First Reading

Reading from the book of Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) 11, 9–12, 8

Rejoice, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever delights your eyes,
but remember that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
So banish sorrow from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are fleeting.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”.
Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain.

When the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop.
When the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim.
When the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades.
When people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint.
When people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets.

When the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
and mourners go about the streets.

Before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Everything is meaningless!”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 9, 43-45

At that time, while everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men”.

But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.