Announcement to Zechariah readings

Romans 2:9-16
The Righteous Judgment of God
Brothers and Sisters:
There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. Praise be to God always!
John 8:41-45
Jesus and Abraham
The Lord Jesus said:
“You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. This is the truth. Peace be with you.

Do we choose love and truth or something else? If we choose evil, we have chosen anguish for ourselves. There is no special privilege for being from somewhere “special” or belonging to some “special” people. We will be judged based on our love of God and our actions. If we love Jesus, we will be recieve mercy, because with him we will be chilsren of the Father.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Lord,
in your heavenly dwelling,
accept the prayers and intercessions offered to you this morning by your Church,
for the sick and sorrowful, the exiles and prisoners,
the poor and the wretched.
From the treasury of your mercy,
give to each one according to his petition and needs.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.