FIRST
READING: Genesis
18: 16 - 33
16
And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards
Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way.
17
And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do:
18
Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed?
19
For I know that he will command his children, and his household after
him to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: that
for Abraham's sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he
hath spoken unto him.
20
And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and
their sin is become exceedingly grievous.
21
I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry
that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know.
22
And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom:
but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord.
23
And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked?
24
If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and
wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if
they be therein?
25
Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the
wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is
not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make
this judgment.
26
And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the
city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.
27
And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will
speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.
28
What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for
five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not
destroy it, if I find five and forty.
29
And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou
do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty.
30
Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if
thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find
thirty there.
31
Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if
twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of
twenty.
32
I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once
more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not
destroy it for the sake of ten.
33
And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and
Abraham returned to his place.
PSALM:
Psalms 103:
1 - 4, 8 - 11
1
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his
holy name.
2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for
thee.
3
Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.
4
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy
and compassion.
8
The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous
in mercy.
9
He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.
10
He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities.
11
For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath
strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 8:
18 - 22
18
And Jesus seeing great multitudes about him, gave orders to pass over
the water.
19
And a certain scribe came and said to him: Master, I will follow thee
whithersoever thou shalt go.
20
And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the
air nests: but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.
21
And another of his disciples said to him: Lord, suffer me first to go
and bury my father.
22
But Jesus said to him: Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.
