But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’

As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country. They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.

An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him.

But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.

And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear,

So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.

(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord”),

When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside.

A centurion there had a slave who was highly regarded, but who was sick and at the point of death.

What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty.

But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Then the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’

But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”