Saint Justin Martyr

2Grace to you. And may peace be fulfilled according to the plan of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord, 3in the same manner that all things which are for life and piety have been given to us by his Divine virtue, through the plan of him who has called us to our own glory and virtue. 4Through Christ, he has given us the greatest and most precious promises, so that by these things you may become sharers in the Divine Nature, fleeing from the corruption of that desire which is in the world. 5But as for you, taking up every concern, minister virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge; 6and in knowledge, moderation; and in moderation, patience; and in patience, piety; 7and in piety, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.

1The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven.

2He will say to the Lord, “You are my supporter and my refuge.” My God, I will hope in him.

…

14Because he has hoped in me, I will free him. I will protect him because he has known my name.

15He will cry out to me, and I will heed him. I am with him in tribulation. I will rescue him, and I will glorify him.

16I will fill him with length of days. And I will reveal to him my salvation.

1And he began to speak to them in parables: “A man dug a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a pit, and built a tower, and he loaned it out to farmers, and he set out on a long journey. 2And in time, he sent a servant to the farmers, in order to receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the farmers. 3But they, having apprehended him, beat him and sent him away empty. 4And again, he sent another servant to them. And they wounded him on the head, and they treated him with contempt. 5And again, he sent another, and him they killed, and many others: some they beat, but others they killed. 6Therefore, having still one son, most dear to him, he sent him also to them, at the very end, saying, ‘For they will reverence my son.’ 7But the settlers said one to another: ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him. And then the inheritance will be ours.’ 8And apprehending him, they killed him. And they cast him out of the vineyard. 9Therefore, what will the lord of the vineyard do?” “He will come and destroy the settlers. And he will give the vineyard to others.” 10“And so, have you not read this scripture?: ‘The stone which the builders have rejected, the same has been made the head of the corner. 11By the Lord has this been done, and it is wondrous in our eyes.’ ” 12And they sought to take hold of him, but they feared the crowd. For they knew that he had spoken this parable about them. And leaving him behind, they went away.