Celtic Odyssey

  1 John 4.7-21 (TIB; adapted): [1] Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten of God and has knowledge of God. 8 Those who don’t love have known nothing of God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed in [us] this way: by sending the Only Begotten into the world, so that we [live] through the Anointed One. 10 Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God, but that God has loved us and has sent the Only Begotten to be an offering for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God has loved us so, we must have the same love for one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. Yet if we love one another, God dwells in us, and God’s love is brought to perfection in us. 13 The way we know that we remain in God and God in us is that we’ve been given the Spirit. 14 We’ve seen for ourselves and can testify that God has sent the Only Begotten as Savior of the world. 15 When any acknowledge that Jesus is the Only Begotten, God dwells in them and they in God...

  John 2.13-22 (CEB): [1] It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who were selling cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as those involved in exchanging currency sitting there. 15 He made a whip from ropes and chased them all out of the temple, including the cattle and the sheep. He scattered the coins and overturned the tables of those who exchanged currency. 16 He said to the dove sellers, “Get these things out of here! Don’t make Abba’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written, Passion for your house consumes me. 18 Then the Jewish leaders asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things? What miraculous sign will you show us?” 19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple and in three days I’ll raise it up.” 20 The Jewish leaders replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?” 21 But the temple Jesus was talking about was his body....

  Mark 8.31-38 (TIB): [1] Then Jesus began to teach them that the Promised One had to suffer much, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and religious scholars, be put to death, and rise again three days later. 32 Jesus said these things quite openly. Peter then took him aside and began to take issue with him. 33 At this, Jesus turned around and, eyeing the disciples, reprimanded Peter: “Get out of my sight, you Satan! You are judging by human standards rather than by God’s!” 34 Jesus summoned the crowd and the disciples and said, “If you wish to come after me, you must deny your very self, take up your cross and follow in my footsteps. 35 If you would save your life, you’ll lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake, you’ll save it. 36 What would you gain if you were to win the whole world but lose yourself in the process? 37 What can you offer in exchange for your soul? 38 [Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the [Promised One] ...

Mark 1.9-15 (TIB; adapted): [1] It was then that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan River by John. 10 Immediately upon coming out of the water, Jesus saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from the heavens: “You are my Beloved, my Own. On you my favor rests.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness, 13 and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him. 14 After John’s arrest, Jesus appeared in Galilee proclaiming the Good News of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Change your hearts and minds, and believe this Good News!” Other readings: Genesis 9.8-17; Psalm 25.1-10; 1 Peter 3.18-22 Gathering Prayer: God, you know better than we the temptations that will bring us down. Grant that our love for you may protect us from all foolish and corrupt desire. Praise to you our God; y...