Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Chapter 23
A Just Shepherd.[a] 1 (A)Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture—oracle of the Lord. 2 Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.(B) 3 I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have banished them and bring them back to their folds; there they shall be fruitful and multiply.(C) 4 I will raise up shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear or be terrified; none shall be missing—oracle of the Lord.(D)
5 See, days are coming—oracle of the Lord—
when I will raise up a righteous branch for David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.(E)
6 In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name to be given him:
“The Lord our justice.”(F)
Psalm 46[a]
God, the Protector of Zion
1 For the leader. A song of the Korahites. According to alamoth.[b]
I
2 God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.(A)
3 [c]Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken
and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
4 Though its waters rage and foam
and mountains totter at its surging.(B)
Selah
II
5 [d]Streams of the river gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.(C)
6 God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken;
God will help it at break of day.(D)
7 Though nations rage and kingdoms totter,
he utters his voice and the earth melts.(E)
8 [e]The Lord of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Selah
III
9 Come and see the works of the Lord,
who has done fearsome deeds on earth;(F)
10 Who stops wars to the ends of the earth,
breaks the bow, splinters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire;(G)
11 (H)“Be still and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
exalted on the earth.”
12 The Lord of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Selah
11 strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 [a]giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.(A) 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.(B)
II. The Preeminence of Christ
His Person and Work
15 [b]He is the image[c] of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.(C)
16 For in him[d] were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.(D)
17 He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
18 He is the head of the body, the church.[e]
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.(E)
19 For in him all the fullness[f] was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross[g]
[through him], whether those on earth or those in heaven.(F)
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.(A) 34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”][a] They divided his garments by casting lots.(B) 35 The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,(C) “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.”(D) 36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine(E) 37 they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 [b]Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” 40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”(F) 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”(G) 43 He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”(H)
The Death of Jesus.(I)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.