February 26, 2022
Saturday, February 26, 2022
150 Bishops of the Holy Council of Constantinople
Ezekiel 3:16-19
II Corinthians 6:1-14
Matthew 12:22-32
Ezekiel 3:16-19
[16] And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me:
[17] “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
[18] If I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
[19] But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you will have saved your life.
II Corinthians 6:1-14
[1] Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.
[2] For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you,
and helped you on the day of salvation.”
Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
[3] We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
[4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
[5] beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger;
[6] by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
[7] truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
[8] in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
[9] as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed;
[10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
[11] Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide.
[12] You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
[13] In return — I speak as to children — widen your hearts also.
[14] Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Matthew 12:22-32
[22] Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
[23] And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
[24] But when the Pharisees heard it they said, “It is only by Be-el’zebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
[25] Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand;
[26] and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
[27] And if I cast out demons by Be-el’zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
[28] But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
[29] Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
[30] He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
[31] Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
[32] And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyright © National Council of Churches of Christ in America
Tag:lectionary