Saturday in Epiphany

FIRST READING

Isaiah 29:13-16

Verse 13. Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. Verse 14. Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden. ” Verse 15. Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” Verse 16. You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?

PSALM

Psalm 112:1-9

Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.

His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright — for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.

Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever.

He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

SECOND READING

Mark 7:1-8

Verse 1. Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, Verse 2. and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled— that is, unwashed. Verse 3. Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. Verse 4. And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining. Verse 5. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.” Verse 6. Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Verse 7. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ Verse 8. You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men. ”