2 Corinthians 8.7-15
(Epistle)
7But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
10I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
11But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
14but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality.
15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Hebrews 9.1-7
(Epistle, Placing of the Sash of the Theotokos)
1Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.
2For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread, which is called the Holy Place.
3After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
5and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.
6Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services,
7but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.
Mark 3.6-12
(Gospel)
6The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
7Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
8from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
9He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him.
10For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
11The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him and cried, “You are the Son of God!”
12He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.
Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28
(Gospel, Placing of the Sash of the Theotokos)
38As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.
40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”
41Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
27It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!”
28But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”