Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop

7Yet to each one of us there has been given grace according to the measure allotted by Christ. 8Because of this, he says: “Ascending on high, he took captivity itself captive; he gave gifts to men.” 9Now that he has ascended, what is left except for him also to descend, first to the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the same one who also ascended above all the heavens, so that he might fulfill everything. 11And the same one granted that some would be Apostles, and some Prophets, yet truly others evangelists, and others pastors and teachers, 12for the sake of the perfection of the saints, by the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ, 13until we all meet in the unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as a perfect man, in the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ. 14So may we then no longer be little children, disturbed and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, and by the craftiness which deceives unto error. 15Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself. 16For in him, the whole body is joined closely together, by every underlying joint, through the function allotted to each part, bringing improvement to the body, toward its edification in charity.

1A Canticle in steps. I rejoiced in the things that were said to me: “We shall go into the house of the Lord.”

2Our feet were standing in your courts, O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem has been built as a city, whose participation is unto itself.

4For to that place, the tribes ascended, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to confess to the name of the Lord.

5For in that place, seats have sat down in judgment, seats above the house of David.

1And there were present, at that very time, some who were reporting about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices. 2And responding, he said to them: “Do you think that these Galileans must have sinned more than all other Galileans, because they suffered so much? 3No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all perish similarly. 4And those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they also were greater transgressors than all the men living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you. But if you do not repent, you will all perish similarly.” 6And he also told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree, which was planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, but found none. 7Then he said to the cultivator of the vineyard: ‘Behold, for these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Therefore, cut it down. For why should it even occupy the land?’ 8But in response, he said to him: ‘Lord, let it be for this year also, during which time I will dig around it and add fertilizer. 9And, indeed, it should bear fruit. But if not, in the future, you shall cut it down.’ ”