Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
The Lord’s Message of Freedom
61 The Lord God has put his Spirit in me.
This is because he has appointed me to tell the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts are broken.
He has sent me to tell the captives they are free.
He has sent me to tell the prisoners that they are released.
2 He has sent me to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness
and the time when our God will punish evil people.
He has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.
3 He has sent me to the sorrowing people of Jerusalem.
I will give them a crown to replace their ashes.
I will give them the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow.
I will give them clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness.
Then they will be called Trees of Goodness.
They will be like trees planted by the Lord and will show his greatness.
4 They will rebuild the old ruins.
They will build up the places destroyed long ago.
They will repair the ruined cities
that were destroyed for so long.
8 The Lord says, “I love justice.
I hate stealing and everything that is wrong.
I will be fair and give my people what they should have.
I will make an agreement with them that will continue forever.
9 Everyone in all nations will know the children of my people.
And their children will be known among the nations.
Anyone who sees them will know
that the Lord blesses them.”
10 The Lord makes me very happy.
All that I am rejoices in my God.
The Lord has covered me with clothes of salvation.
He has covered me with a coat of goodness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding.
I am like a bride dressed in jewels.
11 The earth causes plants to grow.
And a garden causes the seeds planted there to grow.
In the same way the Lord God will make grow what is right.
He will make praise come from all the nations.
Lord, Give Our Riches Back
A song for going up to worship.
126 When the Lord gave the riches back to Jerusalem,
it seemed as if we were dreaming.
2 Then we were filled with laughter,
and we sang happy songs.
Then the other nations said,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are very glad.
4 Lord, give us back our riches again.
Do this as you bring streams to the desert.
5 Those who cry as they plant crops
will sing at harvesttime.
6 Those who cry
as they carry out the seeds
will return singing
and carrying bundles of grain.
Mary Praises God
46 Then Mary said,
“My soul praises the Lord;
47 my heart is happy because God is my Savior.
48 I am not important, but God has shown his care for me, his servant girl.
From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,
49 because the Powerful One has done great things for me.
His name is holy.
50 God will always give mercy
to those who worship him.
51 God’s arm is strong.
He scatters the people who are proud
and think great things about themselves.
52 God brings down rulers from their thrones,
and he raises up the humble.
53 God fills the hungry with good things,
but he sends the rich away with nothing.
54 God has helped his people Israel who serve him.
He gave them his mercy.
55 God has done what he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his children forever.”
16 Always be happy. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not stop the work of the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecy as if it were not important. 21 But test everything. Keep what is good. 22 And stay away from everything that is evil.
23 We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure, belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be without wrong when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. 24 The One who calls you will do that for you. You can trust him.
6 There was a man named John[a] who was sent by God. 7 He came to tell people about the Light. Through him all people could hear about the Light and believe. 8 John was not the Light, but he came to tell people about the Light.
John Tells People About Jesus
19 The Jews in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John.[a] The Jews sent them to ask, “Who are you?”
20 John spoke freely and did not refuse to answer. He said clearly, “I am not the Christ.”
21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”[b]
He answered, “No, I am not Elijah.”
Then they asked, “Are you the Prophet?”[c]
He answered, “No, I am not the Prophet.”
22 Then they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to tell those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John told them in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am the voice of a man
calling out in the desert:
‘Make the road straight for the Lord.’” Isaiah 40:3
24 In the group of Jews who were sent, there were some Pharisees. 25 They said to John: “You say you are not the Christ. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?”
26 John answered, “I baptize people with water. But there is one here with you that you don’t know. 27 He is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings of his sandals.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. This is where John was baptizing people.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.