Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

What can I do with you, Ephraim?/ What can I do with you, Judah?/ Your piety is like a morning cloud,/ like the dew that early passes away./ For this reason I smote them through the prophets,/ I slew them by the words of my mouth;/ For it is love that I desire, not ­sacrifice,/ and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

I will heal their defection, says the Lord,/ I will love them freely;/ for my wrath is turned away from them./ I will be like the dew for Israel:/ he shall blossom like the lily;/ He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,/ and put forth his shoots./ His splendor shall be like the olive tree/ and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar./ Again they shall dwell in his shade/ and raise grain;/ They shall blossom like the vine,/ and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied: “The first is this: Hear, O Israel!

Thus says the Lord: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.

Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

The word of the Lord.