FIRST
READING: 1
Kings 19: 9, 11 -
16
9
On reaching the place, he came to the cave and stayed in it. Then the
word of Yahweh came to him,"What are you doing here, Elijah?"
11
Then Yahweh said, "Go up and stand on the mount, waiting for
Yahweh." And Yahweh passed by.
There
was first a windstorm, wild wind which rent the mountains and broke
the rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind.
After the storm, an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.
12
After the earthquake, a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. After
the fire, the murmur of a gentle breeze.
13
When Elijah perceived it, he covered his face with his cloak, went
out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Then
he heard a voice addressing him again, "What are you doing here,
Elijah?"
14
He answered, "I am burning with jealous love for Yahweh, the God
of hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown
down your altars and slain your prophets with the sword. No one is
left but myself, yet they still seek my life to take it away."
15
Yahweh said to him, "Take the road back through the desert and
go to Damascus for you must anoint Hazael as king of Syria;
16
you shall also anoint Jehu, son of Minshi, as king over Israel; and
Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abelmehrah, you shall anoint as prophet
in your place.
PSALM:
Psalms 27:
7 - 9, 13 - 14
7
Hear my voice when I call, O Lord, have mercy on me and answer.
8
My heart says to you, "I seek your face, O Lord."
9
Do not hide your face from me nor turn away your servant in anger.
You are my protector, do not reject me abandon me not, O God my
savior!
13
I hope, I am sure, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the
land of the living.
14
Trust in the Lord, be strong and courageous - yes, put your hope in
the Lord!
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
27 - 32
27
You have heard that it was said: Do not commit adultery.
28
But I tell you this: anyone who looks at a woman to satisfy his lust
has in fact already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29
So, if your right eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it
away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to
have your whole body thrown into hell.
30
If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away!
It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your
whole body thrown into hell.
31
It was also said: anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
written notice of divorce.
32
But what I tell you is this: If a man divorces his wife except in the
case of unlawful union, he causes her to commit adultery. And the man
who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
