FIRST
READING:
Ecclesiastes
11: 9 -- 12: 8
9
Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in
that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of
thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these
God will bring thee into judgment.
10
Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For
youth and pleasure are vain.
1
Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of
affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say:
They please me not:
2
Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be
darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:
3
When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall
stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they
that look through the holes shall be darkened:
4
And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's voice
shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and
all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.
5
And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way,
the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the
caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of
his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.
6
Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back,
and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken
upon the cistern,
7
And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the
spirit return to God, who gave it.
8
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.
PSALM:
Psalms 90:
3 - 6, 12 - 14, 17
3
Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O
children of men!"
4
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is
past, or as a watch in the night.
5
Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is
renewed in the morning:
6
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades
and withers.
12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13
Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants!
14
Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may
rejoice and be glad all our days.
17
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the
work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou
it.
GOSPEL:
Luke 9:
43 - 45
43
And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and cured the boy, and restored
him to his father.
44
And all were astonished at the mighty power of God. But while all
wondered at all the things he did, he said to his disciples: Lay you
up in your hearts these words, for it shall come to pass, that the
Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
45
But they understood not this word; and it was hid from them, so that
they perceived it not. And they were afraid to ask him concerning
this word.
