Ephesians 5.1-8
(Epistle)
1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.
5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7Therefore don’t be partakers with them.
8For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
Hebrews 10.32-38
(Epistle, Ignatius' Relics)
32But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
33partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions, and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
34For you both had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
35Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
36For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37“In a very little while, he who comes will come and will not wait.
38But the righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
Luke 14.1-11
(Gospel)
1When he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching him.
2Behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him.
3Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
4But they were silent. He took him, and healed him, and let him go.
5He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”
6They couldn’t answer him regarding these things.
7He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,
8“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,
9and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place.
10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Mark 9.33-41
(Gospel, Ignatius' Relics)
33He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
34But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way about who was the greatest.
35He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
36He took a little child and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37“Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”
38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
39But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
40For whoever is not against us is on our side.
41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.