Daily Gospel Reading: Matthew 6: 1 - 6, 16 - 18

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:  1, 6 - 14

1      Now when the LORD was about to take Eli'jah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Eli'jah and Eli'sha were on their way from Gilgal.
6     Then Eli'jah said to him, "Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.
7     Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.
8     Then Eli'jah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
9     When they had crossed, Eli'jah said to Eli'sha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Eli'sha said, "I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit."
10     And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so."
11     And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli'jah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12     And Eli'sha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces.
13     And he took up the mantle of Eli'jah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
14     Then he took the mantle of Eli'jah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Eli'jah?" And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other; and Eli'sha went over.

Psalms 31:  20 - 21, 24

20      In the covert of thy presence thou hidest them from the plots of men; thou holdest them safe under thy shelter from the strife of tongues.
21     Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as in a besieged city.
24     Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!

Gospel: Matthew 6:  1 - 6, 16 - 18

1      "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2     "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3     But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4     so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5     "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6     But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
16     "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17     But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18     that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Key Verse: Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Quote of the Day:  

This is a virgin's birthday; let us follow the example of her chastity. It is a martyr's birthday; let us offer sacrifices; it is the birthday of holy Agnes: let men be filled with wonder, little ones with hope, married woman with awe, and the unmarried with emulation. It seems to me that this child, holy beyond her years and courageous beyond human nature, received the name of Agnes (Greek: pure) not as an earthly designation but as a revelation from God of what she was to be.

-- St. Augustine

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 38 - 42

First Reading: 1 Kings 21:  1 - 16

1      Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Sama'ria.
2     And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money."
3     But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."
4     And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.
5     But Jez'ebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?"
6     And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, `Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it'; and he answered, `I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7     And Jez'ebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8     So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who dwelt with Naboth in his city.
9     And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people;
10     and set two base fellows opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, `You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death."
11     And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jez'ebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters which she had sent to them,
12     they proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
13     And the two base fellows came in and sat opposite him; and the base fellows brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death with stones.
14     Then they sent to Jez'ebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead."
15     As soon as Jez'ebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jez'ebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead."
16     And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.


Psalms 5:  2 - 3, 4 - 7

2      Hearken to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to thee do I pray.
3     O LORD, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch.
4     For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not sojourn with thee.
5     The boastful may not stand before thy eyes; thou hatest all evildoers.
6     Thou destroyest those who speak lies; the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men.
7     But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love will enter thy house, I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee.

Gospel: Matthew 5:  38 - 42

38     "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39     But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40     and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well;
41     and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42     Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.

Key Verse: But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Quote of the Day:

Whoever is wakeful and prayerful in the night, in this visible darkness he is surrounded by an invisible light.

-- St. Ephraem of Syria