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| "Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Malachi
1: 14-- 2: 2, 8-10
14
Cursed is the deceitful man that hath in his flock a male, and making
a vow offereth in sacrifice that which is feeble to the Lord: for I
am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful
among the Gentiles.
2
If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give
glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will send poverty upon
you, and will curse your blessings, yea I will curse them, because
you have not laid it to heart.
8
But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble
at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord
of hosts.
9
Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all
people, as you have not kept my ways, and have accepted persons in
the law.
10
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why then
doth every one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of
our fathers?
PSALM:
Psalms 131:
1-3
1
Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I
walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.
2
If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is
weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.
3
Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.
SECOND
READING: 1
Thessalonians 2:
7-9, 13
7
Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of
Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse
should cherish her children:
8
So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the
gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you were become most
dear unto us.
9
For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and
day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among
you the gospel of God.
13
Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that
when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you
received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of
God, who worketh in you that have believed.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 23: 1-12
1
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
2
Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of
Moses.
3
All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and
do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.
4
For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men's
shoulders; but with a finger of their own they will not move them.
5
And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make
their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes.
6
And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the
synagogues,
7
And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi.
8
But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are
brethren.
9
And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is
in heaven.
10
Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ.
11
He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall
humble himself shall be exalted.
