FIRST
READING: Isaiah
26: 1 - 6
1
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We
have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
2
Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter
in.
3
Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusts in thee.
4
Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
5
For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city.
He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.
6
The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."
PSALM:
Psalms 118:
1, 8 - 9, 19 - 21, 25 - 27
1
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures
for ever!
8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in
man.
9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in
princes.
19
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20
This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21
I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
25
Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us
success!
26
Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from
the house of the LORD.
27
The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal
procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!
GOSPEL:
Matthew 7:
21, 24 - 27
21
"Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven.
24
"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will
be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock;
25
and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on
the rock.
26
And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will
be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
27
and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
