1 Corinthians 7.24-35
(Epistle)
24Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.
25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
26Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is.
27Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek a wife.
28But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
29But I say this, brothers: the time is short. From now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;
30and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;
31and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
32But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
33but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.
35This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.
2 Corinthians 6.1-10
(Epistle, Euphemia (July))
1Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.
2For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
3We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
4but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,
6in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,
9as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed,
10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
Matthew 15.12-21
(Gospel)
12Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
16So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand?
17Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body?
18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
20These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”
21Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Luke 7.36-50
(Gospel, Euphemia (July))
36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table.
37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
38Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”