First Reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 1, 10-17

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah:
“What are all your sacrifices to me?”,
says the Lord.
I am weary of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened calves;
I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs and goats.

Who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings;
your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood.
Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow’’.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 10, 34–11, 1

At that time, Jesus said to his apostles: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward’’.

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.