October 25th : First Reading If you are harsh with the widow and orphan, my anger will flare against you.A Reading from the Book of Exodus 22:20-26

October 25th : First Reading 

If you are harsh with the widow and orphan, my anger will flare against you.

A Reading from the Book of Exodus 22:20-26 

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the sons of Israel this:

  ‘“You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan; if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry; my anger will flare and I shall kill you with the sword, your own wives will be widows, your own children orphans.

  ‘“If you lend money to any of my people, to any poor man among you, you must not play the usurer with him: you must not demand interest from him.

  ‘“If you take another’s cloak as a pledge, you must give it back to him before sunset. It is all the covering he has; it is the cloak he wraps his body in; what else would he sleep in? If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity.”’

The Word of the Lord.