First Reading

First reading

Reading from the prophecy of Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18, 25-28

Thus says the Lord: «If you say: ‘The Lord’s way is not fair’, listen, house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?

When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for the iniquity that they have committed. When the sinner turns away from the sin that they have committed and practices righteousness and justice, they shall save their life. If they consider and turn away from all the transgressions that they have committed, they shall surely live and shall not die».

Second reading

Reading from the letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Philippians

Philippians 2, 1-11

Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation from love, if we are united by the same Spirit and if you have affection for me, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Christ, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 21, 28-32

At that time, Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: «What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will go, sir’; but he did not go. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. Which of the two did the will of his father?» They said, «The second.»

Then Jesus said to them, «Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him».