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| "The Man at the Plough" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Job 9:
1 - 12, 14 - 16
1
Then Job answered:
2
"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before
God?
3
If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a
thousand times.
4
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength -- who has hardened
himself against him, and succeeded? --
5
he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns
them in his anger;
6
who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7
who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;
8
who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the
sea;
9
who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei'ades and the chambers of the
south;
10
who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things
without number.
11
Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not
perceive him.
12
Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will say to him,
`What doest thou'?
14
How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?
15
Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to
my accuser.
16
If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was
listening to my voice.
PSALM:
Psalms 88:
10 - 15
10
Dost thou work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise
thee? [Selah]
11
Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave, or thy faithfulness in
Abaddon?
12
Are thy wonders known in the darkness, or thy saving help in the land
of forgetfulness?
13
But I, O LORD, cry to thee; in the morning my prayer comes before
thee.
14
O LORD, why dost thou cast me off? Why dost thou hide thy face from
me?
15
Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer thy terrors;
I am helpless.
GOSPEL:
Luke 9:
57 - 62
57
As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will
follow you wherever you go."
58
And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."
59
To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord,
let me first go and bury my father."
60
But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but
as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61
Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say
farewell to those at my home."
62
Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and
looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
