Saints John Fisher, Bishop, Martyr and Thomas More, Martyr (Optional Memorial)
FIRST READING:
2 Kings 11:
1 - 4, 9
- 18, 20
1
Now when Athali'ah the mother of Ahazi'ah saw that her son was dead,
she arose and destroyed all the royal family.
2
But Jehosh'eba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahazi'ah, took
Jo'ash the son of Ahazi'ah, and stole him away from among the king's
sons who were about to be slain, and she put him and his nurse in a
bedchamber. Thus she hid him from Athali'ah, so that he was not
slain;
3
and he remained with her six years, hid in the house of the LORD,
while Athali'ah reigned over the land.
4
But in the seventh year Jehoi'ada sent and brought the captains of
the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house
of the LORD; and he made a covenant with them and put them under oath
in the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king's son.
9
The captains did according to all that Jehoi'ada the priest
commanded, and each brought his men who were to go off duty on the
sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the sabbath, and came
to Jehoi'ada the priest.
10
And the priest delivered to the captains the spears and shields that
had been King David's, which were in the house of the LORD;
11
and the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from
the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around
the altar and the house.
12
Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and
gave him the testimony; and they proclaimed him king, and anointed
him; and they clapped their hands, and said, "Long live the
king!"
13
When Athali'ah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she
went into the house of the LORD to the people;
14
and when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar,
according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside
the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing
trumpets. And Athali'ah rent her clothes, and cried, "Treason!
Treason!"
15
Then Jehoi'ada the priest commanded the captains who were set over
the army, "Bring her out between the ranks; and slay with the
sword any one who follows her." For the priest said, "Let
her not be slain in the house of the LORD."
16
So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance
to the king's house, and there she was slain.
17
And Jehoi'ada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and
people, that they should be the LORD's people; and also between the
king and the people.
18
Then all the people of the land went to the house of Ba'al, and tore
it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they
slew Mattan the priest of Ba'al before the altars. And the priest
posted watchmen over the house of the LORD.
20
So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet after
Athali'ah had been slain with the sword at the king's house.
PSALM:
Psalms 132: 11 - 14, 17 - 18
11
The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back:
"One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
12
If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach
them, their sons also for ever shall sit upon your throne."
13
For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14
"This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I
have desired it.
17
There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp
for my anointed.
18
His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will
shed its luster."
GOSPEL:
Matthew 6: 19 - 23
19
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust consume and where thieves break in and steal,
20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22
"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your
whole body will be full of light;
23
but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of
darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the
darkness!
