The Day of Pentecost

First Reading   Ezekiel 37:1–14, Tanakh
     The hand of the Lord came upon me. He took me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the valley. It was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many of them spread over the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “O Son of Man, can these bones live again?” I replied, “O Lord GOD, only you know.” And He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live again. I will lay sinews upon you, and cover you with flesh, and form skin over you. And I will put breath into you, and you shall live again. And you shall know that I am the LORD!”
     I prophesied as I had been commanded. And while I was prophesying, suddenly there was a sound of rattling, and the bones came together, bone to matching bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had grown, and skin had formed over them; but there was no breath in them.
     Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, O Son of Man! Say to the breath: Thus said the Lord GOD: Come, O breath, from the four winds, and breathe into these slain, that they may live again.” I prophesied as He commanded me. The breath entered them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast multitude.
     And he said to me, “O Son of Man, these bones are the whole House of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone; we are doomed.’ Prophesy, therefore, and say to them: Thus said the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves and lift you out of the graves, O My people, and bring you to the land of Israel. You shall know, O My people, that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and lifted you out of your graves. I will put My breath into you and you shall live again, and I will set you upon your own soil. Then you shall know that I the LORD have spoken and have acted” — declares the LORD.

Second Reading    Acts 2:1–15, NRSV
     When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
     Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappodocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphilia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
     But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
            ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
            that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
            and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
            and your young men shall see visions,
            and your old men shall dream dreams.
            Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
            In those days I will pour out my Spirit;
            and they shall prophesy.
            And I will show portents in the heaven above
            and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
            The sun shall be turned to darkness,
            and the moon to blood,
            Before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
            Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Psalm    Ode 6
As the hand moves over the harp and the strings speak,*
     so Your Spirit speaks in my members and I speak by Your love.
You transform what is foreign and bitter.*
     You are from the beginning and will be to the end.
Nothing will be Your adversary*
     Nothing will resist You.
You, Lord, multiply Your knowledge*
     You are zealous to make us know what You give us through Your grace.
You give us praise for Your Name*
     and our spirits praise Your Holy Spirit.
A stream goes forth and becomes a long and broad river.*
     It flooded and broke and carried away the Temple.
Ordinary people could not stop it,*
     nor could those whose art is to halt the waters.
It spread over the face of the whole earth, filling everything,*
     and the thirsty of the earth drink and their thirst is relived and quenched.
The drink comes from You, the Highest One.*
     Blessed are the ministers of that drink who are entrusted with Your water.
They assuage dry lips.*
     They raise up those who have fainted.
Souls that are about to depart they draw back from death.*
     Limbs that become crooked they make straight.
They give strength to our feebleness and light to our eyes*
     Everyone knows them in You, Lord, and by Your water they live forever.

Gospel    The Sophia of Jesus Christ 90:14–92:5, NHL
     After Jesus Christ rose from the dead, his twelve disciples and seven women continued to be his followers and went to Galilee onto the mountain called “Divination and Joy.” When they gathered together and were perplexed about the underlying reality of the universe and the plan and the holy providence and the power of the authorities and about everything that the Savior is doing with them in the secret of the holy plan, the Savior appeared, not in his previous form, but in the invisible spirit. And his likeness resembled a great angel of light. But his resemblance I must not describe. No mortal flesh could endure it, but only pure and perfect flesh, like that which he taught us about on the mountain called “Of Olives” in Galilee.
     And he said, “Peace be to you! My peace I give to you!” And they all marveled and were afraid.
     The Savior laughed and said to them: “What are you thinking about? Why are you perplexed? What are you searching for?”
     Philip said, “For the underlying reality and the plan.”

Pentecost 2

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 2, SV  
     Now the twelve disciples used to sit together at the same time, remembering what the Savior had said to each one of them, whether secretly or openly, and setting it down in books. I was writing what went in my book — suddenly the Savior appeared, after he had departed from us, and while we were watching for him. And so, five hundred days after he rose from the dead, we said to him, “You went away and left us!”
     “No,” Jesus said, “but I shall go to the place from which I have come. If you wish to come with me, come on!”
     They all replied, “If you bid us, we’ll come.”
     He said, “I swear to you, no one will ever enter heaven’s domain at my bidding, but rather because you yourselves are full. Let me have James and Peter, so that I may fill them.”

Second Reading    Deuteronomy 20:5–9, Tanakh
     Then the officials shall address the troops as follows: “Is there anyone who has built a new house but has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another dedicate it. Is there anyone who has planted a vineyard but has never harvested it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another harvest it. Is there anyone who has paid the bride-price for a wife, but has not yet married her? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another marry her.” The officials shall go on addressing the troops and say, “Is there anyone afraid and disheartened? Let him to back to his home, lest the courage of his comrades flag like his.” When the officials have finished addressing the troops, army commanders shall assume command of the troops.

Psalm    Ode 16
As the work of the farmer is the plough*
     and the work of the helmsman the steering of the ship,
so my work is the song praising You, Lord!*
     My art and occupation are in praise of You
Your love feeds my heart and Your sweet fruits touch my lips*
     You are my love, O Lord, and so I will sing to You.
Celebrating You makes me strong and filled with faith.*
     Your Spirit in my mouth sings of Your glory and beauty,
the work of Your hands and the craft of Your fingers,*
     Your horizonless mercy, the power of Your Word.
Your Word investigates the invisible and reveals Your thought.*
     Our eyes see Your labor. Our ears hear Your mind.
You spread out the earth and place the waters in the sea.*
     You measure the firmament and set the stars.
You create and You rest.*
     Created things follow a pattern. They do not know the rest.
Throngs follow Your Word. The gold coin of light is the sun*
     the gold coin of darkness is the night
You make the sun to clarify the day but evening blurs the face of the earth.*
     Their alternation speaks of Your Beauty!
Nothing exists without You, O Lord. You were before anything was.*
     Our worlds are made by Your Word, Your thought and Your heart*
Glory and honor to Your Name! Hallelujah!

