Bible Readings - Sep. 12, 2024

Reading 1

1 Corinthians 8:1b-13

knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.

If anyone supposes he knows something,

he does not yet know as he ought to know.

But if one loves God, one is known by him.

So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols:

we know that there is no idol in the world,

and that there is no God but one.

Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth

(there are, to be sure, many “gods” and many “lords”),

yet for us there is one God, the Father,

from whom all things are and for whom we exist,

and one Lord, Jesus Christ,

through whom all things are and through whom we exist.

But not all have this knowledge.

There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now

that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols,

their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.

Now food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better off if we do.

But make sure that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak.

If someone sees you, with your knowledge, reclining at table in the temple of an idol, may not his conscience too, weak as it is, be “built up” to eat the meat sacrificed to idols?

Thus, through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction,

the brother for whom Christ died.

When you sin in this way against your brothers

and wound their consciences, weak as they are,

you are sinning against Christ.

Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin,

I will never eat meat again,

so that I may not cause my brother to sin.

Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23-24

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;

you know when I sit and when I stand;

you understand my thoughts from afar.

My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,

with all my ways you are familiar.

Truly you have formed my inmost being;

you knit me in my mother’s womb.

I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;

wonderful are your works.

Probe me, O God, and know my heart;

try me, and know my thoughts;

See if my way is crooked,

and lead me in the way of old.

1 John 4:12

If we love one another,

God remains in us,

and his love is brought to perfection in us.

Gospel

Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples:

“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,

pray for those who mistreat you.

To the person who strikes you on one cheek,

offer the other one as well,

and from the person who takes your cloak,

do not withhold even your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks of you,

and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

For if you love those who love you,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same.

If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners,

and get back the same amount. 

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,

and lend expecting nothing back;

then your reward will be great

and you will be children of the Most High,

for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and gifts will be given to you;

a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,

will be poured into your lap.

For the measure with which you measure

will in return be measured out to you.”