Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We, having been washed in the word when we were born in the font, return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
PRAYER:
O God our strength, without you we are weak and wayward creatures. Protect us from all dangers that attack us from the outside, and cleanse us from all evil that arises from within ourselves, that we may be preserved through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
READINGS:
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Psalm 15 (1)
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
This Weeks Readings
September 2, 2018 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost| Monday | Deuteronomy 4:9-14 1 Timothy 4:6-16 | Psalm 106:1-6,13-23,47-48 |
| Tuesday | Deuteronomy 4:15-20 1 Peter 2:19-25 | Psalm 106:1-6,13-23,47-48 |
| Wednesday | Deuteronomy 4:21-40 Mark 7:9-23 | Psalm 106:1-6,13-23,47-48 |
| Thursday | Isaiah 30:27-33 Romans 2:1-11 | Psalm 146 |
| Friday | Isaiah 32:1-8 Romans 2:12-16 | Psalm 146 |
| Saturday | Isaiah 33:1-9 Matthew 16:21-31 | Psalm 146 |