Gospel     Thomas 64, SV                 
     Jesus says: “Someone was receiving guests. When he had prepared the dinner, he sent his slave to invite the guests. The slave went to the first and said, ‘My master invites you.’ The first replied, ‘Some merchants owe me money; they are coming to me tonight. I have to go and give them instructions. Please excuse me from dinner.’
     The slave went to another and said, ‘My master has invited you.’ The second said to the slave, ‘I have bought a house, and I have been called away for a day. I shall have no time.’
     The slave went to another and said, ‘My master invites you.’ The third said to the slave, ‘My friend is to be married, and I am to arrange the banquet. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me from dinner.’
     The slave went to a another and said, ‘My master invites you.’ The fourth said to the slave, ‘I have bought an estate, and I am going to collect the rent. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me.’
     The slave returned and said to his master, ‘Those whom you invited to dinner have asked to be excused.’ The master said to his slave, ‘Go out on the streets and bring back whomever you find to have dinner.’”

Pentecost 3

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 3, SV
     And when he called these two (James and Peter), he took them aside, and commanded the rest to carry on with what they had been doing.
     The Savior said, “You have received mercy . . .  So don’t you want to be filled? And is your heart drunk? So don’t you want to be sober? You ought, then, to be ashamed! And now, waking or sleeping, remember that you have seen the Son of Man, (The Truly Human Being), and with him you have spoken, and to him you have listened. Woe to those who have seen the Son of Man (The Truly Human Being). Blessed are those who have not seen that man, and who have not associated with him, and who have not listened to a thing from him. Yours is life! Know, therefore, that he treated you when you were sick, so that you might reign. Woe to those who have been relieved of their sickness, for they will relapse again into sickness. Blessed are those who have not been sick, and have experienced relief before they became sick. Yours is the Kingdom of God. Therefore, I say to you, become full and leave no place within you empty, or else the one who is coming will be able to mock you.”
     Then Peter responded, “Look three times you have told us, ‘Become full,’ but we are full.”
     The Lord replied, “This is why I told you, ‘Become full,’ so that you might not be lacking; those who are lacking will not be saved. For fulness is good, and lacking, bad. Therefore, inasmuch as it’s good for you to lack but bad for you to be filled, whoever is full tends to be lacking. One who lacks is not filled in the same way that another who lacks is filled; but whoever is full receives his just deserts. Therefore, it’s fitting to lack while it’s possible to fill yourselves, and to be filled while it’s possible to lack, so that you may be able to fill yourselves the more. Therefore, become full of the spirit but lacking in reason. For reason is of the soul; indeed, it is the soul.”

Second Reading   Teachings of Silvanus 106:22–107:4, 109:11–25, NHL
     For the Tree of Life is Christ . . .  For he is Wisdom; he is also the Word. He is the Life, the Power, and the Door. He is the Light, the Messenger, the Good Shepherd. Entrust yourself to this one who became all for your sake.
     Knock on yourself as upon a door, and walk upon yourself as on a straight road. For if you walk on the road, it is impossible for you to go astray. And if you knock with this one (Wisdom), you knock on hidden treasuries.
     For since Christ is Wisdom, he makes the foolish man wise . . .
     Let Christ alone enter your world, and let Christ bring to naught all powers which have come upon you. Let him enter the temple which is within you so that he may cast out all the merchants. Let him dwell in the temple which is within you, and may you become for him a priest and a Levite, entering in purity.
     Blessed are you, O soul, if you find this one in your temple.
     Blessed are you still more if you perform his service.

Psalm    Wisdom of Solomon 7:24–30, NRSV
For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;*
     because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
For she is a breath of the power of God,*
     and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.*
     For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,*
     and an image of his goodness
Although she is but one, she can do all things;*
     in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;*
     for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
She is more beautiful than the sun,*
     and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,*
     for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

Gospel    Thomas 65–71 SV, except 68 which is NHL
     Jesus said, “A person owned a vineyard and rented it to some farmers, so they could work it and he could collect crops from them. He sent his slave so the farmers would give him the vineyard’s crop. They grabbed him, beat him, and almost killed him, and the slave returned and told his master. His master said, “Perhaps he didn’t know them. He sent another slave, and the farmers beat that one as well. Then the laster sent his son and said, “Perhaps they’ll show my son some respect.” Because the farmers knew that he was the heir to the vineyard, they grabbed him and killed him. Anyone here with two good ears had better listen!” 
     Jesus says, “Show me the stone that the builders rejected: that is the keystone.”       
     Jesus says, “Those who know all, but are lacking in themselves, are utterly lacking.” 
     Jesus says, “Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted. Wherever you have been persecuted, they will find no place.”
     Jesus says, “Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the father. Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled.”    
     Jesus says, “If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have within you, will kill you.”         
     Jesus says, “I will destroy this house, and no one will be able to build it.”

