Gospel:
The Holy Gospel According to St. John. (Chapter 1:1-17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was made nothing that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not. There was a man, one sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the light, that all might believe through Him. He was not himself the light, but was to bear witness to the light. It was the true light that enlightens every man who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world knew Him not. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. But to as many as received Him He gave the power of becoming children of God; to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us. And we saw His glory (glory as of the only-begotten of the Father) full of grace and of truth. John bore witness concerning Him, and cried, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘He who is to come after me has been set above me, because He was before me.’ And of His fullness we have all received, grace for grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Lord said, "The poor you have always with you, but you do not always have me."
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?
Psalm 8:3-4
