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| "The Sermon of the Beatitudes" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: 1
Kings 17: 1 - 6
1
Now Elijah, the prophet from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As
Yahweh, the God of Israel whom I serve lives, neither dew shall drop
nor rain fall except at my command."
2
Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah,
3
"Leave this place and go eastward. Hide yourself by the brook
Cherith, east of the Jordan.
4
You shall drink from the brook and, for your food, I have commanded
the ravens to feed you there."
5
So Elijah obeyed the word of Yahweh and went to live by the brook
Cherith, east of the Jordan.
6
There the ravens brought him bread in the morning and meat in the
evening; and he drank from the brook.
PSALM:
Psalms 121:
1 - 8
1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains -from where shall come my help?
2
My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
3
Will he not let your foot slip, the one watching over you? Will he
not slumber?
4
No, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
5
The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is at your side and you in his
shade;
6
Sunstroke will not be for you by day, nor the spell of the moon by
night.
7
The Lord guards you from every evil; he will protect your life.
8
The Lord watches over your coming and going both now and forever.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
1 - 12
1
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and
his disciples gathered around him.
2
Then he spoke and began to teach them:
3
Blessed are those who have the spirit of the poor, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be comforted.
5
Blessed are the gentle, they shall possess the land.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall
be satisfied.
7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.
8
Blessed are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God.
9
Blessed are those who work for peace, they shall be called children
of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
Blessed are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak
all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers.
12
Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. This
is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.
