Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
Mark 11:1-11
¹ When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, ² and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.” ⁴ They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. ⁵ Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?” ⁶ They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷ They brought the young donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. ⁸ Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road. ⁹ Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ¹¹ Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Epistle Reading
1 John 2:18-3:10
¹⁸ Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us. ²⁰ You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. ²¹ I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ Therefore, as for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father. ²⁵ This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life. ²⁶ These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray. ²⁷ As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. ²⁸ Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. ²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. ¹ See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. ³ Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. ⁴ Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. ⁵ You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. ⁶ Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him. ⁷ Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ⁸ He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. ¹⁰ In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.