Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
23 “Am I a God who is only near”(A)—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away? 24 Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” (B)—the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” (C)—the Lord’s declaration.
25 “I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in my name have said: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ (D) 26 How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? 27 Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause my people to forget my name as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.(E) 28 The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 29 “Is not my word like fire”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and like a hammer that pulverizes rock?
Psalm 82
A Plea for Righteous Judgment
A psalm of Asaph.(A)
1 God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:[a](B)
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?(C)Selah
3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.(D)
4 Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked.”(E)
5 They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness.(F)
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.(G)
6 I said, “You are gods;(H)
you are all sons of the Most High.(I)
7 However, you will die like humans
and fall like any other ruler.”(J)
8 Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.(K)
29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.(A)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.(B)
32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,(C) David, Samuel, and the prophets,(D) 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms,(E) administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,(F) 34 quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.(G) 35 Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.(H) 37 They were stoned,[a](I) they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins,(J) destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.(K)
The Call to Endurance
12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses(L) surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance(M) the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus,[b] the pioneer and perfecter[c] of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,[d] he endured the cross, despising the shame,(N) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Not Peace but Division
49 “I came(A) to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo,(B) and how it consumes(C) me until it is finished!(D) 51 Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth?(E) No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53 They will be divided, father against son,
son against father,
mother against daughter,
daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”[a](F)
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds,(G) “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does.(H) 55 And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites!(I) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this present time?(J)
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