Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Abraham’s Three Visitors
18 Then the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre(A) while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. 2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him.(B) When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground. 3 Then he said, “My lord,[a] if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves.[b] This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”
“Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures[c] of fine flour and make bread.”[d] 7 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then Abraham took curds[e] and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served[f] them as they ate under the tree.
Sarah Laughs
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he answered.
10 The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!”(C) Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.[g] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.[h](D) 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?”(E)
13 But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord?(F) At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”
23 since you have been born again(A)—not of perishable seed(B) but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.(C) 24 For
All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory(D) like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.(E)[a]
And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.
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