The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. From Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18, NRSV The book of Leviticus is a book of laws. It contains the laws given by God to the Jewish people, God’s…
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Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said,…
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If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. From Isaiah 58:9-14, NRSV In yesterday’s reading we heard Isaiah’s criticism of…
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Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke,to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house;when you see the naked, to cover them, and…
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I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you…
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Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. From Joel 2: 12-18, NRSV As we enter the season of…
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Accept whatever befalls you, and in times of humiliation be patient.For gold is tested in the fire, and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him. From Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11, NRSV In today’s reading, we are reminded of our duties to…
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All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains for ever.The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them?The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out?Wisdom was created before all other things, and prudent understanding from…
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The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. From Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18, NRSV The book of Leviticus is a book of laws. It contains the laws given…
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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. From Hebrews 11:1-7, NRSV In today’s…
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