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Options for the first reading Always a selection from the Old Testament (the

Hebrew scriptures)

Pentateuch

Exodus 22:20-26

Social laws

You shall not oppress or afflict a resident

alien, for you were once aliens residing in the

land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any

widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them

and they cry out to me, I will surely listen to

their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will

kill you with the sword; then your own

wives will be widows, and your children

orphans.

If you lend money to my people, the poor

among you, you must not be like a money

lender; you must not demand interest from

them. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a

pledge, you shall return it to him before

sunset; for this is his only covering; it is the

cloak for his body. What will he sleep in? If

he cries out to me, I will listen; for I am

compassionate.

Wisdom Books

Proverbs 3:1-6

Confidence in God leads to prosperity

My child, do not forget my teaching,

take to heart my commands;

For many days, and years of life,

and peace, will they bring you.

Do not let love and fidelity forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then will you win favor and esteem

before God and human beings.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

on your own intelligence do not rely;

In all your ways be mindful of him,

and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 16:1-4, 7-9

First Solomonic Collection of Sayings

Plans are made in human hearts,

but from the Lord comes the tongue’s

response.

All one’s ways are pure in one’s own eyes,

but the measurer of motives is the Lord.

Entrust your works to the Lord,

and your plans will succeed.

The Lord has made everything for a

purpose,

even the wicked for the evil day.

When the Lord is pleased with someone’s

ways,

he makes even enemies be at peace with

them.

Better a little with justice,

than a large income with injustice.

The human heart plans the way,

but the Lord directs the steps.

Proverbs 19:20-23

First Solomonic Collection of Sayings

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

that you may eventually become wise.

Many are the plans of the human heart,

but it is the decision of the Lord that

endures.

What is desired of a person is fidelity;

rather be poor than a liar.

The fear of the Lord leads to life;

one eats and sleeps free from any harm.

Ecclesiastes 1:14-18

Twofold Introduction

I have seen all things that are done under the

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sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase

after wind.

What is crooked cannot be made

straight, and you cannot count

what is not there. Though I said to myself, “See, I have greatly

increased my wisdom beyond all who were

before me in Jerusalem, and my mind has

broad experience of wisdom and

knowledge,” yet when I applied my mind to

know wisdom and knowledge, madness and

folly, I learned that this also is a chase after

wind.

For in much wisdom there is

much sorrow;

whoever increases knowledge

increases grief.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

No One Can Determine the Right Time to Act

There is an appointed time for everything,

and a time for every affair under the

heavens.

A time to give birth, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to uproot the

plant.

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to tear down, and a time to build.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones, and a time to

gather them;

a time to embrace, and a time to be far

from embraces.

A time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit have workers from their toil? I

have seen the business that God has given to

mortals to be busied about. God has made

everything appropriate to its time, but has

put the timeless into their hearts so they

cannot find out, from beginning to end, the

work which God has done.

Major Prophets

Isaiah 55:6-13

An invitation to grace

Seek the Lord while he may be found,

call upon him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their way,

and sinners their thoughts;

Let them turn to the Lord to find mercy;

to our God, who is generous in

forgiving.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways—oracle of

the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Yet just as from the heavens

the rain and snow come down

And do not return there

till they have watered the earth,

making it fertile and fruitful,

Giving seed to the one who sows

and bread to the one who eats,

So shall my word be

that goes forth from my mouth;

It shall not return to me empty,

but shall do what pleases me,

achieving the end for which I sent it.

Yes, in joy you shall go forth,

in peace you shall be brought home;

Mountains and hills shall break out in song

before you,

all trees of the field shall clap their hands.

In place of the thornbush, the cypress shall

grow,

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instead of nettles, the myrtle.

This shall be to the Lord’s renown,

as an everlasting sign that shall not fail.

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Anointed Bearer of Glad Tidings

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me;

He has sent me to bring good news to the

afflicted,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

release to the prisoners,

To announce a year of favor from the Lord

and a day of vindication by our God;

To comfort all who mourn;

to place on those who mourn in Zion

a diadem instead of ashes,

To give them oil of gladness instead of

mourning,

a glorious mantle instead of a faint spirit.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

Letter to the Exiles in Babylon

For I know well the plans I have in mind for

you—oracle of the Lord—plans for your

welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a

future of hope. When you call me, and come

and pray to me, I will listen to you. When

you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when

you seek me with all your heart, I will let

you find me.

