FIRST READING: 2
Timothy 2: 8 - 15
8
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as
preached in my gospel,
9
the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a
criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.
10
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.
11
The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with
him;
12
if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also
will deny us;
13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny
himself.
14
Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid
disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the
hearers.
15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman
who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
PSALM:
Psalms 25: 4 - 5, 8 - 10, 14
4
Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my
salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.
8
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the
way.
9
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for
those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
14
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes
known to them his covenant.
GOSPEL: Mark
12: 28 - 34
28
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one
another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which
commandment is the first of all?"
29
Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one;
30
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
31
The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There
is no other commandment greater than these."
32
And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have
truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he;
33
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding,
and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is
much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You
are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one
dared to ask him any question.
