Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
Matthew 4:12-17
¹² Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³ Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ¹⁵ “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, ¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” ¹⁷ From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Epistle Reading
Ephesians 4:7-13
⁷ But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸ Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” ⁹ Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. ¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;