FIRST
READING: Sirach
15: 15 - 20
15
If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity
for ever, they shall preserve thee.
16
He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to
which thou wilt.
17
Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall
choose shall be given him:
18
For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all
men without ceasing.
19
The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth
all the work of man.
20
He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man
license to sin.
PSALM:
Psalms 119:
1 - 2, 4 - 5, 17 - 18, 33 - 34
1
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the
Lord.
2
Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their
whole heart.
4
Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.
5
O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.
17
Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy
words.
18
Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy
law.
33
Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I
will always seek after it.
34
Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it
with my whole heart.
SECOND
READING: 1
Corinthians 2: 6 - 10
6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this
world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought;
7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is
hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:
8
Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known
it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
9
But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared
for them that love him.
10
But to us God hath revealed them, by this Spirit. For the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
17 - 37
17
Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18
For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one
tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
19
He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of
heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in
the kingdom of heaven.
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.
27
You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit
adultery.
28
But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after
her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29
And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from
thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should
perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.
30
And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from
thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should
perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.
31
And it hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him
give her a bill of divorce.
32
But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting
for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he
that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.
33
Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not
forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
34
But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is
the throne of God:
35
Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it
is the city of the great king:
36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one
hair white or black.
37
But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and
above these, is of evil.
