| Old Testament |
Genesis 1:26-28, 31
26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
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Genesis 2:18-24
18The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
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Proverbs 4:20-27
20My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
21Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man’s whole body.
23Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
24Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
26Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
27Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
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Song of Songs 2:8-14, 16a; 8:6-7a
A Tryst in the Spring; True Love
8Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
9My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Look! There he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice.
10My lover spoke and said to me,
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
and come with me.
11See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
12Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
13The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one,
come with me.”
Lover
14My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.
Beloved
16My lover is mine and I am his;
he browses among the lilies.
Chapter 8
6Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
7Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
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Song of Songs 8:6-7
True Love
6Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
7Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
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| Psalms |
Psalm 33:12 and 18, 20-21, 22
Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
12Happy the nation whose God is the Lord, the people chosen as his very own.
18But the Lord’s eyes are upon the reverent, upon those who hope for his gracious help.
20Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and shield.
21For in God our hearts rejoice; in your holy name we trust.
22May your kindness, Lord, be upon us; we have put our hope in you.
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Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2I will bless the Lord at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth.
3My soul will glory in the Lord that the poor may hear and be glad.
4Magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
5I sought the Lord, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.
6Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame.
7In my misfortune I called, the Lord heard and saved me from all distress.
8The angel of the Lord, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God.
9Learn to savor how good the Lord is; happy are those who take refuge in him.
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Psalm 103:1-2, 8 and 13, 17-18a
The Lord is kind and merciful.
1Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
2Bless the Lord, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God.
8Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.
13As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on the faithful.
17But the Lord’s kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age. He favors the children’s children
18of those who keep his covenant.
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Psalm 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7b-8, 9
The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
1Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in God’s commands.
2Their descendants shall be mighty in the land, generation upright and blessed.
3Wealth and riches shall be in their homes; their prosperity shall endure forever.
4They shine through the darkness, a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and just.
5All goes well for those gracious in lending, who conduct their affairs with justice.
6They shall never be shaken; the just shall be remembered forever.
7They shall not fear an ill report;
Their hearts are steadfast, trusting the Lord.
8Their hearts are tranquil, without fear, till at last they look down on their foes.
9Lavishly they give to the poor; their prosperity shall endure forever; their horn shall be exalted in honor.
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Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Happy are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
1Happy are all who fear the Lord, who walk in the ways of God.
2What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper:
3Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table.
4Just so will they be blessed who fear the Lord.
5May the Lord bless you from Zion, all the days of your life that you may share Jerusalem’s joy
(6and live to see your children’s children.)
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Psalm 145:8-9, 10 and 15, 17-18
I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.
8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love.
9The Lord is good to all, compassionate to every creature.
10All your works give you thanks, O Lord and your faithful bless you.
15The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season.
17You, Lord, are just in all your ways, faithful in all your works.
18You, Lord, are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth.
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Psalm 148:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-13a, 13c-14a
Let all creation praise the Lord.
1Praise the Lord from the heavens; give praise in the heights.
2Praise him, all you angels; give praise, all you hosts.
3Praise him, sun and moon; give praise, all shining stars.
4Praise him, highest heavens, you waters above the heavens.
9You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars;
10You animals wild and tame, you creatures that crawl and fly;
11You kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all who govern on earth;
12Young men and women too, old and young alike.
13Let them all praise the Lord’s name.
Majestic above earth and heaven.
14The Lord has lifted high the horn of his people.
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| Epistles |
Ephesians 5:21-33
Wives and Husbands
21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—
30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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Colossians 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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1 John 4:11-16
God’s Love and Christian Life
11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
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Romans 12:9-18
Mutual Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
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1 Corinthians 13
The Way of Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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| Gospel Acclamation Verses |
1 John 4:7b
Everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
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1 John 4:8b, 11
For God is love. If God so loved us, we also must love one another.
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1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
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1 John 4:16
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
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| Gospels |
Matthew 5:1-12a
The Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes)
1When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He began to teach them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
6Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”
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Matthew 5:13-16
13“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 16Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
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Matthew 7:21, 24-25 (26-29) or 7:22-27
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
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Matthew 19:3-6
3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
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Matthew 22:35-40
35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
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Mark 10:6-9
6“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
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John 2:1-11
Jesus Changes Water to Wine
1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” 9They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
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John 15:9-12
9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
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John 15:12-16 (17)
12This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17This I command you: love one another.
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John 17:20-23 (24-26)
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
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