Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Samuel before the Lord as a Boy

¹⁸ Now ^(A)Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy ^(B)wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁹ And his mother would make for him a little ^(C)robe and bring it up to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer ^(D)the yearly sacrifice. ²⁰ Then Eli would ^(E)bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you ^[a]children from this woman in place of the ^[b]one she ^(F)requested of the Lord.” And they went to their own ^[c]home.

²⁶ Now the boy ^(A)Samuel was continuing to grow and to be in favor both with the Lord and with people.

The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.

¹² So, as those who have been ^(A)chosen of God, holy and beloved, ^(B)put on a ^(C)heart of compassion, kindness, ^(D)humility, gentleness, and ^[a](E)patience; ^13 (F)bearing with one another, and ^(G)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; ^(H)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. ¹⁴ In addition to all these things put on love, which is ^[b](I)the perfect bond of ^(J)unity. ¹⁵ Let ^(K)the peace of Christ, to which you were ^[c]indeed called in ^(L)one body, ^[d]rule in your hearts; and ^[e]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(M)the word of ^[f]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[g]with all wisdom ^(N)teaching and admonishing ^[h]one another ^(O)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, ^(P)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ^17 (Q)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(R)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Visit to Jerusalem

⁴¹ His parents went to Jerusalem every year at ^(A)the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast; ⁴³ and as they were returning, after spending the ^(B)full number of days required, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. ⁴⁶ Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him ^(C)were amazed at His understanding and His answers. ⁴⁸ When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and ^(D)His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^(E)Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!” ⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that ^(F)I had to be in My Father’s ^[a]house?” ⁵⁰ And yet ^(G)they on their part did not understand the statement which He had ^[b]made to them. ⁵¹ And He went down with them and came to ^(H)Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and ^(I)His mother ^(J)treasured all these ^[c]things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and ^[d]stature, and in ^(K)favor with God and people.