FIRST
READING: 1
Thessalonians 2: 9 - 13
9
For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and
day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among
you the gospel of God.
10
You are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and without
blame, we have been to you that have believed:
11
As you know in what manner, entreating and comforting you, (as a
father doth his children,)
12
We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God,
who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13
Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that
when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you
received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of
God, who worketh in you that have believed.
PSALM:
Psalms 139:
7 - 12
7
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
face?
8
If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou
art present.
9
If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea:
10
Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold
me.
11
And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my
light in my pleasures.
12
But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as
day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 23:
27 - 32
27
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to
whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but
within are full of dead men's bones, and of all filthiness.
28
So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just; but inwardly you are
full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; that build the
sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the just,
30
And say: If we had been in the days of our Fathers, we would not have
been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31
Wherefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the sons
of them that killed the prophets.
32
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
