Daily Readings

Beloved:I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,because the hearts of the holy oneshave been refreshed by you, brother.Therefore, although I have the full right in Christto order you to do what is proper,I rather urge you out of love,being as I am, Paul, an old man,and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,whose father I have become in my imprisonment,who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.I should have liked to retain him for myself,so that he might serve me on your behalfin my imprisonment for the Gospel,but I did not want to do anything without your consent,so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,that you might have him back forever,no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,as a man and in the Lord.So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.And if he has done you any injusticeor owes you anything, charge it to me.I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.Refresh my heart in Christ.

R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets captives free.R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD gives sight to the blind.The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;the LORD loves the just.The LORD protects strangers.R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.or:R. Alleluia.The fatherless and the widow he sustains,but the way of the wicked he thwarts.The LORD shall reign forever;your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.or:R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,Jesus said in reply,“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,“The days will come when you will long to seeone of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.There will be those who will say to you,‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.For just as lightning flashesand lights up the sky from one side to the other,so will the Son of Man be in his day.But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.” 

Beloved:Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities,to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate,exercising all graciousness toward everyone.For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded,slaves to various desires and pleasures,living in malice and envy,hateful ourselves and hating one another.

But when the kindness and generous loveof God our savior appeared,not because of any righteous deeds we had donebut because of his mercy,he saved us through the bath of rebirthand renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he richly poured out on usthrough Jesus Christ our savior,so that we might be justified by his graceand become heirs in hope of eternal life.

R.    (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sideWith your rod and your staffthat give me courage.R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;And I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.In all circumstances, give thanks,for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”And when he saw them, he said,“Go show yourselves to the priests.”As they were going they were cleansed.And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.He was a Samaritan.Jesus said in reply,“Ten were cleansed, were they not?Where are the other nine?Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;your faith has saved you.”

Beloved:You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine,namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified,self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior,not slanderers, not addicted to drink,teaching what is good, so that they may train younger womento love their husbands and children,to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers,under the control of their husbands,so that the word of God may not be discredited.

Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves,showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect,with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speechthat cannot be criticized,so that the opponent will be put to shamewithout anything bad to say about us.

For the grace of God has appeared, saving alland training us to reject godless ways and worldly desiresand to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,as we await the blessed hope,the appearance of the glory of the great Godand of our savior Jesus Christ,who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessnessand to cleanse for himself a people as his own,eager to do what is good.

R.    (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.Trust in the LORD and do good,that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.Take delight in the LORD,and he will grant you your heart’s requests.R.    The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;their inheritance lasts forever.By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,and he approves his way.R.    The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.Turn from evil and do good,that you may abide forever;The just shall possess the landand dwell in it forever.R.    The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love him,and we will come to him.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to the Apostles:“Who among you would say to your servantwho has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?Would he not rather say to him,‘Prepare something for me to eat.Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.You may eat and drink when I am finished’?Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?So should it be with you.When you have done all you have been commanded, say,‘We are unprofitable servants;we have done what we were obliged to do.’”