Weekly Readings

O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me.

2 You alone know when I sit down and when I get up.

You read my thoughts from far away.

3 You watch me when I travel and when I rest.

You are familiar with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a single word on my tongue,

you know all about it, Lord.

5 You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me.

You lay your hand on me.

6 Such knowledge is beyond my grasp.

It is so high I cannot reach it.

7 Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?

Where can I run to get away from you?

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there.

If I make my bed in hell, you are there.

9 If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun

or land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets,

10 even there your hand would guide me

and your right hand would hold on to me.

11 If I say, “Let the darkness hide me

and let the light around me turn into night,”

12 even the darkness is not too dark for you.

Night is as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

18 You have not come to something that you can feel, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a storm, 19 to a trumpet’s blast, and to a voice. When your ancestors heard that voice, they begged not to hear it say another word. 20 They couldn’t obey the command that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said he was trembling and afraid.

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together 23 and to the assembly of God’s firstborn children (whose names are written in heaven). You have come to a judge (the God of all people) and to the spirits of people who have God’s approval and have gained eternal life. 24 You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise  from God, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s.

23 Jesus went all over Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness among the people.

24 The news about Jesus spread throughout Syria. People brought him everyone who was sick, those who suffered from any kind of disease or pain. They also brought epileptics, those who were paralyzed, and people possessed by demons, and he cured them all. 25 Large crowds followed him. They came from Galilee, the Ten Cities, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him,