Pentecost 4

First Reading The Secret Book of James 4, SV
     And I responded, “Lord, we can obey you if you wish, for we have forsaken our fathers and our mothers and our villages and have followed you. Give us the means, then, not to be tempted by the evil devil.”
     The Lord replied, “If you do the Father’s will, what credit is that to you — unless he gives you, as part of his gift, your being tempted by Satan? But if you are oppressed by Satan, and are persecuted, and you do his will, I say that he will love you, and will make you equal with me, and will regard you as having become beloved through his providence according to your own choice. So won’t you cease being lovers of the flesh and afraid of suffering? Or don’t you realize that you have not yet been abused and have not yet been accused unjustly, nor have you yet been locked up in prison, nor have you yet been condemned unlawfully, nor have you yet been buried in the sand, as I myself was, by the evil one? Do you dare to spare the flesh, you for whom the spirit acts as an encircling wall? If you think about the world, about how long it existed before you and how long it will exist after you, you will discover that your life is but a single day, and your suffering but a singly hour. Accordingly, since what is good will not enter the world, you should scorn death and be concerned about life. Remember my cross and my death, and you will live!”

Second Reading    Teachings of Sylvanus 86:17–24, 88:16–21, 89:17–23, NHL
     May God dwell in your camp, may his Spirit protect your gates, and may the mind of divinity protect the walls. Let holy reason become a torch in your mind, burning the wood which is the whole of sin . . .
     Live in Christ, and you will acquire a treasure in heaven. Do not become a sausage made of many things which are useless, and do not become a guide on behalf of your blind ignorance . . .
     Cast your anxiety upon God alone. Do not become desirous of gold and silver which are profitless, but clothe yourself with wisdom like a robe, put knowledge upon you like a crown, and be seated upon a throne of perception.

Psalm   Ode 35
The dew of the Lord rinses me with Silence*
     and a cloud of peace rises over my head, guarding me.
It becomes my salvation.*
     Everybody quivers in horror.
They issue smoke and judgment,*
     but I am silent, near You, my Lord.
You are more than shadow, more than foundation.*
     You carry me like a child by its mother.
You give me Your milk, Your dew,*
     and I grow in Your bounty and rest in Your perfection.
I spread my hands out as my soul points to the Most High.*
     I slip upward toward You who makes me whole. Hallelujah!

Gospel    Thomas 72–79 SV, except 76 and 79, NHL
     A person said to (Jesus), “Tell my brothers to divide my father’s possessions with me.”
     He said to the person, “Mister, who made me a divider?”
     He turned to his disciples and said to them, “I’m not a divider, am I?”
     Jesus says, “The crop is huge but the workers are few, so beg the harvest boss to dispatch workers to the fields.”    
     He says, “There are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the well.”
     Jesus says, “There are many standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber.”
     Jesus says, “The kingdom of the father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was shrewd. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys.”
     Jesus says, “I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all attained. Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”
     Jesus says, “Why have you come out to the countryside? To see a reed shaken by the wind? And to see a person dressed in soft clothes, like your rulers and your powerful ones? They are dressed in soft clothes, and they cannot understand truth.”        
     A woman from the crowd said to him, “Blessed are the womb which bore you and the breasts which nourished you.”
     He said to her, “Blessed are those who have heard the word of the father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you will say, ‘Blessed are the womb which has not conceived and the breasts which have not given milk.’”

Pentecost 5

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 5, SV
     And I answered him, “Lord, don’t proclaim the cross and death to us, for they are far from you.”
     The Lord replied, “I swear to you, none will be saved unless they believe in my cross; for the kingdom of God belongs to those who have believed in my cross. Become seekers of death, therefore, like the dead who are seeking life, for what they seek is manifest to them. So what can be of concern to them? When you inquire into the subject of death, it will teach you about election. I swear to you, none will be saved who are afraid of death; for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are dead. Become better than I; be like the son of the holy spirit.”

Second Reading    Teachings of Sylvanus 90:29–91:1–33, NHL
     From now on, then, my son, return to your divine nature. Cast from you these evil deceiving friends! Accept Christ, this true friend, as a good teacher. Cast from you death, which has become a father to you. For death did not exist, nor will it exist at the end.
     But since you cast from yourself God, the holy Father, the true Life, the Spring of Life, therefore you have obtained death as a father and have acquired ignorance as a mother. They have robbed you of true knowledge.
     But return, my son, to your first father, God, and Wisdom your mother, from whom you came into being from the very first in order that you might fight against all of your enemies, the powers of the Adversary.
     Listen, my son, to my advice. Do not be arrogant in opposition to every good opinion, but take for yourself the side of the divinity of reason. Keep the holy commandments of Jesus Christ, and you will reign over every place on earth and will be honored by the angels and archangels. Then you will acquire them as friends and fellow servants, and you will acquire places in heaven.

Psalm    Sirach 51:18–27, NRSV
For I resolved to live according to wisdom and I was zealous for the good,*
     and I shall never be disappointed.
My soul grappled with Wisdom,*
     and in my conduct I was strict.
I spread out my hands to the heavens,*
     and lamented my ignorance of her.
I directed my soul to her,*
     and in purity I found her.
With her I gained understanding from the first;*
     therefore I will never be forsaken.
My heart was stirred to seek her;*
     therefore I have gained a prize possession.
The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,*
     and I will praise him with it.
Draw near to me, you who are uneducated,*
     and lodge in the house of instruction.
Why do you say you are lacking in these things,*
     and why do you endure such great thirst?
I opened my mouth and said,*
     Acquire wisdom for yourselves without money.
Put your neck under her yoke, and let your souls receive instruction;*
     it is to be found close by.
See with your own eyes that I have labored but little*
     and found for myself much serenity.

