January
13, 2007
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The New Revised Standard Version
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First Reading
(Hebrew 4:12-16)
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Indeed, the word
of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from
marrow;
it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And before him no creature is hidden,
but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one
to whom we must render an account.
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect
has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time
of need.
Jesus went out again beside
the sea;
the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.
As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus
sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow
me."
And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors
and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples
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for there were many who followed him.
When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating
with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples,
"Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When Jesus heard this, he said to them,
"Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick;
I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."
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