Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord Is Good to His People

106 Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. ² Who can put into words the great works of the Lord? Who can make known all His praise? ³ Happy are those who are faithful in being fair and who always do what is right and good!

⁴ O Lord, remember me when You show favor to Your people. Visit me also when You save them. ⁵ So I may share in the well-being of Your chosen ones. So I may share in the joy of Your nation, and be proud of Your people.

⁶ We have sinned like our fathers. We have done wrong. We have been sinful in our actions. ⁷ Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your powerful works. They did not remember how many times You showed Your loving-kindness. But they turned against You by the sea, the Red Sea. ⁸ Yet He saved them because of the honor of His name, and to make His great power known. ⁹ So He spoke sharp words to the Red Sea and it dried up. And He led them through the sea as through a desert. ¹⁰ He saved them from the hand of those who hated them. He set them free from the hand of those who went against them. ¹¹ And the waters covered those who hated them. Not one of them was left. ¹² Then they believed His promises. They sang His praise.

God Will Help Israel

41 “Islands, be quiet and listen to Me. Let the people get new strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let us come together to be judged. ² Who has called this one from the east, one who is right at every step? He gives up nations in front of him and makes him ruler over kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, and like wind-blown dry grass with his bow. ³ He goes after them and is safe as he passes, on paths he has not gone on before. ⁴ Who has done this, calling out all the people from the beginning? I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.”

⁵ The islands have seen and are afraid. The ends of the earth shake in fear and they have come. ⁶ Every one helps each other, and says to his brother, “Be strong!” ⁷ The able workman gives strength of heart to the one who works with gold. He who makes iron smooth gives strength of heart to the one who beats the iron, saying of his work, “It is good.” And he puts it in its place with nails so that it cannot be moved.

⁸ “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, son of My friend Abraham, ⁹ I have taken you from the ends of the earth. I have called you from its farthest parts, and said to you, ‘You are My servant. I have chosen you and have not turned away from you.’ ¹⁰ Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up with My right hand that is right and good. ¹¹ See, all those who are angry with you will be put to shame and troubled. Those who fight against you will be as nothing and will be lost. ¹² You will look for those who argue with you, but will not find them. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as nothing at all. ¹³ For I am the Lord your God Who holds your right hand, and Who says to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I will help you.’

Jesus Teaches about the Faith of a Child ^(A)

18 At that time the followers came to Jesus. They said, “Who is the greatest in the holy nation of heaven?” ² Jesus took a little child and put him among them. ³ He said, “For sure, I tell you, unless you have a change of heart and become like a little child, you will not get into the holy nation of heaven. ⁴ Whoever is without pride as this little child is the greatest in the holy nation of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives a little child because of Me receives Me.