Deacon:  Wisdom! Arise! Hear the Holy Gospel!

Priest:   Peace to you all. 

People:  And to your spirit.

Deacon:  A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew  (9:1-8)

People:  Glory to You Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:   Listen!

Deacon:

At that time, Jesus got back in the boat, crossed the water, and returned to his home town of Capernaum.

Then some people came to him, bringing a paralysed man on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralysed man, 'Be strong my son, your sins are forgiven'.

Now some scribes said to themselves, 'This man is blaspheming'.

Knowing their minds, Jesus said, 'Why do you have these evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier? To say, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Get up and walk"?'

'But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins', he said to the paralysed man, 'Get up. Pick up your stretcher, and go home.'

The man got up and went home.

A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to humans.

People:  Glory to You Lord, Glory to You