Saint John Eudes, Priest

1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2“Son of man, prophesy about the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and you shall say to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds? 3You consumed the milk, and you covered yourselves with the wool, and you killed what was fattened. But my flock you did not feed. 4What was weak, you have not strengthened, and what was sick, you have not healed. What was broken, you have not bound, and what was cast aside, you have not led back again, and what was lost, you have not sought. Instead, you ruled over them with severity and with power. 5And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd. And they became devoured by all the wild beasts of the field, and they were dispersed. 6My sheep have wandered to every mountain and to every exalted hill. And my flocks have been scattered across the face of the earth. And there was no one who sought them; there was no one, I say, who sought them. 7Because of this, O shepherds, listen to the word of the Lord: 8As I live, says the Lord God, since my flocks have become a prey, and my sheep have been devoured by all the wild beasts of the field, since there was no shepherd, for my shepherds did not seek my flock, but instead the shepherds fed themselves, and they did not feed my flocks: 9because of this, O shepherds, listen to the word of the Lord: 10Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will be over the shepherds. I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease, so that they no longer refrain from feeding the flock. Neither will the shepherds feed themselves any more. And I will deliver my flock from their mouth; and it will no longer be food for them. 11For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will seek my sheep, and I myself will visit them.

1A Psalm of David. The Lord directs me, and nothing will be lacking to me.

2He has settled me here, in a place of pasture. He has led me out to the water of refreshment.

3He has converted my soul. He has led me away on the paths of justice, for the sake of his name.

4For, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they have given me consolation.

5You have prepared a table in my sight, opposite those who trouble me. You have anointed my head with oil, and my cup, which inebriates me, how brilliant it is!

6And your mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and so may I dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days.

1“The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard. 2Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.’ 5So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly. 6Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’ 7They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.’ 8And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.’ 9And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius. 10Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius. 11And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family, 12saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.’ 13But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius? 14Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to you. 15And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?’ 16So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”