Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
God Helps Men in Trouble
107 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His loving-kindness lasts forever! 2 Let the people who have been saved say so. He has bought them and set them free from the hand of those who hated them. 3 He gathered them from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
33 He changes rivers into a desert and wells of water into a thirsty ground. 34 He changes a land of much fruit into a salt waste because of the sin of those who live in it. 35 He changes a desert into a pool of water and makes water flow out of dry ground. 36 And He makes the hungry go there so they may build a city to live in. 37 They plant seeds in the fields and plant grape-vines and gather much fruit. 38 He lets good come to them and they become many in number. And He does not let the number of their cattle become less.
39 When the number of people becomes less and they are put to shame under a bad power and trouble and sorrow, 40 He pours anger on rulers. He makes them walk in the waste places where there is no path. 41 But He lifts those in need out of their troubles. He makes their families grow like flocks. 42 Those who are right see it and are glad. But all the sinful shut their mouths. 43 Let the wise man think about these things. And may he think about the loving-kindness of the Lord.
A Great Full Life
55 “Listen! Every one who is thirsty, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread? Why spend your pay for what you do not enjoy? Listen well to Me, and eat what is good. Find joy in the best food. 3 Listen and come to Me. Hear, so you may live. And I will make an agreement with you that lasts forever, because of the faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I made him one who told of what he had seen and heard to the nations, a leader and ruler of the people. 5 See, you will call nations that you do not know. And nations that did not know you will run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. For He has given shining-greatness to you.”
6 Look for the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the sinful turn from his way, and the one who does not know God turn from his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have loving-pity on him. Let him turn to our God, for He will for sure forgive all his sins. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
The Feeding of the Four Thousand (A)
8 In those days many people were gathered together. They had nothing to eat. Jesus called His followers to Him and said, 2 “I pity these people because they have been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home without food, they may be too weak as they go. Many of them have come a long way.”
4 His followers said to Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread for them here in this desert?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 Then He told the people to sit down on the ground. Jesus took the seven loaves of bread and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to His followers to give to the people. The followers gave the bread to them. 7 They had a few small fish also. He gave thanks to God and told the followers to give the fish to them. 8 They all ate and were filled. They picked up seven baskets full of pieces of bread and fish after the people were finished eating. 9 About four thousand ate. Then Jesus sent the people away.
The Proud Religious Law-Keepers Ask for Something Special to See (B)
10 At once Jesus got in a boat with His followers and came to the country of Dalmanutha.
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