March 21 2021

First Reading

Colossians 2፡16-23

Therefore, let no one judge you as concerns food or drink, or a particular feast day, or

feast days of new moons, or of Sabbaths. For these are a shadow of the future, but the

body is of Christ. Let no one seduce you, preferring base things and a religion of Angels,

walking according to what he has not seen, being vainly inflated by the sensations of his

flesh, and not holding up the head, with which the whole body, by its underlying joints

and ligaments, is joined together and grows with an increase that is of God. So then, if

you have died with Christ to the influences of this world, why do you still make decisions

as if you were living in the world? Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle these

things, which all lead to destruction by their very use, in accord with the precepts and

doctrines of men. Such ideas have at least an intention to attain to wisdom, but through

superstition and debasement, not sparing the body, and they are without any honor in

satiating the flesh.

Second Reading

James 2፡14-26

My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have

works? How would faith be able to save him? So, if a brother or sister is naked and daily

in need of food, and if anyone of you were to say to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and

nourished," and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what

benefit is this? Thus, even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself. Now

someone may say: "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without

works! But I will show you my faith by means of works. You believe that there is one

God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly. So then, are

you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not our

father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar? Do

you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was

brought to fulfillment? And so, the Scripture was fulfilled which says: "Abraham believed

God, and it was reputed to him unto justice." And so, he was called the friend of God.

Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone? Similarly,

also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and

sending them out through another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead,

so also faith without works is dead.

Gospel

John 2:13-25

And the Passover of the Jews was near, and so Jesus ascended to Jerusalem. And he

found, sitting in the temple, sellers of oxen and sheep and doves, and the

moneychangers. And when he had made something like a whip out of little cords, he

drove them all out of the temple, including the sheep and the oxen. And he poured out

the brass coins of the moneychangers, and he overturned their tables. And to those who

were selling doves, he said: "Take these things out of here, and do not make my Father's

house into a house of commerce." And truly, his disciples were reminded that it is

written: "Zeal for your house consumes me." Then the Jews responded and said to him,

"What sign can you show to us, that you may do these things?" Jesus responded and

said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews

said, "This temple has been built up over forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three

days?" Yet he was speaking about the Temple of his body. Therefore, when he had

resurrected from the dead, his disciples were reminded that he had said this, and they

believed in the Scriptures and in the word that Jesus had spoken. Now while he was at

Jerusalem during the Passover, on the day of the feast, many trusted in his name, seeing

his signs that he was accomplishing. But Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he

himself had knowledge of all persons, and because he had no need of anyone to offer

testimony about a man. For he knew what was within a man.