September 12, 2027

5The Lord GOD opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away. 6I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; My face I did not hide from insults and spitting. 7The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. 8He who declares my innocence is near. Who will oppose me? Let us appear together. Who will dispute my right? Let them confront me. 9See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will declare me guilty? See, they will all wear out like a garment, consumed by moths.

1Psalm 116 Thanksgiving to God Who Saves from Death I - I love the LORD, who listened to my voice in supplication, 2Who turned an ear to me on the day I called. 3I was caught by the cords of death; the snares of Sheol had seized me; I felt agony and dread. 4Then I called on the name of the LORD, “O LORD, save my life!” 5II - Gracious is the LORD and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. 6The LORD protects the simple; I was helpless, but he saved me. 8For my soul has been freed from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9I shall walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? 17So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

14But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

27Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” 29And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” 30Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31The First Prediction of the Passion. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. 32He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” 34The Conditions of Discipleship. He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.