Ezekiel 18:25-28

“When the wicked man turns away from his wickedness, he shall save his life.” 

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel

Thus says the Lord: “You say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’

Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life. Because he has considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”  

The word of the Lord.

Psalm 25:4-5.6-7.8-9 (R.6a)

Response: Remember your compassion, O Lord.

O Lord, make me know your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God of my salvation.
I have hoped in you all day long. R. 

Remember your compassion, O Lord,
and your merciful love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth,
nor my transgressions.
In your merciful love remember me,
because of your goodness, O Lord. R. 

Good and upright is the Lord;
he shows the way to sinners.
He guides the humble in right judgement;
to the humble he teaches his way. R.

Philippians 2:1-11

“Have this mind among yourselves which was in Christ Jesus.”

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians

* Brethren: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus,*
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form
he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

*The word of the Lord.*

Shorter form: Philippians 2:1-5. Read between *.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. Alleluia

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;

and I know them, and they follow me.

Alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 21:28-32

“Afterwards he repented and went. The tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

† A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time: Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterwards he repented and went. “And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe in him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterwards repent and believe him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.