There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments.

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.

God sets a father in honor over his children;/ a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons./ Whoever honors his father atones for sins,/ and preserves himself from them./ When he prays, he is heard;/ he stores up riches who reveres his mother./ Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,/ and, when he prays, is heard./ Who­ever reveres his father will live a long life;/ he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.

Beloved:/ What was from the beginning,/ what we have heard,/ what we have seen with our eyes,/ what we looked upon/ and touched with our hands/ concerns the Word of life—/ for the life was made visible;/ we have seen it and testify to it/ and proclaim to you the eternal life/ that was with the Father and was made visible to us—/ what we have seen and heard/ we proclaim now to you,/ so that you too may have fellowship with us;/ for our fellowship is with the Father/ and with his Son, Jesus Christ./ We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.