First Reading

Reading from the prophecy of Micah

Micah 2, 1-5

Woe to those who plan injustices,
who plot evil during the night
and at dawn carry it out,
because they are powerful people!

They covet fields and seize them,
they covet houses and usurp them,
violating all rights
they ruin the man and strip him of his inheritance.

Therefore the Lord says:
«I am planning against this people
a series of calamities
from which they will not escape.
Then they will no longer walk in pride,
because it will be a time of misfortune.
On that day, the people will mock them
and sing them a mournful song:
They have stripped us of everything
and divided our lands among themselves;
they have taken possession of our inheritance
and there is no one to return it to us».

Therefore the Lord says:
«When the assembly of the people
redistributes the lands,
there will be no portion for them».

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 12, 14-21

At that time, the Pharisees conspired against Jesus to put an end to him. When Jesus learned of this, he withdrew from there. Many followed him, and he healed all the sick and sternly commanded them not to make him known, so that the words of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold;
my chosen one, in whom I delight.
I have put my Spirit upon him,
to bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry out or shout,
nor will his voice be heard in the streets,
he will not break a bruised reed,
nor quench a smoldering wick,
until he brings justice to victory on the earth;
and in his name the nations will put their hope.