FIRST
READING: 1
Kings 21: 1 - 16
1
Now Naboth, a man from Jezreel, owned a vineyard just beside the
palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
2
Ahab asked Naboth, "Give me your vineyard which is near my house
that I may use it for a vegetable garden. I will give you a better
vineyard in exchange. Or, if you prefer, I will pay you its price."
3
But Naboth said to Ahab, "Yahweh forbid that I should give you
the inheritance of my fathers."
4
So Ahab went home angry and sad because of what Naboth had told him,
that he would not give him the inheritance of his fathers. So he lay
down on his bed with his face turned toward the wall and refused to
eat.
5
His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so angry
that you refuse to eat?"
6
He answered, "I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and asked him to
sell me his vineyard or to exchange it for another better one but he
answered: I will not give you my vineyard."
7
His wife Jezebel said to him, "Are you not king of Israel? Get
up and eat and be joyful, for I will give you the vineyard of Naboth
of Jezreel."
8
So Jezebel wrote letters using Ahab's name and sealed them with his
seal, and sent the letters to the elders and important persons living
near Naboth.
9
This is what she wrote in the letters, "Declare a fast and put
Naboth on trial.
10
Get two worthless fellows to accuse him in this way: 'You have cursed
God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."
11
The people, the elders and the important persons who lived in his
city did as Jezebel had instructed them in the letters she sent to
them.
12
They declared a fast and put Naboth on trial.
13
The two worthless fellows came in and sat facing him, accusing Naboth
before the people, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" So the
people took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
14
They then sent word to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned and was
dead.
15
As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead,
she told Ahab, "Now take possession of the vineyard of Naboth,
the man of Jezreel who refused to sell it to you, for Naboth is now
dead."
16
As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he went down to the
vineyard of Naboth and took possession of it.
PSALM:
Psalms 5:
2 - 7
2
O Lord, listen to my words and hear my complaint,
3
give heed to my sighs, my King and my God.
4
From daybreak you hear my voice, from dawn I am in your presence
watching for you.
5
You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil has no place in
you.
6
The arrogant cannot stand before you. You hate all who do evil;
7
you destroy all who speak falsehood, who thirst for blood and live on
lies; all of them the Lord detests.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
38 - 42
38
You have heard that it was said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth.
39
But I tell you this: do not oppose evil with evil; if someone slaps
you on your right cheek, turn and offer the other.
40
If someone sues you in court for your shirt, give your coat as well.
41
If someone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
42
Give when asked and do not turn your back on anyone who wants to
borrow from you.
