First Reading

Reading from the Book of Proverbs

Proverbs 21, 1-6. 10-13

Like water for irrigation
is the king’s heart in the hands of the Lord:
he directs it wherever he wills.
To a man all his ways seem right,
but the Lord weighs the intentions of the heart.

To do what is right and just
is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise,
and when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

The Lord watches over the way of the wicked
and brings their way to ruin.
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 8, 19-21

At that time, Jesus’ mother and his relatives came to see him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he replied, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”