Tuesday, July 7

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, he went into Galilee. ¹³While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled:

¹⁵“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

¹⁶the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”

¹⁷From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

¹⁸As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). ¹⁹He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!” ²⁰They left their nets immediately and followed him. ²¹Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Then he called them. ²²They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them. ²⁵And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.

¹When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to teach them by saying:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

¹¹Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people! ¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.