First reading 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

David is anointed king of Israel.

In those days: The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’

  When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.’ And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.

The word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23(22):1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6. ℟1

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me;

he revives my soul. 

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me along the right path,

for the sake of his name.

Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,

no evil would I fear, for you are with me.

Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. 

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a table before me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing. 

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for length of days unending. 

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second reading Ephesians 5:8-14

‘Arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’

Brothers and Sisters: At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’

The word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation John 8:12

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus.