FIRST
READING: 1 Kings 18: 41 - 46
41
And Eli'jah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is a
sound of the rushing of rain."
42
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Eli'jah went up to the top
of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face
between his knees.
43
And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea."
And he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing."
And he said, "Go again seven times."
44
And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a
man's hand is rising out of the sea." And he said, "Go up,
say to Ahab, `Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop
you.'"
45
And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind,
and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
46
And the hand of the LORD was on Eli'jah; and he girded up his loins
and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
PSALM: Psalms 65: 10 - 13
10
Thou waterest its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening
it with showers, and blessing its growth.
11
Thou crownest the year with thy bounty; the tracks of thy chariot
drip with fatness.
12
The pastures of the wilderness drip, the hills gird themselves with
joy,
13
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck
themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
GOSPEL: Matthew 5: 20 - 26
20
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes
and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21
"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall
not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.'
22
But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall
be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to
the council, and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the
hell of fire.
23
So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against you,
24
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to
your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25
Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him
to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge
to the guard, and you be put in prison;
26
truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the
last penny.
