Monday, December 4

1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

3Honor widows who are really widows.

4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

6But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.

7And these things command, that they may be blameless.

8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,

10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

9Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

14For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

16But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

27Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,

28saying: 'Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

29Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children.

30And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.

31Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.

32Last of all the woman died also.

33Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.'

34Jesus answered and said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

35But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

36nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

37But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'

38For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.'

39Then some of the scribes answered and said, 'Teacher, You have spoken well.'

40But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

41And He said to them, 'How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?

42Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: 'The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand,

43Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' '

44Therefore David calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?'

32'Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

35'Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;

36and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

37Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

38And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

40Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.'