1st Scripture Reading – Romans 12:9-21
Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; 10
love one another with
mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
11Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit;
serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.
13 Contribute to
the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who
rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant,
but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil
for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18
If it is possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for
the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
20
Instead, “if
your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by
doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”
21Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
2nd Scripture Reading – Matthew 16:21-27
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and
undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and
on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God
forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”
23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind
me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on
human things.”
The Cross and Self-Denial
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and
take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those
who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole
world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will
repay everyone for what has been done.