Options for the responsorial Psalm Always a selection from the book of Psalms in the

old Old Testament

(the Hebrew scriptures)

Psalms

Psalm 118

Song of Joy for Salvation

Give thanks to the Lord, who is good,

whose faithful love endures forever.

Let the house of Israel say,

“God’s faithful love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,

“God’s faithful love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say,

“God’s faithful love endures forever.”

I called to the Lord in my distress;

the Lord has answered and freed me.

The Lord is at my side; I do not fear.

What can anyone do against me?

The Lord is at my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on my foes.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

thank to trust in human beings;

it is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in rulers.

The nations all encircled me;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They encircled me all around;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They encircled me about like bees;

they blazed like a fire among thorns.

In the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They pushed me, pushed me hard to knock

me down,

but the Lord was my helper.

The Lord is my strength and my song,

and he has been my savior.

There are shouts of joy and salvation

in the tents of the righteous.

“The Lord’s right hand had done mighty

deeds;

the Lord’s right hand is exalted.

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the Lord’s right hand has done mighty

deeds.”

I shall not die, I shall live

and recount the deeds of the Lord.

The Lord has punished me severely,

but did not hand me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness:

I will enter and thank the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord,

where the just may enter.

I will thank you, for you have answered,

and you are my savior.

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

By the Lord has this been done,

a marvel in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice in it and be glad.

We beseech you, O Lord, grant salvation;

we beseech you, O Lord, grant success.

Blest is he who comes

in the name of the Lord.

We bless you from the house of the Lord;

the Lord is God, and has given us light.

Go forward in procession with branches,

as far as the horns of the altar.

You are my God, I thank you.

My God, I praise you.

Give thanks to the Lord, who is good,

whose faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 139

The All-knowing and Ever-present God

O Lord, you search me and you know me.

you yourself know my resting any rising;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You mark when I walk or lie down;

you know all my ways through and through.

Before ever a word is on my tongue,

you know it, O Lord, through and through.

Behind and before, you besiege me,

your hand ever laid upon me.

Too wonderful for me, this knowledge;

too high, beyond my reach.

O where can I go from your spirit,

or where can I flee from your face?

If I climb the heavens, you are there.

If I lie in Sheol, you are there.

If I take the wings of the dawn

or dwell at the sea’s furthest end,

even there your hand would lead me;

your right hand would hold me fast.

If I say, “Let the darkness hide me

and the light around me be night,”

even darkness is not dark for you,

but the night will be bright as the day,

and darkness the same as the light.

For it was you who formed my inmost being,

knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I think you who wonderfully made me;

how wonderful are your works,

which my soul knows well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being fashioned in secret

and molded in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw me yet unformed;

and all days are recorded in your book,

formed before one of them came into being.

To me how precious your thoughts, O God;

how great is the sum of them!

If I count them, they are more than the sand;

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at the end I am still at your side.

O search me God, and know my heart.

O test me, and know my thoughts.

See that my path is not wicked,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Options for the Second Reading Always a selection from the New Testament,

generally the letters of Paul.

Pauline Epistles

Romans 8:28-32

God’s Indomitable Love in Christ

We know that all things work for good for

those who love God, who are called

according to his purpose. For those he

foreknew he also predestined to be

conformed to the image of his Son, so that he

might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those he predestined he also called; and

those he called he also justified; and those he

justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to this? If God is for

us, who can be against us? He who did not

spare his own Son but handed him over for

us all, how will he not also give us

everything else along with him?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

The Corinthians and Paul

Consider your own calling, brothers and

sisters. Not many of you were wise by

human standards, not many were powerful,

not many were of noble birth. Rather, God

chose the foolish of the world to shame the

wise, and God chose the weak of the world

to shame the strong, and God chose the

lowly and despised of the world, those who

count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those

who are something, so that no human being

might boast before God. It is due to him that

you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us

wisdom from God, as well as righteousness,

sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it

is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in

the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

The way of love

But I shall show you a still more excellent

way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues but

do not have love, I am a resounding gong or

a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of

prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and

all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to

move mountains but do not have love, I am

nothing. If I give away everything I own, and

if I hand my body over so that I may boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous,

love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is

not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it

is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over

injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things,

believes all things, hopes all things, endures

all things.

