Thursday in the First Week of Lent
EPISTLE. Ezech, xviii. 1-9.
IN those days : The word of the Lord came to me, saying : What is the meaning, that you use among you this parable as a proverb in the land of Israel, saying : The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, this parable shall be 110 more to you a proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are Mine : as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine : the soul that sinneth, the same shall die. And if a man be just, and do judgment and justice, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel : and hath not defiled his neighbor s wife, nor come near to a menstruous woman : and hath not wronged any man : but hath restored the pledge to the debtor, hath taken nothing away by violence : hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment : hath not lent upon usury, nor taken any increase : hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, and hath executed true judgment between man and man : hath walked in My commandments, and kept My judgments, to do according to truth : he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xv. 21-28.
At that time : Jesus went from thence, and retired into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to Him : Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David : my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil. Who answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying : Send her away, for she crieth after us. And He answering, said : I was not sent but to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel. But she came and adored Him, saying : Lord, help me. Who answer ing, said : It is not good to take the bread of the children, and to cast it to the dogs. But she said : Yea, Lord, for the whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus answering, said to her : O woman, great is thy faith : be it done to thee as thou wilt : and her daughter was cured from that hour.
Prayer.
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Next: Friday in the First Week of Lent-Ember Day.
