Reading 1, Dan 3:25-31 (3:25-45) : : Song of the three young men in the furnace

25    and even spread out and burnt up the Babylonians standing near the furnace. 

26    But an angel of the Lord came down into the fire where the three men were. He pushed aside the flames 

27    so that it felt as if a cool breeze were blowing, and the fire did not touch the men at all or hurt them in any way.

28    There in the furnace the three young men again started singing together in praise of God:

29    “We praise you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors.

30    May your glorious, holy name be held in honour and reverence for ever.

31    May hymns be sung to your glory for ever and may your holy presence be praised in that temple,

Reading 2, Acts 6:8-15 (6:8-7:10) : Life of Jesus inspires saints

 

8	And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9	Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyre'nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cili'cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen.
10	But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
11	Then they secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
12	And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,
13	and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law;
14	for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us."
15	And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Reading 3, Heb 11:3-10(11:3-10,32-12:2) : By faith our ancestors recieved approval

 

3	By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
4	By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
5	By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God.
6	And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7	By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.
8	By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
9	By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10	For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Gospel, Mt: 10:26-33(10:16-33) : Be witnesses without fear

 

26	"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27	What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.
28	And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29	Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will.
30	But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31	Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32	So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven;
33	but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.