8Love never fails. If there are prophecies,

they will be brought to nothing; if tongues,

they will cease; if knowledge, it will be

brought to nothing. For we know partially

and we prophesy partially, but when the

perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,

think as a child, reason as a child; when I

became a man, I put aside childish things. At

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present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,

but then face to face. At present I know

partially; then I shall know fully, as I am

fully known. So faith, hope, love remain,

these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Prayer for the readers

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on

earth is named, that he may grant you in

accord with the riches of his glory to be

strengthened with power through his Spirit

in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell

in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted

and grounded in love, may have strength to

comprehend with all the holy ones what is

the breadth and length and height and

depth, and to know the love of Christ that

surpasses knowledge, so that you may be

filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far

more than all we ask or imagine, by the

power at work within us, to him be glory in

the church and in Christ Jesus to all

generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:4-13

Joy and peace

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it

again: rejoice! Your kindness should be

known to all. The Lord is near. Have no

anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer

and petition, with thanksgiving, make your

requests known to God. Then the peace of

God that surpasses all understanding will

guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is

true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is gracious, if there is any

excellence and if there is anything worthy of

praise, think about these things. Keep on

doing what you have learned and received

and heard and seen in me. Then the God of

peace will be with you.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last

you revived your concern for me. You were,

of course, concerned about me but lacked an

opportunity. Not that I say this because of

need, for I have learned, in whatever

situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I

know indeed how to live in humble

circumstances; I know also how to live with

abundance. In every circumstance and in all

things I have learned the secret of being well

fed and of going hungry, of living in

abundance and of being in need. I have the

strength for everything through him who

empowers me.

2 Timothy 1:6-14

The Gifts Timothy Has Received

For this reason, I remind you to stir into

flame the gift of God that you have through

the imposition of my hands. For God did not

give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of

power and love and self-control. So do not

be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,

nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear

your share of hardship for the gospel with

the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life, not

according to our works but according to his

own design and the grace bestowed on us in

Christ Jesus before time began, but now

made manifest through the appearance of

our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death

and brought life and immortality to light

through the gospel, for which I was

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appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.

On this account I am suffering these things;

but I am not ashamed, for I know him in

whom I have believed and am confident that

he is able to guard what has been entrusted

to me until that day. Take as your norm the

sound words that you heard from me, in the

faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard

this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit

that dwells within us.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Solemn Charge & Reward for Fidelity

I charge you in the presence of God and of

Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and

the dead, and by his appearing and his

kingly power: proclaim the word; be

persistent whether it is convenient or

inconvenient; convince, reprimand,

encourage through all patience and teaching.

For the time will come when people will not

tolerate sound doctrine but, following their

own desires and insatiable curiosity, will

accumulate teachers and will stop listening

to the truth and will be diverted to myths.

But you, be self-possessed in all

circumstances; put up with hardship;

perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill

your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a

libation, and the time of my departure is at

hand. I have competed well; I have finished

the race; I have kept the faith. From now on

the crown of righteousness awaits me, which

the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on

that day, and not only to me, but to all who

have longed for his appearance.

Hebrews 12:1-4

God our Father

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so

great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid

ourselves of every burden and sin that clings

to us and persevere in running the race that

lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed

on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For

the sake of the joy that lay before him he

endured the cross, despising its shame, and

has taken his seat at the right of the throne of

God. Consider how he endured such

opposition from sinners, in order that you

may not grow weary and lose heart. In your

struggle against sin you have not yet resisted

to the point of shedding blood.

General Epistles

James 1:2-11

Perseverance in Trial

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you

encounter various trials, for you know that

the testing of your faith produces

perseverance. And let perseverance be

perfect, so that you may be perfect and

complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of

you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who

gives to all generously and ungrudgingly,

and he will be given it. But he should ask in

faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is

like a wave of the sea that is driven and

tossed about by the wind. For that person

must not suppose that he will receive

anything from the Lord, since he is a man of

two minds, unstable in all his ways.

The brother in lowly circumstances should

take pride in his high standing, and the rich

one in his lowliness, for he will pass away

“like the flower of the field.” For the sun

comes up with its scorching heat and dries

up the grass, its flower droops, and the

beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the

rich person fade away in the midst of his

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pursuits.

1 Peter 1:10-16

Blessing & Obedience

Concerning this salvation, prophets who

prophesied about the grace that was to be

yours searched and investigated it,

investigating the time and circumstances that

the Spirit of Christ within them indicated

when it testified in advance to the sufferings

destined for Christ and the glories to follow

them. It was revealed to them that they were

serving not themselves but you with regard

to the things that have now been announced

to you by those who preached the good news

to you [through] the holy Spirit sent from

heaven, things into which angels longed to

look.

