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| "Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: 1
Thessalonians 1: 1 - 5, 8 - 10
1
Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy: to the church of the Thessalonians, in
God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2
Grace be to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all;
making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing,
3
Being mindful of the work of your faith, and labour, and charity, and
of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and
our Father:
4
Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election:
5
For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power
also, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness, as you know what
manner of men we have been among you for your sakes.
8
For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord, not only in
Macedonia, and in Achaia, but also in every place, your faith which
is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any
thing.
9
For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had
unto you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living
and true God.
10
And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the
dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.
PSALM:
Psalms
149:
1
- 6, 9
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:
9
To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is to
all his saints. Alleluia.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 23: 13 - 22
13
But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you shut
the kingdom of heaven against men, for you yourselves do not enter
in; and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter.
14
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: because you devour the
houses of widows, praying long prayers. For this you shall receive
the greater judgment.
15
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you go round
about the sea and the land to make one proselyte; and when he is
made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves.
16
Woe to you blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the
temple, it is nothing; but he that shall swear by the gold of the
temple, is a debtor.
17
Ye foolish and blind; for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple
that sanctifieth the gold?
18
And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever
shall swear by the gift that is upon it, is a debtor.
19
Ye blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that
sanctifieth the gift?
20
He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all
things that are upon it:
21
And whosoever shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him
that dwelleth in it:
22
And he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by
him that sitteth thereon.
OR
FIRST
READING: 1
John 4: 7 - 16
7
Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. And
every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God.
8
He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is charity.
9
By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath
sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.
10
In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he
hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our
sins.
11
My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one
another.
12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth
in us, and his charity is perfected in us.
13
In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he hath
given us of his spirit.
14
And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son
to be the Saviour of the world.
15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in
him, and he in God.
16
And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God hath to
us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God,
and God in him.
PSALM:
Psalms 119:
9 - 14
9
By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
10
With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from
thy commandments.
11
Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
12
Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.
13
With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.
14
I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all
riches.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 23: 8 - 12
8
But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are
brethren.
9
And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is
in heaven.
10
Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ.
11
He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall
humble himself shall be exalted.
