First Reading : (Genesis 23: 1-4, 19; 24: 1-8, 62-67)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalms 106: 1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5)
Gospel: (Matthew 9: 9-13)
First Reading : (Genesis 23: 1-4, 19; 24: 1-8, 62-67)
And Sara lived a hundred and twenty-seven years. And she died in the city of Arbee which is Hebron, in the land of Chanaan: and Abraham came to mourn and weep for her. And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the children of Heth, saying: I am a stranger and sojourner among you: give me the right of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead.
And so Abraham buried Sara his wife, in a double cave of the field, that looked towards Mambre, this is Hebron in the land of Chanaan. Now Abraham was old; and advanced in age: and the Lord had blessed him in all things. And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,
That I may make thee swear by the Lord the God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell: But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.
The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou camest out? And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither. The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father’s house, and out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: To thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son.
But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath; only bring not my son back thither again. At the same time Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country.
And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off. Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel, And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master.
But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all that he had done. Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother’s death.
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalms 106: 1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5)
Alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? who shall set forth all his praises?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times.
Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people: visit us with thy salvation.
That we may see the good of thy chosen, that we may rejoice in the joy of thy nation: that thou mayst be praised with thy inheritance.
Gospel: (Matthew 9: 9-13)
And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him. And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice.
For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
