Macrina of Caesarea

While I was still young, before I went on my travels,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

Before the temple I asked for her,
and I will search for her until the end.

From the first blossom to the ripening grape
my heart delighted in her;

my foot walked on the straight path;
from my youth I followed her steps.

I inclined my ear a little and received her,
and I found for myself much instruction.

I made progress in her;
to him who gives wisdom I will give glory.

For I resolved to live according to wisdom,
and I was zealous for the good,
and I shall never be disappointed.

My soul grappled with wisdom,
and in my conduct I was strict;

I spread out my hands to the heavens,
and lamented my ignorance of her.

I directed my soul to her,
and in purity I found her.

With her I gained understanding from the first;
therefore I will never be forsaken.

My heart was stirred to seek her;
therefore I have gained a prize possession.

The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,
and I will praise him with it.

121 I have done what is just and right; *
do not deliver me to my oppressors.

122 Be surety for your servant's good; *
let not the proud oppress me.

123 My eyes have failed from watching for your salvation *
and for your righteous promise.

124 Deal with your servant according to your loving-kindness *
and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant; grant me understanding, *
that I may know your decrees.

126 It is time for you to act, O Lord, *
for they have broken your law.

127 Truly, I love your commandments *
more than gold and precious stones.

128 I hold all your commandments to be right for me; *
all paths of falsehood I abhor.

Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”