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 Luke chapter 7 and the Gospel of Matthew chapter
11. Luke chapter 7. Now when he concluded all
his sayings, in the hearing of the people, he
entered Capernaum, and a certain centurion's
servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready
to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent
elders of the Jews to him, pleading with him
to come and heal his servant. And when they came
to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying that
the one for whom he should do this was deserving,
for he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.
Then Jesus went with them, and when he was already
not far from the house, the centurion sent friends
to him, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy. that you should enter under
my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself
worthy to come to you. But say the word, and
my servant will be healed. For I also am a man
placed under authority, having soldiers under
me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes. And to
another, Come, and he comes. And to my servant,
Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these
things, he marveled at him, and turned around
and said to the crowd that followed him, I say
to you, I have not found such great faith, not
even. And a large crowd from the city was with
her. Now the Lord saw her. He had compassion
on her and said to her, Do not weep. Then he
came and touched the open coffin, and those who
carried him stood still. And he said, Young man,
I say to you, arise. So he who was dead sat up
and began to speak, and he presented him to his
mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified
God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among
us, and God has visited his people. And this
report about him went throughout all Judea and
all the surrounding region. Then the disciples
of John reported to him concerning all these
things. And John, calling two of his disciples
to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you the
coming one, or do we look for another? When the
men had come to him, they said, John the Baptist
has sent us to you, saying, Are you the coming
one, or do we look for another? And that very
hour he cured many of infirmities, afflictions,
and evil spirits. And to many blind he gave sight.
Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell
John the things you have seen and heard, that
the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the gospel preached to them, and
blessed is he who is not offended because of
me. When the messengers of John had departed,
he began to speak to the multitudes concerning
John. What did you go out into the wilderness
to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did
you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?
Indeed, those who are gorgeously appareled and
live in luxury are in kings' courts. But what
did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say
to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of
whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger
before my face, who will prepare your way before
you. For I say to you, among those born of women
there is not a greater prophet than John the
Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of
God is greater than he. And when all the people
heard him, even the tax collectors justified
God, having been baptized with the baptism of
John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected
the will of God for themselves, not having been
baptized by him. And the Lord said, To what then
shall I liken the men of this generation? And
what are they like? They are like children sitting
in the marketplace and calling to one another,
saying, We played the flute for you, and you
did not dance. We mourned to you, and you did
not weep. For John the Baptist came neither eating
bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has
a demon. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking,
and you say, Look, a glutton and a wine -bibber,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom
is justified by all her children. Then one of
the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and
he went to the Pharisee's house and sat down
to eat. And behold, a woman in the city, who
was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at
the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an
alabaster flask of fragrant oil and stood at
his feet behind him weeping. And she began to
wash his feet with her tears and wipe them with
the hair of her head. And she kissed his feet
and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now
when the Pharisee who had invited him, saw this,
he spoke to himself, saying, This man, if he
were a prophet, would know who and what manner
of woman this is who is touching him, for she
is a sinner. And Jesus answered and said to him,
Simon, I have something to say to you. So he
said, Teacher, say it. There was a certain creditor
who had two debtors, one owed five hundred denarii
and the other fifty. And when they had nothing
with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.
Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him
more? Simon answered and said, I suppose the
one whom he forgave more. And he said to him,
You have rightly judged. Then he turned to the
woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman?
I entered your house, you gave me no water for
my feet, but she has washed my feet with her
tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased
to kiss my feet since the time I came in. you
did not anoint my head with oil but this woman
has anointed my feet with fragrant oil therefore
i say to you her sins which are many are forgiven
for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven
the same loves little then he said to her your
sins are forgiven and those who sat at the table
with him began to say to themselves who is this
who even forgives sins then he said to the woman
your faith has saved you go in peace Matthew
chapter 11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished
commanding his twelve disciples, that he departed
from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
And when John had heard in prison about the works
of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said
to him, Are you the coming one, or do we look
for another? Jesus answered and said to them,
Go and tell John the things which you hear and
see, the blind see and the lame walk, the lepers
are cleansed and the deaf hear. The dead are
raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached
to them. And blessed is he who is not offended
because of me. As they departed, Jesus began
to say to the multitudes concerning John, What
did you go out into the wilderness to see? A
reed shaken by the wind. But what did you go
out to see? A man clothed in soft garments. Indeed,
those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes,
I say to you, and more than a prophet, for this
is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my
messenger before your face, who will prepare
your way before you. Assuredly, I say to you,
among those born of women, there has not risen
one greater than John the Baptist, but he who
is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he. And from the days of John the Baptist
until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent take it by force. For all the
prophets and the law prophesied until John, and
if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah
who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let
him hear. But to what shall I liken this generation?
It is like children sitting in the marketplaces
and calling to their companions and saying, We
played the flute for you, and you did not dance.
We mourned you, and you did not lament. For John
came neither eating nor drinking, and they say
he has a demon. The son of man came eating and
drinking, and they say, Look, a glutton and a
wine -bibber, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children.
Then he began to rebuke the cities in which most
of his mighty works had been done, because they
did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to
you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which
were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment
than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted
to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. For
if the mighty works which were done in you had
been done in Sodom, it would have remained until
this day. But I say to you that it shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of
judgment than for you. At that time Jesus answered
and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven
and earth. that you have hidden these things
from the wise and prudent, and have revealed
them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in your sight, all things have been delivered
to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son
except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father
except the Son, and no one to whom the Son wills
to reveal him. Come to me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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.