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind,

live soberly, and set your hopes completely

on the grace to be brought to you at the

revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient

children, do not act in compliance with the

desires of your former ignorance but, as he

who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in

every aspect of your conduct, for it is

written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.”

1 Peter 5:5-11

Advice to the community

And all of you, clothe yourselves with

humility in your dealings with one another,

for:

“God opposes the proud

but bestows favor on the humble.”

So humble yourselves under the mighty

hand of God, that he may exalt you in due

time. Cast all your worries upon him because

he cares for you.

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the

devil is prowling around like a roaring lion

looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him,

steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow

believers throughout the world undergo the

same sufferings. The God of all grace who

called you to his eternal glory through Christ

[Jesus] will himself restore, confirm,

strengthen, and establish you after you have

suffered a little. To him be dominion forever.

Amen.

1 John 3:14, 16-18

Love for one another

We know that we have passed from death to

life because we love our brothers and sisters.

The way we came to know love was that he

laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay

down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If

someone who has worldly means sees a

brother or a sister in need and refuses them

compassion, how can the love of God remain

in him? Children, let us love not in word or

speech but in deed and truth.

Options for the Gospel Always a selection from the New Testament

Gospels, which tell of Christ’s life.

The Synoptic Gospels

Matthew 4:18-22

The call of the first disciples

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he

saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter,

and his brother Andrew, casting a net into

the sea; they were fishermen. He said to

them, “Come after me, and I will make you

fishers of men.” At once they left their nets

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and followed him. He walked along from

there and saw two other brothers, James, the

son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They

were in a boat, with their father Zebedee,

mending their nets. He called them, and

immediately they left their boat and their

father and followed him.

Matthew 5:1-16

The sermon on the mount

When he saw the crowds, he went up the

mountain, and after he had sat down, his

disciples came to him. He began to teach

them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for

righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the

sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and

persecute you and utter every kind of evil

against you [falsely] because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be

great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the

prophets who were before you.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses

its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is

no longer good for anything but to be

thrown out and trampled underfoot. You

are the light of the world. A city set on a

mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they

light a lamp and then put it under a bushel

basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it

gives light to all in the house. Just so, your

light must shine before others, that they may

see your good deeds and glorify your

heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:25-34

Dependence on God

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about

your life, what you will eat [or drink], or

about your body, what you will wear. Is not

life more than food and the body more than

clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they

do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into

barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are not you more important than they? Can

any of you by worrying add a single moment

to your life-span? Why are you anxious

about clothes? Learn from the way the wild

flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But

I tell you that not even Solomon in all his

splendor was clothed like one of them. If

God so clothes the grass of the field, which

grows today and is thrown into the oven

tomorrow, will he not much more provide

for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry

and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are

we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All

these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly

Father knows that you need them all. But

seek first the kingdom [of God] and his

righteousness, and all these things will be

given you besides. Do not worry about

tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Matthew 11:25-30

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Praise of the Father & the gentle mastery of

Christ

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise

to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for

although you have hidden these things from

the wise and the learned you have revealed

them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has

been your gracious will. All things have been

handed over to me by my Father. No one

knows the Son except the Father, and no one

knows the Father except the Son and anyone

to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are

burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my

yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am

meek and humble of heart; and you will find

rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and

my burden light.”

Matthew 28: 16-20

The Commissioning of the Disciples

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the

mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

When they saw him, they worshiped, but

they doubted. Then Jesus approached and

said to them, “All power in heaven and on

earth has been given to me. Go, therefore,

and make disciples of all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to

observe all that I have commanded you. And

behold, I am with you always, until the end

of the age.”

Luke 5:1-11

The call of Simon the fisherman

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus

and listening to the word of God, he was

standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw

two boats there alongside the lake; the

fishermen had disembarked and were

washing their nets. Getting into one of the

boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked

him to put out a short distance from the

shore. Then he sat down and taught the

crowds from the boat. After he had finished

speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into

deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

Simon said in reply, “Master, we have

worked hard all night and have caught

nothing, but at your command I will lower

the nets.” When they had done this, they

caught a great number of fish and their nets

were tearing. They signaled to their partners

in the other boat to come to help them. They

came and filled both boats so that they were

in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw

this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful

man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish

they had made seized him and all those with

him, and likewise James and John, the sons

of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from

now on you will be catching men.” When

they brought their boats to the shore, they

left everything and followed him.

