Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Samuel before the Lord as a Boy

¹⁸ Now ^(A)Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy ^[a](B)wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁹ And his mother would make him a little ^(C)robe and bring it 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 ^[b]children from this woman in place of ^[c]the one she ^(F)dedicated to the Lord.” And they went to their own ^[d]home.

²⁶ Now the boy ^(A)Samuel ^[a]was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men.

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 also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is ^[b](I)the perfect bond of ^(J)unity. ¹⁵ Let ^(K)the peace of Christ ^[c]rule in your hearts, to which ^[d]indeed you were called in ^(L)one body; 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 and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(P)singing ^[i]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ^17 (Q)Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(R)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Visit to Jerusalem

⁴¹ Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at ^(A)the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He became twelve, 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, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, ⁴⁴ but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ 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 they saw Him, they were astonished; and ^(D)His mother said to Him, “^[a]Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^(E)Your father and I ^[b]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 ^[c]house?” ⁵⁰ But ^(G)they did not understand the statement which He ^[d]had made to them. ⁵¹ And He went down with them and came to ^(H)Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and ^(I)His mother ^(J)treasured all these ^[e]things in her heart.

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