FIRST
READING: 2
Corinthians 9: 6 - 11
6
Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly:
and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings.
7
Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness, or of
necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8
And God is able to make all grace abound in you; that ye always,
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work,
9
As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the
poor: his justice remaineth for ever.
10
And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you bread
to eat, and will multiply your seed, and increase the growth of the
fruits of your justice:
11
That being enriched in all things, you may abound unto all
simplicity, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.
PSALM:
Psalms 112:
1 - 4, 9
1
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight
exceedingly in his commandments.
2
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous
shall be blessed.
3
Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for
ever and ever.
4
To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and
compassionate and just.
9
He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth
for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 6:
1 - 6, 16 - 18
1
Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by
them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in
heaven.
2
Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before
thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that
they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received
their reward.
3
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right
hand doth.
4
That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret
will repay thee.
5
And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that
they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their
reward.
6
But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having
shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth
in secret will repay thee.
16
And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure
their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to
you, they have received their reward.
17
But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
18
That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in
secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