Gospel    Thomas 80–88 SV, except 86 NHL                      
     Jesus says, “Whoever has come to know the world has discovered the body,and whoever has discovered the body, of that one the world is not worthy.”
     Jesus says, “The one who has become wealthy should reign, and the one who has power should renounce it.”          
     Jesus says, “Whoever is near me is near the fire, and whoever is far from me is far from the Father’s domain.           
     Jesus says, “Images are visible to people, but the light within them is hidden in the image of the Father’s light. He will be disclosed, but his image is hidden by his light.”
     Jesus says, “When you see your likeness, you are happy. But when you see your images that came into being before you and that neither die nor become visible, how much you will have to bear!”         
     Jesus says, “Adam came from great power and wealth, but he was not worthy of you. For had he been worthy, he would not have tasted death.”
     Jesus says, “The foxes have their holes and the birds have their nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head and rest.”
     Jesus says, “How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and how miserable is the soul that depends on these two.”   
     Jesus says, “The messengers (Angels) and the prophets will come to you and give you what belongs to you. You, in turn, give them what you have, and say to yourselves, ‘When will they come and take what belongs to them?’”

Pentecost 6

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 6:1–18, SV
     Then I asked him, “Lord, how will we be able to prophesy to those who ask us to prophesy to them? For there are many who inquire of us, and who look to us to hear an oracle from us.”
     The Lord replied, “Don’t you realize that the head of prophecy was severed with John?”
     But I said, “Lord, it’s not possible to remove the head of prophecy, is it?”
     The Lord said to me, “When you comprehend what ‘head’ means, and that prophecy issues from the head, understand what ‘Its head was removed’ means. I first spoke with you parabolically, and you did not understand. Now I am speaking with you openly, and you do not perceive. Nevertheless, for me you were a parable among parables, and the disclosure of openness.
     “Be eager to be saved without being urged. Instead, become zealous on your own and, if possible, surpass even me. For that is how the Father will love you.
     “Become haters of hypocrisy and evil intent. For intent is what produces hypocrisy, and hypocrisy is far from the truth.
     “Don’t let the kingdom of heaven wither away. For it is like a date palm shoot whose fruit fell down around it. It put forth buds, and when they blossomed, its productivity was caused to dry up. So it also is with the fruit that came from this singular root: when it was picked, fruit was gathered by many. Truly this was good. Isn’t it possible to produce new growth now? Can’t you discover how?
     “Since I was glorified in this way before now, why do you detain me when I am eager to go? For after my labors you have constrained me to stay with you eighteen more days for the sake of parables. It was enough for some people to pay attention to the teaching and understand ‘the shepherds.’ and ‘the seed,’ and ‘the building,’ and ‘the lamps of the virgins,’ and ‘the wage of the workers,’ and ‘the silver coins,’ and ‘the woman.’
     “Become eager for instruction. For the first prerequisite for instruction is faith, the second is love, the third is works; now from these comes life. For instruction is like a grain of wheat. When they sowed it they had faith in it; and when it sprouted they loved it, because they envisioned many grains in place of one; and when they worked they were sustained, because they prepared it for food, then kept the rest in reserve to be sown. So it is possible for you, too, to receive for yourselves the kingdom of heaven unless you receive it through knowledge, you will not be able to discover it.”

Second Reading    Teachings of Sylvanus 96:19–20, 32–97:3, 98:21–28, 99:13–20, 100:24–29, NHL
     Accept Christ who is able to set you free . . .  The divine Teacher is with you always. Christ is a helper, and meets you because of the good which is in you . . .
     Live with Christ, and he will save you. For Christ is the true light and the sun of life. For just as the sun is manifest and makes light for the eyes of the flesh, so Christ illuminates every mind and heart . . .
     Christ has a single being, and gives light to every place. This is also the way in which Christ speaks of our mind as if it were a lamp which burns and lights up the place. Being in a part of the soul, it gives light to all the parts . . .
     You cannot know God through anyone except Christ who has the image of the Father and Mother, for this image reveals the true likeness in correspondence to that which is revealed.

Psalm    Sirach 6:23–31, NRSV
Listen, my child, and accept my judgment;*
     do not reject my counsel.
Put your feet into her fetters,*
     and your neck into her collar.
Bend your shoulders and carry her,*
     and do not fret under her bonds.
Come to her with all your soul,*
     and keep her ways with all your might.
Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;*
     and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
For at last you will find the rest she gives,*
     and she will be changed into joy for you.
Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,*
     and her collar a glorious robe.
Her yoke is a golden ornament,*
     and her bonds a purple cord.
You will wear her like a glorious robe,*
     and put her on like a splendid crown.

Gospel   Thomas 89–95, SV
     Jesus says, “Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Don’t you understand that the one who made the inside is also the one who made the outside?”    
     Jesus says, “Come to me, for my yoke is comfortable and my lordship is gentle, and you will find rest for yourselves.”                       
     They said to him, “Tell us who you are so we may believe in you.”
     He said to them, “You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you have not come to know the one who is in your presence, and you do not know how to examine the present moment.”              
     Jesus says, “Seek and you will find. In the past, however, I did not tell you the things about which you asked me then. Now I am willing to tell them, but you are not seeking them.”                
     Jesus says, “Don’t give what is sacred to dogs, for they might throw them upon the manure pile. Don’t throw pearls to pigs, or they might . . . ”
     Jesus says, “One who seeks will find, and for one who knocks it will be opened.”    
     Jesus says, “If you have money, don’t lend it at interest. Rather, give it to someone from whom you won’t get it back.”

