Reading September 4, 2019

 Colossians 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,and Timothy our brother,to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:grace to you and peace from God our Father.We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,when we pray for you,for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesusand the love that you have for all the holy onesbecause of the hope reserved for you in heaven.Of this you have already heardthrough the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,so also among you,from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalfand who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Psalm 52:10,11

I, like a green olive treein the house of God,Trust in the mercy of Godforever and ever.

I will thank you always for what you have done,and proclaim the goodness of your namebefore your faithful ones.

Luke 4:18

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poorand to proclaim liberty to captives.

Luke 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,and they interceded with him about her.He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.She got up immediately and waited on them.At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speakbecause they knew that he was the Christ.At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,they tried to prevent him from leaving them.But he said to them, "To the other towns alsoI must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,because for this purpose I have been sent."And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.