FIRST
READING: 1
Kings 21: 17 - 29
17
Then Yahweh spoke to Elijah of Tishbe,
18
"Go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, in Samaria. He is taking
possession of the vineyard of Naboth.
19
Say to him: 'Have you killed and have taken possession at the same
time?' Then give him this word of mine: 'Dogs shall lick your blood
in the very place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth.'"
20
Ahab then said to Elijah, "Who, better than my enemy, could find
me here and now!" Elijah answered, "I have come to you
because you have done what Yahweh abhors.
21
This is Yahweh's word: I will bring disgrace on you. I will sweep you
away and cut off every male of your family, from the lowliest to the
greatest.
22
Your family will disappear like the families of Jeroboam and Baasa,
because you have offended me and have dragged Israel into sin.
23
There is another word of Yahweh to Jezebel: 'The dogs shall devour
Jezebel within the territory of Jezreel.'
24
If anyone of Ahab's line dies in the city, he shall be devoured by
dogs; if in the green country, the birds of the air shall feed on
him."
25
There was no one like Ahab, urged by his wife Jezebel, in doing what
Yahweh abhorred.
26
He did horrible things and ran after unclean idols just as the
Amorites had done, from whom Yahweh had taken the land to give it to
Israel.
27
On hearing these words, Ahab tore his clothes and put on sackcloth.
He fasted as he lay in sackcloth and moved around despondently.
28
Then Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Have you seen how Ahab
has humbled himself?
29
Because of this I will not bring about the disaster during his reign;
during his son's reign disgrace will fall on his family."
PSALM:
Psalms 51:
3 - 6, 11, 16
3
Have mercy on me, O God, in your love. In your great compassion blot
out my sin.
4
Wash me thoroughly of my guilt; cleanse me of evil.
5
For I acknowledge my wrongdoings and have my sins ever in mind.
6
Against you alone have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have
done. You are right when you pass sentence and blameless in your
judgment.
11
Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my offenses.
16
Deliver me, O God, from the guilt of blood, and of your justice I
shall sing aloud.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
43 - 48
43
You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do
good to your enemy.
44
But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you,
45
so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes
his sun rise on both the wicked and the good, and he gives rain to
both the just and the unjust.
46
If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not
even tax collectors do as much?
47
And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional
about that? Do not even the pagans do as much?
48
For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your
heavenly Father is righteous and perfect.
