Monday in Season after Pentecost

FIRST READING

Proverbs 7:1-4

Verse 1. My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Verse 2. Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Verse 3. Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Verse 4. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,

PSALM

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare—

if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,

when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,

then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,

then the raging waters would have swept us away.

Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

SECOND READING

Ephesians 4:7-16

Verse 7. Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Verse 8. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” Verse 9. What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? Verse 10. He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. Verse 11. And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, Verse 12. to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, Verse 13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. Verse 14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Verse 15. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. Verse 16. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.