First Reading
Isaiah 46:1-13Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and cattle; these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary animals. They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, as though we were alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales-- they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries out to it, it does not answer or save anyone from trouble. Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, "My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention," calling a bird of prey from the east, the man for my purpose from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have planned, and I will do it. Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from deliverance: I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off, and my salvation will not tarry; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.
Second Reading
Ephesians 6:10-24Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts. Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Gospel
Mark 5:1-20They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the swine; let us enter them." So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 30 Exaltabo te, Domine1 I will exalt you, O LORD, because you have lifted me up and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you, and you restored me to health.
3 You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4 Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, his favor for a lifetime.
6 Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning.
7 While I felt secure, I said, "I shall never be disturbed. You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains."
8 Then you hid your face, and I was filled with fear.
9 I cried to you, O LORD; I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
10 What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
11 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; O LORD, be my helper."
12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
Psalm 32 Beati quorum
1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long.
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt.
6 I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
8 You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
9 I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will guide you with my eye.
10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you."
11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD.
12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 42 Quemadmodum1 As the deer longs for the water-brooks, so longs my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long they say to me, "Where now is your God?"
4 I pour out my soul when I think on these things; how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God,
5 With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, among those who keep holy-day.
6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? and why are you so disquieted within me?
7 Put your trust in God; for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
8 My soul is heavy within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon.
9 One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts; all your rapids and floods have gone over me.
10 The LORD grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
11 I will say to the God of my strength, "Why have you forgotten me? and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?"
12 While my bones are being broken, my enemies mock me to my face;
13 All day long they mock me and say to me, "Where now is your God?"
14 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? and why are you so disquieted within me?
15 Put your trust in God; for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 43 Judica me, Deus
1 Give judgment for me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked.
2 For you are the God of my strength; why have you put me from you? and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?
3 Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;
4 That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God.
5 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? and why are you so disquieted within me?
6 Put your trust in God; for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
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