Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Call of Ezekiel

2 Then He said to me: Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you! ² When He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet. Then I heard Him speaking to me.

³ And He said to me: Son of man, I send you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. They and their fathers have transgressed against Me even to this very day. ⁴ And as for the impudent and obstinate children, I am sending you to them. And you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” ⁵ As for them, whether they listen or not (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.

Psalm 123

A Song of Ascents.

² I knew a man in Christ over fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I knew that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words not permitted for a man to say. ⁵ Of such a person, I will boast. Yet of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. ⁶ For if I desire to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But now I resist, lest anyone should think of me above that which he sees me to be or hears from me. ⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ I asked the Lord three times that this thing might depart from me. ⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth^(A)

6 He went away from there and came into His own country. And His disciples followed Him. ² When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get this? What is this wisdom that is given Him, that even miracles are done by His hands? ³ Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He was amazed because of their unbelief.

The Mission of the Twelve^(B)

Then He went to the surrounding villages, teaching. ⁷ He called to Him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

⁸ He commanded them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bag, no bread, and no money in their purse, ⁹ but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. ¹⁰ He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, remain there until you depart from that place. ¹¹ And whoever will not receive you or hear you, when you depart from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that city.”

¹² So they went out and preached that men should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.