First Reading

Reading from the second letter of the apostle Saint Paul to Timothy

2 Timothy 1:1-8

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day, I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my ancestors.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and that now dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 

Mark 3:22-30

At that time, the scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Likewise, if Satan is divided against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; it is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”