FIRST
READING: Nahum
2: 1, 3 ; 3: 1 - 3,
6 - 7
1
He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep the
siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power
exceedingly.
3
The shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are
clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of
his preparation, and the drivers are stupefied.
1
Woe to thee, O city of blood, all full of lies and violence: rapine
shall not depart from thee.
2
The noise of the whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels,
and of the neighing horse, and of the running chariot, and of the
horsemen coming up,
3
And of the shining sword, and of the glittering spear, and of a
multitude slain, and of a grievous destruction: and there is no end
of carcasses, and they shall fall down on their dead bodies.
6
And I will cast abominations upon thee, and will disgrace thee, and
will make an example of thee.
7
And it shall come to pass that every one that shall see thee, shall
flee from thee, and shall say: Ninive is laid waste: who shall bemoan
thee? whence shall I seek a comforter for thee?
PSALM:
Deuteronomy 32:
35, 36, 39, 41
35
Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time, that their foot
may slide: the day of destruction is at hand, and the time makes
haste to come.
36
The Lord will judge his people, and will have mercy on his servants:
he shall see that their hand is weakened, and that they who were shut
up have also failed, and they that remained are consumed.
39
See ye that I alone am, and there is no other God besides me: I will
kill and I will make to live: I will strike, and I will heal, and
there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
41
If I shall whet my sword as the lightning, and my hand take hold on
judgment: I will render vengeance to my enemies, and repay them that
hate me.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 16:
24 - 28
24
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25
For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose
his life for my sake, shall find it.
26
For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer
the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his
soul?
27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
28
Amen I say to you, there are some of them that stand here, that shall
not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
