Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
John 8:42-51
⁴² Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. ⁴⁶ Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.” ⁴⁸ Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. ⁵¹ Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”
Epistle Reading
Acts 12:12-17
¹² Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³ When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. ¹⁷ But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place.