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| "The Sower" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: 1
Corinthians 15: 35 - 37, 42 - 49
35
But some man will say: How do the dead rise again? Or with what
manner of body shall they come?
36
Senseless man, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die
first.
37
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be:
but bare grain, as of wheat, or of some of the rest.
42
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption: it
shall rise in incorruption.
43
It is sown in dishonour: it shall rise in glory. It is sown in
weakness: it shall rise in power.
44
It is sown a natural body: it shall rise a spiritual body. If there
be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written:
45
The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a
quickening spirit.
46
Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural:
afterwards that which is spiritual.
47
The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven,
heavenly.
48
As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is
the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven.
49
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also
bear the image of the man of heaven.
PSALM:
Psalms 56:
10 - 14
10
In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech.
11
In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.
12
In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:
13
Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling:
that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.
GOSPEL:
Luke 8:
4 - 15
4
And when a very great multitude was gathered together, and hastened
out of the cities unto him, he spoke by a similitude.
5
The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the
way side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured
it.
6
And other some fell upon a rock: and as soon as it was sprung up, it
withered away, because it had no moisture.
7
And other some fell among thorns, and the thorns growing up with it,
choked it.
8
And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded
fruit a hundredfold. Saying these things, he cried out: He that hath
ears to hear, let him hear.
9
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.
10
To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the
kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not
see, and hearing may not understand.
11
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12
And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh,
and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be
saved.
13
Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word
with joy: and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and
in time of temptation, they fall away.
14
And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going
their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this
life, and yield no fruit.
15
But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect
heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.
