamente, también segará escasamente; y el que siembra en bendiciones, en bendiciones también segará. Cada uno dé como propuso en su corazón: no con tristeza, ó por necesidad; porque Dios ama el dador alegre. Y poderoso es Dios para hacer que abunde en vosotros toda gracia; á fin de que, teniendo siempre en todas las cosas todo lo que basta, abundéis para toda buena obra: Como está escrito: Derramó, dió á los pobres; Su justicia permanece para siempre. Y el que da simiente al que siembra, también dará pan para comer, y multiplicará vuestra sementera, y aumentará los crecimientos de los frutos de vuestra justicia; Para que estéis enriquecidos en todo para toda bondad, la cual obra por nosotros hacimiento de gracias á Dios. Porque la suministración de este servicio, no solamente suple lo que á los santos falta, sino también abunda en muchos hacimientos de gracias á Dios: Que por la experiencia de esta suministración glorifican á Dios por la obediencia que profesáis al evangelio de Cristo, y por la bondad de contribuir para ellos y para todos; Asimismo por la oración de ellos á favor vuestro, los cuales os quieren á causa de la eminente gracia de Dios en vosotros. Gracias á Dios por su don inefable.