Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
Luke 6:17-23
¹⁷ He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸ as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. ¹⁹ All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all. ²⁰ He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours. ²¹ Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. ²² Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. ²³ Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.
Epistle Reading
Hebrews 13:17-21
¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. ¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. ²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.