FIRST
READING:
Revelation 4:
1 - 11
1
After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven,
and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet speaking
with me, said: Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which
must be done hereafter.
2
And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold there was a throne
set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.
3
And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine
stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like
unto an emerald.
4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the
seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments,
and on their heads were crowns of gold.
5
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders;
and there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the
seven spirits of God.
6
And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like
to crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the
throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind.
7
And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living
creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face,
as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an
eagle flying.
8
And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round
about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and
night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who
is, and who is to come.
9
And when those living creatures gave glory, and honour, and
benediction to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever
and ever;
10
The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the
throne, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne, saying:
11
Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and
power: because thou hast created all things; and for thy will they
were, and have been created.
PSALM:
Psalms 150:
1 - 6
1
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church
of the saints.
2
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion
be joyful in their king.
3
Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the
timbrel and the psaltery.
4
For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the
meek unto salvation.
5
The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their
beds.
6
The high praise of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged swords
in their hands.
GOSPEL:
Luke 19:
11 - 28
11
As they were hearing these things, he added and spoke a parable,
because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God should immediately be manifested.
12
He said therefore: A certain nobleman went into a far country, to
receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13
And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to
them: Trade till I come.
14
But his citizens hated him: and they sent an embassage after him,
saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.
15
And it came to pass, that he returned, having received the kingdom:
and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the
money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16
And the first came, saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17
And he said to him: Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast
been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities.
18
And the second came, saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19
And he said to him: Be thou also over five cities.
20
And another came, saying: Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I
have kept laid up in a napkin;
21
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up
what thou didst not lay down, and thou reapest that which thou didst
not sow.
22
He saith to him: Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked
servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I
laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow:
23
And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my
coming, I might have exacted it with usury?
24
And he said to them that stood by: Take the pound away from him, and
give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25
And they said to him: Lord, he hath ten pounds.
26
But I say to you, that to every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall abound: and from him that hath not, even that which he hath,
shall be taken from him.
27
But as for those my enemies, who would not have me reign over them,
bring them hither, and kill them before me.
28
And having said these things, he went before, going up to Jerusalem.