Pentecost 7

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 6:19–40, SV
     Therefore, I say to you, be sober; don’t go astray. Moreover, I have often said to you all together — and also to you alone, James, have I said — be saved. I have commanded you to follow me, and I have taught you how to respond in the presence of the rulers. Observe that I have descended, and have spoken, and have expended myself, and have won my crown, so as to save you. For I descended to dwell with you so that you might also dwell with me. And when I found your houses to be without roofs, I dwelt instead in houses that could receive me at the time of my descent.
     “Therefore, rely on me, my brothers; understand what the great light is. The Father does not need me. For a father does not need a son, but it is the son who needs the father. To him do I go, for the Father of the Son is not in need of you.
     “Pay attention to instruction, understand knowledge, love life. And no one will persecute you, nor will any one oppress you, other than you yourselves.
     “You wretches! You unfortunates! You pretenders to the truth! You falsifiers of knowledge! You sinners against the spirit! Do you even now dare to listen, when you should have spoken from the beginning? Do you even now dare to sleep, when you should have been awake from the beginning, so that heaven’s domain (the kingdom of heaven) might receive you? I swear to you, it is easier for a holy one to descend into defilement, and for an enlightened person to descend into darkness, than for you to reign — or even not to!
     “I have remembered your tears and your grief and your sorrow; they are far from us. Now, then, you who are outside the Father’s inheritance, weep where it’s called for, and grieve, and proclaim what is good: how the Son is ascending, as he should. I swear to you, were I sent to those who would listen to me, and were I to have spoken with them, I would never have come down to earth. From now on, then, be ashamed for them.
     “See I shall leave you and go away; I don’t wish to stay with you any longer — just as you have not wished it either. Now, then, follow me eagerly. Therefore, I say to you, for your sake I descended. You are the beloved; it is you who will become the cause of life for many. Invoke the Father, pray to God frequently, and he will give to you. Congratulations to whoever has envisioned you along with him when he is proclaimed among the angels and glorified among the saints. Yours is life! Rejoice and exult as children of God. Keep his will, so that you may be saved. Accept reproof from me and save yourselves. I am pleading for you with the Father, and he will forgive you much.”

Second Reading    Teachings of Sylvanus 100:32–101:21, NHL
     Consider these things about God: he is in every place; on the other hand, he is in no place. With respect to power, to be sure, he is in every place; but with respect to divinity, he is in no place. So then it is possible to know God a little. With respect to his power, he fills every place, but in the exaltation of his divinity, nothing contains him. Everything is in God, but God is not in anything.
     Now what is it to know God? God is all which is in the truth. But as it is impossible to look at Christ as at the sun. God sees everyone; no one looks at him. But Christ without being jealous receives and he gives. He is the light of the Father, as he gives light without being jealous. In this manner he gives light to every place.

Psalm    Ode 12
You fill me with words of truth*
     that I may proclaim them.
Like the flow of waters truth flows from my mouth,*
     and my lips reveal its fruits.
You give me the gold of knowledge*
     for Your mouth, O Lord, is the true Word and the door of light.
You are the Highest One who gives Word to Your worlds*
     which interpret Your own beauty, recite Your praise,
confess Your thought, proclaim Your mind,*
     and teach Your works.
For the subtleness of Your Word is inexpressible.*
     Your expression is swift and to the point.
Your path is limitless. You never fail but remain standing.*
     Your descent and Your Way are incomprehensible.
As Your work is, so is Your expectation.*
     You are the Light and the dawning of thought.
Through You worlds converse and the Silent acquire speech.*
     From You comes love and concord and candor.
Those who are penetrated by Your Word*
     know You who make it and come into harmony.
Your mouth, O Highest One, speaks*
     and You become clear by Your Word.
The dwelling place of Your Word is humanity*
      and Your Truth is love.
Blessed are they who have understood everything *
     and have known You, O Lord, in Your Truth. Hallelujah!

Gospel    Thomas 96–100 NHL, except 99, SV
     Jesus says, “The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, concealed it in some dough, and made it into large loaves. Let him who has ears hear.”
     Jesus says, “The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking on the road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal emptied out behind her on the road. She did not realize it; she had noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty.”
     Jesus says, “The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house he drew his sword and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether his hand could carry through. Then he slew the powerful man.”
     The disciples said to him, “Your brothers and your mother are standing outside.”
     He said to them, “Those here who do the will of my Father wants are my brothers and my mother. It is they who will enter the kingdom of my Father.”         
     They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, “Caesar’s men demand taxes from us.”
     He said to them, “Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine.”

Pentecost 8

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 7, SV and NHL conflated
     And when we heard these things, we became elated, for we had despaired over what we recounted earlier. But when he saw us rejoicing, he said, “Woe to you who lack an advocate! Woe to you, who stand in need of grace! Blessed will they be who have spoken out and obtained grace for themselves. Compare yourselves to foreigners; how are they regarded by your city? Why are you disturbed when you cast yourselves away of your own accord and separate yourselves from your city? Why abandon your home on your own, making it available for those who wish to live in it? You outcasts and runaways! Damn you, for you will be caught! Or perhaps you think that the Father is a lover of humanity? Or that he is persuaded by prayers? Or that he grants favors to one on behalf of another? Or that he bears with one who seeks? For he knows about desire, as well as what the flesh needs: does it not long for the soul? For without the soul the body does not sin, just as the soul is not saved without the spirit. But if the soul is saved when it is without evil, and the spirit is also saved, then the body becomes free from sin. For the spirit is what animates the soul, but the body is what kills it — in other words, it is the soul which kills itself. I swear to you, he will never forgive the sin of the soul, nor the guilt of the flesh; for none of those who have worn the flesh will be saved. Do you think, then, that many have found the kingdom of heaven? Blessed is he who has seen himself as the fourth one in heaven.”

Second Reading    Teachings of Sylvanus 103:11–30, 104:18–19, 106:14–15, NHL
     Do not tire of knocking on the door of reason and do not cease walking in the way of Christ. Walk in it so that you may receive rest from your labors. If you walk in another way, there is no profit in it. For those who walk in the broad way will go down at their end to the perdition of the mire. For the Underworld is open wide for the soul, and the place of perdition is broad.
     Accept Christ, the narrow way. For he is oppressed and bears affliction for your sin.
     O soul, persistent one, in what ignorance you exist! For who is your guide in the darkness? How many likenesses did Christ take on because of you? . . .
     The basic choice, which is humility of heart, is the gift of Christ . . .
     Light the light within you. Do not extinguish it.

