January 22, 2027

6Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises. Old and New Covenants. 7For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second one. 8But he finds fault with them and says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 9It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they did not stand by my covenant and I ignored them, says the Lord. 10But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and kinsman, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know me, from least to greatest. 12For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sins no more.” 13When he speaks of a “new” covenant, he declares the first one obsolete. And what has become obsolete and has grown old is close to disappearing.

8Show us, LORD, your mercy; grant us your salvation. 10Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear him; glory will dwell in our land. 11Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. 12Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven. 13Yes, the LORD will grant his bounty; our land will yield its produce. 14Justice will march before him, and make a way for his footsteps.

13The Mission of the Twelve. He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons: 16[he appointed the twelve:] Simon, whom he named Peter; 17James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, 19and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.