Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
Mark 8:22-26
²² He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. ²³ He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. ²⁴ He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.” ²⁵ Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly. ²⁶ He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”
Epistle Reading
Hebrews 9:8-10
⁸ The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; ⁹ which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect; ¹⁰ being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
Hebrews 9:15-23
¹⁵ For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. ¹⁷ For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹ Moreover he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. ²² According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. ²³ It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.