Reading 1, Mi 2:1-5

¹ Disaster for those who plot evil, who lie in bed planning mischief! No sooner is it dawn than they do it, since they have the power to do so.

² Seizing the fields that they covet, they take over houses as well, owner and house they seize alike, the man himself as well as his inheritance.

³ So Yahweh says this: Look, I am now plotting a disaster for this breed from which you will not extricate your necks; you will not hold your heads up then, for the times will be disastrous indeed.

⁴ That day they will make a satire on you, they will strike up a dirge and say, 'We have been stripped of everything; my people's land has been divided up, no one else can restore it to them, our fields have been awarded to our despoiler.'

⁵ Because of this, you will have no one to measure out a share in Yahweh's community.

Gospel, Mt 12:14-21

¹⁴ At this the Pharisees went out and began to plot against him, discussing how to destroy him.

¹⁵ Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all

¹⁶ but warned them not to make him known.

¹⁷ This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸ Look! My servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul delights, I will send my Spirit upon him, and he will present judgement to the nations;

¹⁹ he will not brawl or cry out, his voice is not heard in the streets,

²⁰ he will not break the crushed reed, or snuff the faltering wick,

²¹ until he has made judgement victorious; in him the nations will put their hope.

September 2010

October 2010