Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Deliverance and Restoration of Zion
8 [a]Thus says the Lord:
In a time of my favor I have answered you;
on the day of salvation I have helped you.
I have formed you and have destined you
to be a covenant to the people,
to restore the land
and to allot the desolate heritages,
9 to say to the prisoners, “Come out,”
and to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.”
They will find sustenance along the way,
and any bare height will serve as their pasture.
10 They will not hunger or thirst,
and neither scorching wind nor sun will weaken them,
for he who pities them will lead them,
and he will guide them beside springs of water.
11 I will blaze a path through all my mountains,
and my roads will be level.
12 Behold, some will come from far away,
others from the north and the west,
and still others from the land of Syene.[b]
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth;
break forth into song, O mountains.
For the Lord has comforted his people,
and he will show mercy to his afflicted ones.
14 But Zion cried out, “The Lord has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
15 Can a woman forget the infant at her breast;
or feel no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
16 Behold, I have inscribed your name
on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before my eyes.
Psalm 131[a]
Childlike Trust in God
1 A song of ascents. Of David.
O Lord, my heart[b] is not proud,
nor are my eyes raised too high.
I do not concern myself with great affairs
or with things too sublime for me.
2 Rather, I have stilled and calmed my soul,[c]
hushed it like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child held in its mother’s arms,
so is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.[d]
Chapter 4
Do Not Judge before the Appointed Time. 1 People should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 It is of no importance to me if I am to be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.
4 I personally have nothing on my conscience, but that does not mean that I am innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will disclose the motives of all hearts. Then each one will receive the proper praise from God.
24 God and Money.“No one can serve two masters. For you will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.[a]
25 Seek First the Kingdom of God.[b]“Therefore, heed my words. Do not be concerned about your life and what you will have to eat or drink, or about your body and what you will wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
26 “Gaze upon the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or store in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of far greater value than they? 27 Can any of you through worrying add a single moment to your span of life?
28 “And why are you concerned about what you are to wear? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They neither labor nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his royal splendor was clothed like one of these. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not all the more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore, stop being anxious about such things. Do not say: ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 These are things that are of concern to the Gentiles. Your heavenly Father is fully aware of all your needs. 33 Rather, seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.
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