Psalm    Ode 23
The holy are happy.*
     Who but they alone will wear joy?
The elect wear grace.*
     Who will be arrayed in grace but those who from the beginning have believed?
Walk in the knowledge of the Lord,*
     and you will know the grace of the Lord of generosity, exultation, and the perfection of knowledge.
The Lord’s thought was a letter.*
     The will of the Lord descended from the skies, shot like an arrow, violently released from its bow.
Many hands rushed to the letter, to catch it, take it, and read it,*
     yet it slipped from their fingers and they were terrified of it and its seal.
They couldn’t loosen the seal,*
     for the power of the seal was greater than they.
Others saw the letter and chased it, wondering where it would land*
     and who might read it, who might hear it.
But a wheel caught the letter and rolled over it and it stuck there,*
     and it was a sign of the kingdom and of providence.
Everything moving near the wheel, the wheel cut down,*
     and it destroyed a multitude of enemies and it bridged rivers
     and crossed over and uprooted forests, leaving a huge ditch.
As if a body were on the wheel, a head turned down to the feet.*
     The wheel turned on the feet and on whatever struck it.
The letter commanded over all districts, and there appeared a head.*
     It became a child of truth from the Father on high, who possessed all,
and the thought of many became nothing,*
     and the apostates and seducers became headstrong yet fled
     and tormentors were blotted out.
The letter became a great tablet,*
     a volume written by the finger of God.
On it was the Name of the Father and the Son,*
     and the Holy Spirit, and their word of rule forever. Hallelujah!

Gospel    Thomas 101–107 SV, except 101, NHL
     Jesus says, “Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to me. And whoever does not love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to me. For my mother gave me falsehood, but my true Mother gave me life.”        
     Jesus says, “Damn the Pharisees! They are like a dog sleeping in the cattle manger: the dog neither eats nor lets the cattle eat.”
     Jesus says, “Congratulations to those who know where the rebels are going to attack. They can get going, collect their imperial resources, and be prepared before the rebels arrive.”
     They said to Jesus, “Come, let us pray today and let us fast.”
     Jesus said, “What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray.”     
     Jesus says, “Whoever knows the father and the mother will be called the child of a whore.”  
     Jesus says, “When you make the two into one, you will become the sons of man (Truly Human Beings), and when you say, ‘Mountain, move from here!’ it will move.”            
     Jesus says, “The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine and looked for that one until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said to the sheep, ‘I care for you more than the ninety nine.”

Pentecost 9

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 8, SV and NHL conflated
     When we heard these things, we became distressed. But when the Lord saw that we were distressed, he said, “This is why I say this to you that you may know yourselves. For the kingdom of heaven is like an ear of grain which sprouted in a field. And when it ripened, it scattered its fruit and, in turn, filled the field with ears for another year. You also: be eager to reap an ear of life for yourselves that you may be filled with the kingdom!
     “As long as I am with you, pay attention to me and obey me; but when I take leave of you, remember me. Remember me because I was with you, though you did now know me. Blessed will be those who have known me. Damn those who have heard and have not believed. Blessed will be those who have not seen, yet have believed!
     “Once again I appeal to you. For I am made known to you building a house of great value to you, since you take shelter in it; likewise, it can support your neighbor’s house when theirs is in danger of collapsing.
     “I swear to you, woe to those for whose sakes I was sent down to this place; blessed will they be who ascend to the Father! Again I admonish you. You who exist, be like those who do not exist, so that you may dwell with those who do not exist.
     “Do not make the kingdom of heaven a desert within you. Don’t be arrogant about the light that enlightens you. Rather, behave toward yourselves in the way that I have toward you: I placed myself under a curse for you, so that you may be saved.”

Second Reading    Teachings of Sylvanus 110:14–111:5, 116:27–117:9, NHL
     Know who Christ is, and acquire him as a friend, for this is the friend who is faithful. He is also God and Teacher. This one, being God, became man for your sake. It is the one who broke the iron bars of the Underworld and the bronze bolts. It is this one who attacked and cast down every haughty tyrant. It is he who loosened from himself the chains of which he had taken hold. He brought up the poor from the Abyss and the mourners from the Underworld. It is he who humbled the haughty powers; he who put to shame the haughtiness through humility; he who has cast down the strong and the boaster through weakness; he who in his contempt scorned that which is considered an honor so that humility for God’s sake might be highly exalted; and he has put on humanity . . .
     For no one who wants to will be able to know God as he actually is, nor Christ, nor the Spirit, nor the chorus of angels, nor even the archangels, and the thrones of the spirits, and the exalted lordships, and the Great Mind. If you do not know yourself, you will not be able to know all of these.
     Open the door for yourself that you may know what is. Knock on yourself that the Word may open for you.

Psalm    Sirach 48:4–14, NRSV
How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!*
     Whose glory is equal to yours?
You raised a corpse from death and from Hades,*
     by the word of the Most High.
You sent kings down to destruction,*
     and famous men, from their sick-beds.
You heard rebuke at Sinai*
     and judgments of vengeance at Horeb.
You anointed kings to inflict retribution,*
     and prophets to succeed you.
You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,*
     in a chariot with horses of fire . . .
Happy are those who saw you*
     and were adorned with your love!
When Elijah was enveloped in the whirlwind,*
     Elisha was filled with his spirit.
He performed twice as many signs,*
     and marvels with every utterance of his mouth.
Never in his lifetime did he tremble before any ruler,*
     nor could anyone intimidate him at all.
Nothing was too hard for him,*
     and when he was dead his body prophesied.
In his life he did wonders,*
     and in death his deeds were marvelous.

