FIRST
READING: 1
Kings 18: 41 - 46
41
Elijah then said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for the sound
of rain is rushing in."
42
So Ahab went up to eat and drink. Elijah, in the meantime, went to
the top of Carmel, bowed to the ground and put his face between his
knees.
43
Then he said to his servant, "Go up and look in the direction of
the sea." The man went up, looked, and said, "There is
nothing." Then Elijah said, "Go again" and seven times
he went.
44
At the seventh time, he perceived a little cloud, the size of a man's
hand, rising out of the sea. Elijah told him, "Go, tell Ahab:
Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you."
45
A little later the sky grew dark with clouds and wind and a strong
rain fell. Ahab was riding on his way to Jezreel;
46
as for Elijah, the hand of Yahweh was on him, and tucking his cloak
in his belt, he ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
PSALM:
Psalms 65:
10 - 13
10
You water the land and care for it, enriching it with natural
resources. God's stream is filled with water; so you prepare the
earth to give us its fruits.
11
You drench the furrows in the land and level the ridges, you soften
the soil with showers and bless its crops.
12
You crown the year with your goodness; abundance flows everywhere.
13
The deserts have become pasture land, the hills are clothed with
gladness.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
20 - 26
20
I tell you, then, that if you are not righteous in a better way than
the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you cannot enter the
kingdom of heaven.
21
You have heard that it was said to our people in the past: Do not
commit murder; anyone who does kill will have to face trial.
22
But now I tell you: whoever gets angry with a brother or sister will
have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother or sister deserves to
be brought before the council; whoever humiliates a brother or sister
deserves to be thrown into the fire of hell.
23
So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar and you remember
that your brother has something against you,
24
leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make
peace with him, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
25
Don't forget this: be reconciled with your opponent quickly when you
are together on the way to court. Otherwise he will turn you over to
the judge, who will hand you over to the police, who will put you in
jail.
26
There you will stay, until you have paid the last penny.
