Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Sending of Ezekiel

2 Then He said to me, “Son of man, ^(A)stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” ² And as He spoke to me, the ^(B)Spirit entered me and caused me to stand on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. ³ Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have ^(C)rebelled against Me; ^(D)they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. ⁴ I am sending you to them who are ^[a](E)stiff-^[b]faced and strong-hearted children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh.’ ⁵ As for them, ^(F)whether they listen or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—they will ^(G)know that a prophet has been among them.

To You I Lift Up My Eyes

A Song of Ascents.

² I know a man ^(A)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(B)God knows—such a man was ^(C)caught up to the ^(D)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(E)God knows— ⁴ was ^(F)caught up into ^(G)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (H)On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in ^(I)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(J)foolish, ^(K)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will consider me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ Because of the surpassing greatness of the ^(L)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a ^(M)thorn in the flesh, a ^(N)messenger of Satan to ^[a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(O)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(P)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(Q)boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(R)I am well content with weaknesses, with ^[b]insults, with ^(S)distresses, with ^(T)persecutions and ^(U)hardships, ^(V)for the sake of Christ, for ^(W)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

6 ^(A)And Jesus went out from there and *came into ^[a](B)His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. ² And when the Sabbath came, He began ^(C)to teach in the synagogue; and ^(D)many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to this man, and such ^[b]miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ Is this man not ^(E)the carpenter, ^(F)the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not ^(G)His sisters here with us?” And they were taking ^(H)offense at Him. ⁴ And Jesus was saying to them, “^(I)A prophet is not without honor except in ^[c](J)his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And He could do no ^[d]miracle there except that He ^(K)laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He was marveling at their unbelief.

^(L)And He was going around the villages teaching.

The Twelve Sent Out

^7 (M)And ^(N)He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out ^(O)in pairs, and was giving them authority over the unclean spirits; ^8 (P)and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only—no bread, no ^[e]bag, no money in their belt— ⁹ but ^[f]to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two ^[g]tunics.” ¹⁰ And He was saying to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you ^[h]leave town. ¹¹ And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, ^(Q)shake the dust ^[i]off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” ^12 (R)And they went out and ^[j]preached that men should repent. ¹³ And they were casting out many demons and ^(S)were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.