Friday
of the Fourth Week of Lent
FIRST
READING: Wisdom
2:1, 12-22
1
For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The
time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there
is no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell.
12
Let us therefore lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our
turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with
transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our
way of life.
13
He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth himself
the son of God.
14
He is become a censurer of our thoughts.
15
He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like
other men's, and his ways are very different.
16
We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our ways
as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, and
glorieth that he hath God for his father.
17
Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall
happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be.
18
For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will
deliver him from the hands of his enemies.
19
Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his
meekness and try his patience.
20
Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be
respect had unto him by his words.
21
These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice
blinded them.
22
And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of
justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls.
PSALM:
Psalms 34:17-21,
23
17
But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things:
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
18
The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of
all their troubles.
19
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will
save the humble of spirit.
20
Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the
Lord deliver them.
21
The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.
23
The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that
trust in him shall offend.
GOSPEL:
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
1
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for he would not walk in
Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2
Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
10
But after his brethren were gone up, then he also went up to the
feast, not openly, but, as it were, in secret.
25
Some therefore of Jerusalem said: Is not this he whom they seek to
kill?
26
And behold, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing to him. Have the
rulers known for a truth, that this is the Christ?
27
But we know this man, whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no
man knoweth whence he is.
28
Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching, and saying: You
both know me, and you know whence I am: and I am not come of myself;
but he that sent me, is true, whom you know not.
29
I know him, because I am from him, and he hath sent me.
30
They sought therefore to apprehend him: and no man laid hands on him,
because his hour was not yet come.
