Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁰ “This is what the Lord says: You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It’s true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear ¹¹ the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thank offerings to the Lord’s temple say,

I will restore the fortunes of the land to what they were before,” says the Lord.

¹² “This is what the Lord of Armies says: In this deserted place, where no people or animals live, and in all its cities, there will once again be pastures where shepherds can rest their flocks. ¹³ In the cities on the mountains, in the foothills, in the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the area around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep,” says the Lord.

¹⁴ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will keep the promise that I made to Israel and Judah. ¹⁵ In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David. He will do what is fair and right in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live securely. Jerusalem will be called The Lord Our Righteousness.

For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life^(A)

³² Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked ⌞that he was going to Jerusalem⌟. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We’re going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners. ³⁴ They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life.”

Jesus Gives Sight to Bartimaeus^(A)

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth ⌞was passing by⌟, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him!” They called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see again.”

⁵² Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well.”

At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.