Today, 4th of December, we celebrate
Saint John Damascene
Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and
one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture
says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. There
is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is
Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good
news! But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah
says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? Thus
faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes
through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly
they did; for
Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
R./ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R./ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R./ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R./ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R./ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them.
At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.