Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Ezekiel’s Commission to Prophesy

2 “Son of Man,” the Lord said,^[a] “get up on your feet. I want to talk to you.” ² Even while he was speaking to me, the Spirit entered me, set me on my feet, and I listened to the voice that had been speaking to me.

³ “Son of Man, I’m sending you to that rebellious people, the Israelis, who have rebelled against me the same way their ancestors did. And they’re still rebels^[b] to this very day! ⁴ They’re stubborn^[c] and strong willed. I’m sending you to them to tell them what the Lord says. ⁵ Whether this rebellious group^[d] listens to you or not, at least^[e] they’ll realize that a prophet had appeared in their midst!

A Song of Ascents

A Prayer for Relief

² I know a man who belongs to the Messiah.^[a] Fourteen years ago—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows—that man was snatched away to the third heaven. ³ I know that this man—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was snatched away to Paradise and heard things that cannot be expressed in words, things that no human being has a right even to mention.

⁵ I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses. ⁶ However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about me.

⁷ To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn^[b] was given to me and placed in my body.^[c] It was Satan’s messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.

⁸ I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, ⁹ but he has told me, “My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah’s^[d] power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah’s^[e] sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth^(A)

6 Jesus^[a] left that place and went back to his hometown,^[b] and his disciples followed him. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were utterly amazed. “Where did this man get all these things?” they asked. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What great miracles are being done by his hands! ³ This is the builder,^[c] the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, isn’t it? His sisters are here with us, aren’t they?” And they were offended by him.

⁴ Jesus had been telling them, “A prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home.” ⁵ He couldn’t perform a miracle there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around to the villages and continued teaching.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve^(B)

⁷ He called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. ⁸ He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick—no bread, no traveling bag, nothing in their moneybag. ⁹ They could wear sandals but not take along an extra shirt.^{[d] 10} He told them repeatedly, “Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you leave that place. ¹¹ If any place will not welcome you and the people^[e] refuse to listen to you, when you leave, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹² So they went and preached that people^[f] should repent. ¹³ They also kept driving out many demons and anointing with oil many who were sick, and healing them.