Responsorial Psalm
R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
READING 2 (1 Cor 2:6-10)
Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of
this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s
wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would
not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and
ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared
for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the
prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and
earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the
law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of
these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of
heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in
the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever
kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with brother will be
liable to judgment; and whoever says to brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the
Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if
you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against
you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and
then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to
court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will
hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in
his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better
for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into
Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is
better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into
Gehenna.
“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say
to you, whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to
commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not
by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by
Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you
cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’
mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
or
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever
kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with brother
will be liable to judgment.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in
his heart.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but
make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your
‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