Luke 10:25-37

The greatest commandment & the parable of the

good Samaritan

There was a scholar of the law who stood up

to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I

do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him,

“What is written in the law? How do you

read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the

Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all

your being, with all your strength, and with

all your mind, and your neighbor as

yourself.” He replied to him, “You have

answered correctly; do this and you will

live.”

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But because he wished to justify himself, he

said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers

as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.

They stripped and beat him and went off

leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to

be going down that road, but when he saw

him, he passed by on the opposite side.

Likewise a Levite came to the place, and

when he saw him, he passed by on the

opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who

came upon him was moved with compassion

at the sight. He approached the victim,

poured oil and wine over his wounds and

bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his

own animal, took him to an inn and cared for

him. The next day he took out two silver

coins and gave them to the innkeeper with

the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you

spend more than what I have given you, I

shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of

these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to

the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one

who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to

him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 14:25-33

Sayings on Discipleship

Great crowds were traveling with him, and

he turned and addressed them, “If any one

comes to me without hating his father and

mother, wife and children, brothers and

sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be

my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own

cross and come after me cannot be my

disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a

tower does not first sit down and calculate

the cost to see if there is enough for its

completion? Otherwise, after laying the

foundation and finding himself unable to

finish the work the onlookers should laugh

at him and say, ‘This one began to build but

did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what

king marching into battle would not first sit

down and decide whether with ten thousand

troops he can successfully oppose another

king advancing upon him with twenty

thousand troops? But if not, while he is still

far away, he will send a delegation to ask for

peace terms. In the same way, everyone of

you who does not renounce all his

possessions cannot be my disciple.

Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Lost Son

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the

younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give

me the share of your estate that should come

to me.’ So the father divided the property

between them. After a few days, the younger

son collected all his belongings and set off to

a distant country where he squandered his

inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he

had freely spent everything, a severe famine

struck that country, and he found himself in

dire need. So he hired himself out to one of

the local citizens who sent him to his farm to

tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill

of the pods on which the swine fed, but

nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses

he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired

workers have more than enough food to eat,

but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get

up and go to my father and I shall say to

him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven

and against you. I no longer deserve to be

called your son; treat me as you would treat

one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up

and went back to his father. While he was

still a long way off, his father caught sight of

him, and was filled with compassion. He ran

to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned

against heaven and against you; I no longer

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deserve to be called your son.’ But his father

ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the

finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on

his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the

fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us

celebrate with a feast, because this son of

mine was dead, and has come to life again;

he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the

celebration began. Now the older son had

been out in the field and, on his way back, as

he neared the house, he heard the sound of

music and dancing. He called one of the

servants and asked what this might mean.

The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has

returned and your father has slaughtered the

fattened calf because he has him back safe

and sound.’ He became angry, and when he

refused to enter the house, his father came

out and pleaded with him. He said to his

father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served

you and not once did I disobey your orders;

yet you never gave me even a young goat to

feast on with my friends. But when your son

returns who swallowed up your property

with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the

fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you

are here with me always; everything I have is

yours. But now we must celebrate and

rejoice, because your brother was dead and

has come to life again; he was lost and has

been found.’”

The Gospel of John

John 1:1-5, 9-14, 16-18

Prologue

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human

race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone,

was coming into the world.

He was in the world,

and the world came to be through him,

but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own,

but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave

power to become children of God, to those

who believe in his name, who were born not

by natural generation nor by human choice

nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only Son,

full of grace and truth.

From his fullness we have all received, grace

in place of grace, because while the law was

given through Moses, grace and truth came

through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen

God. The only Son, God, who is at the

Father’s side, has revealed him.

John 3:16-21

Nicodemus

For God so loved the world that he gave his

only Son, so that everyone who believes in

him might not perish but might have eternal

life. For God did not send his Son into the

world to condemn the world, but that the

world might be saved through him. Whoever

believes in him will not be condemned, but

whoever does not believe has already been

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condemned, because he has not believed in

the name of the only Son of God. And this is

the verdict, that the light came into the

world, but people preferred darkness to

light, because their works were evil. For

everyone who does wicked things hates the

light and does not come toward the light, so

that his works might not be exposed. But

whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so

that his works may be clearly seen as done in

God.