Hi, friends. I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament, the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles.

Each month we get to read all four books. It takes about 20 minutes a day, about three chapters a day.

So make sure you're subscribed today. Join us as we read the Gospels together.

So here's how this works. I'll read three chapters to you today. You can listen or read along in your own Bible, and then I'll pray.

And that's it.

Today is October 9th, and I'll be reading Matthew 9 through 11.

And this month I am reading from the NRSV Catholic Edition.

Matthew 9.

And after getting into a boat, he crossed the sea and came to his own town.

And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, take heart, son, your sins are forgiven.

Then some of the scribes said to themselves, this man is blaspheming.

But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, why do you think evil in your hearts?

For which is easier to say your sins are forgiven or to say stand up and walk?

But so that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he then said to the paralytic, stand up, take your bed, and go to your home.

And he stood up and went to his home.

When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, follow me, and he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him in his disciples.

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, why did your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

But when he heard this, he said, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick, go and learn what this means.

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