Psalm 31:9-16

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
   my eye wastes away from grief,
   my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
   and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,*
   and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
   a horror* to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
   those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
   I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
   terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
   as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
   I say, ‘You are my God.’
15 My times are in your hand;
   deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
   save me in your steadfast love.

Mark 10:32-34

A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him, and after three days he will rise again.’

Philippians 1:21-30 New International Version (NIV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.