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| "The Widow's Mite" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST READING: Daniel 1: 1 - 6, 8 - 20
1
In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor
king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2
And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and
part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away
into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he
brought into the treasure house of his god.
3
And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he
should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's
seed and of the princes,
4
Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skillful in
all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such
as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the
learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5
And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and
of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three
years, afterwards they might stand before the king.
6
Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias,
Misael, and Azarias.
8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with
the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested
the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled.
9
And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of
the eunuchs.
10
And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the
king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see
your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you
shall endanger my head to the king.
11
And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had
appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:
12
Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be
given us to eat, and water to drink:
13
And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of
the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants.
14
And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.
15
And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all
the children that ate of the king's meat.
16
So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink:
and he gave them pulse.
17
And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every
book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions
and dreams.
18
And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they
should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in
before Nabuchodonosor.
19
And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them
all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in
the king's presence.
20
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king
inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the
diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.
52
Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be
praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed
is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted
above all in all ages.
53
Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly to
be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever.
54
Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be
praised, and exalted above all for ever.
55
Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the
cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
56
Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise,
and glorious for ever.
1
And looking on, he saw the rich men cast their gifts into the
treasury.
2
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites.
3
And he said: Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in
more than they all:
4
For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God:
but she of her want, hath cast in all the living that she had.
