February 17, 2028

1My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, 3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? 5Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you? 8However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

2I - I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth. 3My soul will glory in the LORD; let the poor hear and be glad. 4Magnify the LORD with me; and let us exalt his name together. 5II - I sought the LORD, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears. 6Look to him and be radiant, and your faces may not blush for shame. 7This poor one cried out and the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

63It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 68Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

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.”