Gospel of the Day for
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Liturgical color: Green
    Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
   Psalm 119:33-40
   1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
   Matthew 5:38-48

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
19:1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

19:2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

19:9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest.

19:10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

19:11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.

19:12 And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD.

19:13 You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning.

19:14 You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.

19:15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor.

19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

19:17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself.

19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
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Psalm 119:33-40
119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.

119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

119:35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

119:36 Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.

119:37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.

119:38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.

119:39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

119:40 See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.
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1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.

3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

3:18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.

3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

3:20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

3:21 So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours,

3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all belong to you,

3:23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
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Matthew 5:38-48
5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

5:40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;

5:41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.

5:42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

5:45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

5:47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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     Acknowledgment:
     Picture: Vanderilt Divinity Library Lectionary
     Web Site: http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/
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