Monday of the First Week of Lent

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Leviticus 19.1-2, 11-18

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
“Speak to all the congregation
of the children of Israel, and tell them,
‘You shall be holy;
for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

“You shall not steal.
You shall not lie.
You shall not deceive one another.
You shall not swear by my name falsely,
and profane the name of your God.
I am the Lord.”

“You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him.
The wages of a hired servant
shall not remain with you
all night until the morning.
You shall not curse the deaf,
nor put a stumbling block
in front of the blind;
but you shall fear your God.
I am the Lord.”

“You shall do no injustice in judging.
You shall not be partial to the poor,
nor show favoritism to the great;
but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.
You shall not go up and down
as a slanderer among your people.
You shall not stand by
while the blood of your neighbor is threatened.
I am the Lord.”

“You shall not hate your brother
in your heart.
You shall surely rebuke your neighbor,
and not bear sin because of him.
You shall not take vengeance,
nor bear any grudge
against the children of your people;
but you shall love
your neighbor as yourself.
I am the Lord.”

Responsorial – Psalm 19.8, 9, 10, 15 Resp. John 6:63b

R. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
restoring the soul.
The covenant of the Lord is sure,
making the simple wise.

R. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.

R. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

R. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.

R. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

Gospel – Matthew 25.31-46

Jesus said to his disciples,
“When the Son of human comes in his glory,
and all the holy angels with him,
then he will sit upon the throne of his glory.
Before him shall be gathered all the Gentiles,
and he will separate them, one from another,
as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.
He will make the sheep stand at his right hand
and the goats at his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right hand,
‘Come, blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world.
For I was an hungry, and you gave me to eat.
I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink.
I was a stranger and you brought me in.
I was naked, and you clothed me.
I was sick, and you visited me.
I was in prison, and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?
Or thirsty, and gave you drink?
When did we see you a stranger, and brought you in?
Or naked, and clothed thee?
When did we see you sick, or in prison, and came to you?’

And the King shall answer and say to them,
‘Amen, I say unto you,
inasmuch as you have done it
for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you have done it for me.’

Then he will say also to those at his left hand,
‘Depart from me, you cursed,
into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was an hungry, and you did not give me to eat.
I was thirsty, and you did not give me to drink.
I was a stranger and you did not bring me in.
I was naked, and you did not clothe me.
I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Then they will also answer him, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison,
and did not minister to you?’
Then he will answer them, saying,
‘Amen, I say unto you,
inasmuch as you did it not
for one of the least of these,
you did not do it for me.’

And they will go away to everlasting punishment,
but the righteous to life eternal.”