Sunday November 8th 2020

First Reading
(Deuteronomy 8:6-8)
​
 So then, do as the Lord has commanded you:
live according to his laws and obey him. 
 The Lord your God is bringing you into a fertile land - a land that has rivers and springs,
and underground streams gushing out into the valleys and hills; 
 a land that produces wheat and barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and honey. 
 There you will never go hungry or ever be in need.
Its rocks have iron in them, and from its hills you can mine copper. 
You will have all you want to eat,
and you will give thanks to the Lord your God for the fertile land that he has given you. 

Make certain that you do not forget the Lord your God;
do not fail to obey any of his laws that I am giving you today. 
 When you have all you want to eat and have built good houses to live in 
13 and when your cattle and sheep, your silver and gold
and all your other possessions have increased, 
 be sure that you do not become proud
and forget the Lord your God who rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves. 

 He led you through that vast and terrifying desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. In that dry and waterless land he made water flow out of solid rock for you. 
In the desert he gave you manna to eat, food that your ancestors had never eaten.
He sent hardships on you to test you, so that in the end he could bless you with good things. 

 So then, you must never think that you have made yourselves wealthy
by your own power and strength. 
 Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to become rich.
He does this because he is still faithful today
​ to the covenant that he made with your ancestors.

Second Reading
(Romans 12:9-21)

 Love must be completely sincere.
Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. 
 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 
 Work hard and do not be lazy.
Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 
 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 
 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
 
 Ask God to bless those who persecute you - yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 
 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 
 Have the same concern for everyone.
Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise. 
 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong.
Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 
 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
 
 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it.
For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." 
 Instead, as the scripture says:
"If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink;
for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." 

Do not let evil defeat you;
​instead, conquer evil with good.