FIRST
READING: Ezekiel
18:21-28
21
But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath
committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and
justice, living he shall live, and shall not die.
22
I will not remember all his iniquities that he hath done: in his
justice which he hath wrought, he shall live.
23
Is it my will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not
that he should be converted from his ways, and live?
24
But if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do
iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man useth
to work, shall he live? all his justices which he hath done, shall
not be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he hath
prevaricated, and in his sin, which he hath committed, in them he
shall die.
25
And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye,
therefore, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not right, and are
not rather your ways perverse?
26
For when the just turneth himself away from his justice, and
committeth iniquity, he shall die therein: in the injustice that he
hath wrought he shall die.
27
And when the wicked turneth himself away from his wickedness, which
he hath wrought, and doeth judgment, and justice: he shall save his
soul alive.
28
Because he considereth and turneth away himself from all his
iniquities which he hath wrought, he shall surely live, and not die.
PSALM:
Psalms 130:1-8
1
Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord:
2
Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplication.
3
If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.
4
For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy
law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word:
5
My soul hath hoped in the Lord.
6
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
7
Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful
redemption.
8
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:20-26
20
For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
21
You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill.
And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
22
But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be
in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother,
Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say,
Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23
If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou
remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee;
24
Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be
reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.
25
Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the
way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge,
and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into
prison.
26
Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay
the last farthing.
