Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord Speaks to Ezekiel

2 The voice said, “Son of man,^[a] stand up and I will speak with you.”

² Then the Spirit came into me^[b] and lifted me up on my feet, and I listened to the one who spoke to me. ³ He said, “Son of man, I am sending you to speak to the family of Israel. Those people and their ancestors turned against me many times. They have sinned against me many times—and they are still sinning against me today. ⁴ I am sending you to speak to them, but they are very stubborn. They are very hardheaded, but you must speak to them. You must say, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ ⁵ They are people who refuse to obey, so they may not listen to you. But even if they don’t stop sinning, at least they will know that there is a prophet living among them.

A song for going up to the Temple.

² I know a man^[a] in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven. This happened 14 years ago. I don’t know if the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. ^3-4 And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don’t know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself. I will boast only about my weaknesses.

⁶ But if I wanted to say more about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t say any more, because I don’t want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me say.

⁷ But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problem^[b] was given to me—an angel from Satan, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else. ⁸ I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. ⁹ But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. ¹⁰ Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.

Jesus Goes to His Hometown^(A)

6 Jesus left and went back to his hometown. His followers went with him. ² On the Sabbath day Jesus taught in the synagogue, and many people heard him. They were amazed and said, “Where did this man get this teaching? How did he get such wisdom? Who gave it to him? And where did he get the power to do miracles? ³ Isn’t he just the carpenter we know—Mary’s son, the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And don’t his sisters still live here in town?” So they had a problem accepting him.

⁴ Then Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet, except in his own town, with his own people, or in his home.” ⁵ Jesus was not able to do any miracles there except the healing of some sick people by laying his hands on them. ⁶ He was surprised that the people there had no faith. Then he went to other villages in that area and taught.

Jesus Sends His Apostles on a Mission^(B)

⁷ Jesus called his twelve apostles together. He sent them out in groups of two and gave them power over evil spirits. ⁸ This is what he told them: “Take nothing for your trip except a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money. ⁹ You can wear sandals, but don’t take extra clothes. ¹⁰ When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town and shake the dust off your feet^[a] as a warning to them.”

¹² The apostles left and went to other places. They talked to the people and told them to change their hearts and lives. ¹³ They forced many demons out of people and put olive oil on^[b] many who were sick and healed them.