Fast-Free Day
Gospel Reading
Mark 14:10-42
¹⁰ Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. ¹¹ They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him. ¹² On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?” ¹³ He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and there you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹⁵ He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.” ¹⁶ His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. ¹⁷ When it was evening he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.” ¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?” ²⁰ He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. ²¹ For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” ²² As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” ²³ He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom.” ²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ ²⁸ However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” ²⁹ But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.” ³⁰ Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹ But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing. ³² They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” ³³ He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. ³⁴ He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.” ³⁵ He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. ³⁶ He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” ³⁷ He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him. ⁴¹ He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”
Epistle Reading
1 John 3:11-20
¹¹ For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; ¹² unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous. ¹³ Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. ¹⁵ Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. ¹⁶ By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. ¹⁷ But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. ¹⁹ And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, ²⁰ because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.