Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

14“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve the LORD. 15If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 16The people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; 17for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the middle of whom we passed. 18The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD; for he is our God.” 19Joshua said to the people, “You can’t serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins. 20If you forsake the LORD, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.” 21The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 22Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD yourselves, to serve him.” They said, “We are witnesses.” 23“Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God, and we will listen to his voice.” 25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the LORD’s words which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God.” 28So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance. 29After these things, Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred ten years old.

1Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.

2My soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord.

Apart from you I have no good thing.”

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5The LORD assigned my portion and my cup.

You made my lot secure.

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7I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel.

Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.

8I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

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11You will show me the path of life.

In your presence is fullness of joy.

In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.

13Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.” 15He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.