MENU

Gospel Reading - The preaching of Jesus

¹Meanwhile the crowds grew until thousands upon thousands were milling about and crushing each other. He turned now to his disciples and warned them, “More than anything else, beware of these Pharisees and the way they pretend to be good when they aren’t. But such hypocrisy cannot be hidden forever. ²It will become as evident as yeast in dough. ³Whatever they^a have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be broadcast from the housetops for all to hear!

⁴“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of these who want to murder you. They can only kill the body; they have no power over your souls. ⁵But I’ll tell you whom to fear — fear God who has the power to kill and then cast into hell.

⁶“What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them. ⁷And he knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

1. Literally, “you.”