September 28, 2014

First Reading

Ezekiel    8: 25-28

18:25 And you have said, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Therefore, listen, O house of Israel. How could it be that my way is not fair? And is it not instead your ways that are perverse?

18:26 For when the just man turns himself away from his justice, and commits iniquity, he shall die by this; by the injustice that he has worked, he shall die.

18:27 And when the impious man turns himself away from his impiety, which he has done, and accomplishes judgment and justice, he shall cause his own soul to live.

18:28 For by considering and turning himself away from all his iniquities, which he has worked, he shall certainly live, and he shall not die.

Second Reading

Philippians   2: 1-11

2:1 Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, any solace of charity, any fellowship of the Spirit, any feelings of commiseration:

2:2 complete my joy by having the same understanding, holding to the same charity, being of one mind, with the same sentiment.

2:3 Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself.

2:4 Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others.

2:5 For this understanding in you was also in Christ Jesus:

2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized.

2:7 Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man.

2:8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross.

2:9 Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name,

2:10 so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell,

2:11 and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Gospel

Matthew 21: 28-32

21:28 But how does it seem to you? A certain man had two sons. And approaching the first, he said: ‘Son, go out today to work in my vineyard.’

21:29 And responding, he said, ‘I am not willing.’ But afterwards, being moved by repentance, he went.

21:30 And approaching the other, he spoke similarly. And answering, he said, ‘I am going, lord.’ And he did not go.

21:31 Which of the two did the will of the father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them: “Amen I say to you, that tax collectors and prostitutes shall precede you, into the kingdom of God.

21:32 For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Yet even after seeing this, you did not repent, so as to believe him.