Gospel    Thomas 108–113, NHL except 111, SV
     Jesus says, “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me: I, too, will become that person, and to that person the hidden things will be revealed.”
     Jesus says, “The kingdom is like a man who had a hidden treasure in his field without knowing it. And after he died, he left it to his son. The son did not know about the treasure. he inherited the field and sold it. And the one who bought it went plowing and found the treasure. He began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished.”   
     Jesus says, “The one who has found the world, and has become wealthy, should renounce the world.”
     Jesus says, “The heavens and the earth will roll up in your presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see death.” Does not Jesus say, “Those who have found themselves, of them the world is not worthy”?
     Jesus says, “Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh.”
     His disciples said to him, “When will the Kingdom come?”
     Jesus said, “It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying, ‘here it is’ or ‘there it is’. Rather, the kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.”

Pentecost 10

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 9, SV and NHL conflated
     To this Peter responded, “Sometimes you urge us on toward the kingdom of heaven, yet at other times you turn us away, Lord. Sometimes you make appeals, draw us toward faith, and promise us life, yet at other times you drive us away from the kingdom of heaven.”
     The Lord replied to us, “I have offered you faith many times; moreover, I have made myself known to you, James, and you have not understood me. On the other hand, now I see you rejoicing again and again. And when you are elated at the promise of life, are you yet despairing and distressed when you are taught about the kingdom of heaven? But you, through faith and knowledge, have received life. Accordingly, disregard rejection when you hear it, but when you hear about the promise, rejoice all the more. I swear to you, whoever receives life and believes in the kingdom will never leave it, not even if the Father wishes to banish him!
     “This is all I shall tell you at this time. Now I shall ascend to the place from which I have come. But you, when I was eager to go, have rebuffed me; and instead of accompanying me, you have chased me away. Still, pay attention to the glory that awaits me and, having opened your hearts, listen to the hymns that await me up in the heavens. For today I must take my place at the right hand of my Father.
     “I have spoken my last word to you; I shall part from you. For a chariot of spirit has carried me up, and from now on I shall strip myself so that I may clothe myself. So pay attention: blessed are those who have proclaimed the Son before he descended, so that, having come, I might ascend again. Thrice blessed are those who were proclaimed by the Son before they existed, so that you may have a share with them.”

Second Reading    Isaiah 61:1–3, Tanakh
The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me;
He has sent me as a herald of joy to the humble.
To bind up the wounded of heart,
To proclaim the release to the captives,
Liberation to the imprisoned;
To proclaim a year of the LORD’S favor
And a day of vindication by our God;
To comfort all who mourn —
To provide for the mourners in Zion —
To give them a turban instead of ashes,
The festive ointment instead of a drooping spirit.
They shall be terebinths of victory,
Planted by the LORD for His glory.

Psalm    Ode 32
To the blessed ones joy lives in the heart,*
     Light from You lives in them.
The Word comes from the Truth,*
     You come from Your Self.
You are strong from holy power from the skies*
     You are unshaken forever and ever. Hallelujah!

Gospel    The Beatitudes, Q9 — Powelson & Reigert
     Around this time, Jesus went out into the hill seeking solitude and spent the entire night in prayer. At daybreak, he came down with his disciples.
     A great crowd of people from all parts of Judea, Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon had come to hear him and be cured of their diseases.
     Fixing his eyes on his disciples he began to speak:
    
Blessed are you poor               Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for yours is the reign of God      for theirs is the reign of heaven.
But woe to you rich,
for you have received your
consolation.
Blessed are you that hunger now,   Blessed are those who hunger
                                   and thirst after righteousness,
for you shall be filled.           for they shall be filled.
Woe to you who are full now,
for you shall go hungry.
Blessed are you that weep now      Blessed are those who mourn
for you shall laugh.               for they shall be comforted.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you shall mourn and weep.
                                   Blessed are the meek,
                                   for they shall inherit the earth.
                                   Blessed are the merciful,
                                   for mercy will be shown them.
                                   Blessed are the pure in heart,
                                   for they shall see God.
                                   Blessed are the peacemakers,
                                   for they shall be called sons of God.
                                   Blessed are those who are persecuted
                                   for righteousness’ sake,
                                   for theirs is the reign of heaven.
Blessed are you when people        Blessed are you when they                     
hate you,                          reproach
And when they exclude you and      you and persecute you
reproach you,                      and say every evil against you
and cast out your name as evil,    falsely
on account of the Truly            on my account.
Human Being!*                      
Rejoice in that day,               Rejoice
and leap for joy,                  and be glad,
for behold, your reward is great   for your reward is great
in heaven;                         in heaven,
for so their fathers did to the    for so they persecuted the
prophets.                          prophets who came before you.
Woe to you, when all people speak
well of you,
for so their fathers did to the
false prophets.

Pentecost 11

First Reading    The Secret Book of James 10, SV
     When the Lord said this, he went away. So Peter and I knelt down, gave thanks, and sent our hearts up to heaven. We heard with our ears and saw with our eyes the sound of battles and a trumpet’s blast and utter turmoil.
     And when we passed beyond that place, we sent our minds up further. We saw with our eyes and heard with our ears hymns and angelic praises and angelic rejoicing. Heavenly majesties were singing hymns, and we ourselves were rejoicing.
     After this, we also desired to send our spirits heavenward to the majesty. And when we went up, we were not permitted to see or hear a thing. For the rest of the disciples called to us and asked us, “What did you hear from the Teacher? and, “What did he say to you?” and “Where did he go?”
     We answered them, “He has ascended. He has given us a pledge, and promised all of us life, and disclosed to us children who are to come after us, having bid us to love them, since we will be saved for their sake.”
     And when they heard, they believed the revelation, yet were angry about those who would be born. So, not wishing to give them an occasion to take offense, I sent each one to a different place. And I myself went up to Jerusalem, praying that I might obtain a share with the beloved who will be made manifest.

