6th Sunday of Matthew

having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; ⁷or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; ⁸or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

⁹Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. ¹⁰In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another, ¹¹not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, ¹²rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, ¹³contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.

He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city. ²Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”

³Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”

⁴Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? ⁶But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”

⁷He arose and departed to his house. ⁸But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.