FIRST
READING: Judges
9: 6 - 15
6
And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the
families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king,
by the oak that stood in Sichem.
7
This being told to Joatham, he went and stood on the top of mount
Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye
men of Sichem, so may God hear you.
8
The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive
tree: Reign thou over us.
9
And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make
use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?
10
And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.
11
And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious
fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?
12
And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us.
13
And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and
men, and be promoted among the other trees?
14
And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us.
15
And it answered them: If indeed you mean to make me king, come ye and
rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from
the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.
PSALM:
Psalms 21:
2 - 7
2
In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he
shall rejoice exceedingly.
3
Thou hast given him his heart's desire: and hast not withholden from
him the will of his lips.
4
For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast
set on his head a crown of precious stones.
5
He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for
ever and ever.
6
His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt
thou lay upon him.
7
For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou
shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 20:
1 - 16
1
The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early
in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2
And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them
into his vineyard.
3
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the
market place idle.
4
And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give
you what shall be just.
5
And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and
the ninth hour, and did in like manner.
6
But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing,
and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?
7
They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go
you also into my vineyard.
8
And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his
steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from
the last even to the first.
9
When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour,
they received every man a penny.
10
But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive
more: and they also received every man a penny.
11
And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,
12
Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them
equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.
13
But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong:
didst thou not agree with me for a penny?
14
Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last
even as to thee.
15
Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil,
because I am good?
16
So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called,
but few chosen.