Second Reading    Proverbs 19:11, 20:22, 24:29, 25:21, NRSV
Those with good sense are slow to anger,
and it is their glory to overlook an offense . . .
Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord and He will help you . . .
Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me;
I will pay them back for what they have done.” . . .
If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;
if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;
for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.

Psalm    Sirach 22:16–18, NRSV
A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building*
     is not loosened by an earthquake;
so the mind firmly resolved after due reflection*
     will not be afraid in a crisis
A mind settled on an intelligent thought*
     is like a stucco decoration that makes a wall smooth.
Fences set on a high place*
     will not set firm against the wind;
so a timid mind with a fool’s resolve*
     will not stand firm against any fear.”

Gospel    Q Gospel 6:20–23, 27–38
     Blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you, abuse you and denounce you on my account.
     Celebrate when that day comes and dance for joy — your reward will be great in heaven. Remember that their ancestors treated the prophets this way.
     Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who treat your badly.
     When someone strikes you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek, too. When someone takes your coat from you, let them have your shirt as well.
     Give to everyone who asks. And if someone robs you, don’t demand your property back.
     Treat people as you would like them to treat you.
     If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you do good only to those who do good to you, what merit is there in that? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what reward is that? Even sinners lend to sinners.
     Instead, love your enemies and do good, expecting nothing in return. You will have a great reward, and you will be children of your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on the bad and the good. He sends rain to fall on both the just and the unjust.
     Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
     Give, and there will be gifts for you. A full measure of grain, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the measure you will be given back.

Pentecost 12

First reading    Secret James 11, SV
     Now I, (James), pray that a beginning may take place with you. For this is how I can be saved — since they will be enlightened through me, through my faith and through another’s that is better than mine, for I wish for mine to be more lowly. Do your best, therefore, to be like them, and pray that you may obtain a share with them. For, apart from what I have recounted, the Savior did not disclose revelation to us. For their sake do we proclaim a share with those for whom this has been proclaimed, those whom the Lord has made his children.

Second Reading    Secret John 1:4–25, 30–32, 2:1–25, NHL
     It happened one day when John, the brother of James — who are the sons of Zebedee — had come up to the temple, that a Pharisee named Arimanius approached him and said to him, “Where is your master whom you followed?” And he said to him, “He has gone to the place from which he came.” The Pharisee said to him, “With deception did this Nazarene deceive you, and he filled your ears with lies, and closed your hearts and turned you from the traditions of your fathers.”
     When I, John, heard these things I turned away from the temple to a desert place. And I grieved greatly in my heart saying, “How then was the savior appointed, and why was he sent into the world by his Father, and who is his Father who sent him, and of what sort is that aeon to which we shall go? . . . ”
     Straightway, while I was contemplating these things, behold the heavens opened and the whole creation which is below heaven shone, and the world was shaken. I was afraid, and behold I saw in the light a youth who stood by me. While I looked at him he became like an old man. And he changed his likeness again becoming like a servant. There was not a plurality before me, but there was a likeness with multiple forms in the light, and the likenesses appeared through each other, and the likenesses had three forms.
     He said to me, “John, John, why do you doubt, or why are you afraid? You are not unfamiliar with the image are you? — that is, do not be timid! — I am the one who is with you always. I am the Father, I am the Mother, I am the Son. I am the undefiled and incorruptible one.
     “Now I have come to teach you what is and what was and what will come to pass, that you may know the things which are not revealed and those which are revealed, and to teach you concerning the unwavering race of the perfect Human Being. Now, therefore, lift up your face, that you may receive the things that I shall teach you today, and may tell them to your fellow spirits who are from the unwavering race of the perfect Human Being.

Psalm    Ode 15
As the sun is joy to those who seek daybreak,*
     so You are my joy, O Lord.
You are my sun and Your rays uplift me*
     You chase all darkness from my face.
In You I acquire eyes and see Your sacred day.*
     In You I acquire knowledge and You make me happy.
I leave the way of error and go to You*
     and I am saved.
You give me according to Your bounty.*
     You make me according to Your beauty.
I find purity through Your Name*
     I shed corruption through Your grace.
Death dies before my face;*
     Hell is abolished by my Word.
Eternal Life appears in Your land, O Lord,*
     and is known to those with faith.
Eternal life is given without limit*
     to all who trust in You. Hallelujah!

Gospel    Q Gospel 6:39–49
     Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? The student is not superior to the teacher, but if the students are well taught they will become like their teacher.
     Why do you notice the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and not the wooden plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take out the sawdust from your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own?
     Hypocrite! Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly enough to remove the sawdust from your brother’s eye.
     No good tree produces rotten fruit and no bad tree produces good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor gather grapes from blackberry brambles. Good people draw what is good from the treasure of their hearts. Bad people produce what is bad from the evil within them. A person’s words flow from what is treasured in the heart.
     Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and then not do what I say?
     I will show you what the person who comes to me, hears what I have to say and acts accordingly is really like. That person is like someone building a house, who digs deeply and lays the foundation on bedrock. The rain pours down, the floods rise in a torrent, and the winds blow and beat upon the house, but it does not fall. It is built on rock.
     But the one who listens and does nothing is like the person who builds a house on sand with no foundation. When the river bursts against it, it collapses immediately and is destroyed.

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