Deacon:  Wisdom! Arise! Hear the Holy Gospel!

Priest:   Peace to you all. 

People:  And to your spirit.

Deacon:  A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew   (25:31-46)

People:  Glory to You Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:   Listen!

Deacon: At that time Jesus said,

'When the Son of Man comes in His glory, escorted by all the angels, then He will sit on His throne of glory. All the peoples will be gathered before Him. He will separate people one from another, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep to His right, and the goats to His left.

'Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, My Father has blessed you. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me food. I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me. I was naked, and you clothed Me. I was sick, and you visited Me. I was in prison, and you came to see Me".

'Then those who behave properly will respond to Him. "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You? Or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and welcome You? Or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?"

And the King will answer. "Truly I say to you, just as you helped one of the least of these brothers of Mine, so you helped Me".

Then He will say to those on His left hand, "Go away from Me, with your own curse on you. Go to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you did not give Me any food. I was thirsty, and you did not give Me any drink. I was a stranger, and you never welcomed Me. I was naked, and you never clothed Me. I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me".

Then they too will respond. "Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty, or a stranger or naked, or sick or in prison, and did not come to help You?"

Then He will answer. "Truly I say to you, just as you did not help one of the least of these, you did not help Me".  And they will go away to eternal punishment.

But those who help properly, will go to eternal life."

People:  Glory to You Lord, Glory to You