First Reading

Reading from the Book of Isaiah

Isaiah 7, 1-9

When Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched on Jerusalem to attack it, but they were unable to conquer it.

When the news reached the House of David that Aram had encamped in Ephraim, the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled like the trees of the forest shaken by the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the road to the fuller’s field, and say to him: ‘Be firm and keep calm. Do not be afraid or disheartened because of these two smoking torches, at the blazing anger of Rezin king of Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Because Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah have plotted against you, saying: Let us invade Judah, terrify it, seize it for ourselves and set up the son of Tabeel as its king’ ”.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 11, 20-24

At that time Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they had not repented. “Alas for you, Chorazin!” he said. “Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Still, I tell you that on Judgement Day it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

And as for you, Capernaum, did you hope to be raised up to heaven? You shall be flung down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. Still, I tell you that on Judgement Day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for you.”