Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the Gospel
of Mark chapter 3 and Matthew chapter 5. Mark
3 And he entered the synagogue again, and a man
was there who had a withered hand. So they watched
him closely, whether he would heal him on the
Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he
said to the man, who had the withered hand, stepped
forward. Then he said to them, Is it lawful on
the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save
life or to kill? But they kept silent. And when
he had looked around at them with anger, being
grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said
to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he stretched
out his hand, and his hand was restored as whole
as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and
immediately plotted with the Herodians against
him, how they might destroy him. But Jesus withdrew
with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude
from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, and
Jerusalem, and Edomia, and beyond the Jordan.
And those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude,
when they heard how many things he was doing,
came to him. So he told his disciples that a
small boat should be kept ready for him because
of the multitude, lest they should crush him.
For he healed many, so that as many as had afflictions
pressed about him to touch him. And unclean spirits,
whenever they saw him, fell down before him and
cried out, saying, You are the Son of God. But
he sternly warned them that they should not make
him known. And he went up on a mountain and called
to him those he himself wanted. And they came
to him. Then he appointed twelve, that they might
be with him, and that he might send them out
to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses,
and to cast out demons. Simon, to whom he gave
the name Peter, James the son of Zebedee, and
John the brother of James, to whom he gave the
name Bonerges, that is, sons of thunder. Andrew,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the
son of Alphaeus. Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite,
and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And
they went into a house. Then the multitude came
together again, so that they could not so much
as eat bread. But when his own people heard about
this, they went out to lay hold of him, for they
said, He is out of his mind. And the scribes
who came down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub.
And by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.
So he called them to himself and said to them
in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? If
a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom
cannot stand. And if a house is divided against
itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan
has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand but has an end. No one can enter
a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless
he first binds the strong man, and then he will
plunder his house. assuredly i say to you all
sins will be forgiven the sons of men and whatever
blasphemies they may utter but he who blasphemes
against the holy spirit never has forgiveness
but is subject to eternal condemnation because
they said he has an unclean spirit then his brothers
and his mother came and standing outside they
sent to him calling him and a multitude was sitting
around him and they said to him look your mother
and your brothers are outside seeking you But
he answered them, saying, Who is my mother or
my brothers? And he looked around in a circle
at those who sat about him, and said, Here are
my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the
will of God is my brother and my sister and mother.
In seeing the multitudes, he went up on a mountain,
and when he was seated, his disciples came to
him. Then he opened his mouth and taught them,
saying, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven blessed are those who
mourn for they shall be comforted blessed are
the meek for they shall inherit the earth blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
for they shall be filled blessed are the merciful
for they shall obtain mercy blessed are the pure
in heart for they shall see god blessed are the
peacemakers for they shall be called sons of
god blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven Blessed are you when they revile and
persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against
you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly
glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For
so they persecuted the prophets who were before
you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the
salt loses in its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
It is then good for nothing but to be thrown
out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the
light of the world. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp. and
put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and
it gives light to all who are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven. Do not think that I came to destroy the
law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy,
but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, till
heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle
will by no means pass from the law. till it is
all fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of
the least of these commandments and teaches man
so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I
say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old,
You shall not murder, and whoever murders will
be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you
that whoever is angry with his brother without
a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And
whoever says to his brother, Raka, shall be in
danger of the council. But whoever says, You
fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. Therefore,
if you bring your gift to the altar and there,
remember that your brother has something against
you. Leave your gift there before the altar and
go your way. First be reconciled to your brother
and then come and offer your gift. Agree with
your adversary quickly while you are on the way
with him. Lest your adversary deliver you to
the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer
and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say
to you, you will by no means get out of there
till you have paid the last penny. You have heard
that it was said to those of old, You shall not
commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever
looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart. If
your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out
and cast it from you. For it is more profitable
for you that one of your members perish than
for your whole body to be cast into hell. And
if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it
off and cast it from you. For it is more profitable
for you that one of your members perish than
for your whole body to be cast into hell. Furthermore,
it has been said, whoever divorces his wife,
let him give her a certificate of divorce. But
I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for
any reason except sexual immorality causes her
to commit adultery, and whoever marries a woman
who is divorced commits adultery. Again, you
have heard that it was said to those of old,
you shall not swear falsely, but shall perform
your oath to the Lord. But I say to you, do not
swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's
throne, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool,
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great
king. Nor shall you swear by your head, because
you cannot make one hair white or black, but
let your yes be yes. And your no, no. For whatever
is more than these is from the evil one. You
have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to
resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your
tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever
compels you to go one mile, go with him too.
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants
to borrow, from you do not turn away. You have
heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully
use you and persecute you, that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven. For he makes his Son
rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain
on the just. and unjust. For if you love those
who love you, what reward have you? Do not even
the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet
your brethren only, what do you do more than
others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your
Father in heaven is perfect. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did. And I look
forward to seeing you again tomorrow to continue
on our journey. God bless you and have a great
day.