The First Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 43:20-33
20 When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate.
21 It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire.
22 A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily, a dew coming after heat refresheth.
23 By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands therein.
24 They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.
25 For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales created.
26 By him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his word all things consist.
27 We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all.
28 How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works.
29 The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power.
30 When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.
31 Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is?
32 There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works.
33 For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.
The Second Lesson
Matthew 9:36-10:15
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Book Worth Considering
