Psalm 48
1Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, 2beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense. 4Then the kings assembled, they came on together. 5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; 6trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, 7as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. 8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah 9We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. 11Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. 12Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, 13consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
Mark 6:1-13
6He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
