Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Naaman Is Healed of a Skin Disease

5 Naaman was army commander of the king of Aram. He was very important to his master and was highly respected. That’s because the Lord had helped him win the battle over Aram’s enemies. He was a brave soldier. But he had a skin disease.

² Groups of soldiers from Aram had marched out. They had captured a young girl from Israel. She became a servant of Naaman’s wife. ³ The young girl spoke to the woman she was serving. She said, “I wish my master would go and see the prophet who is in Samaria. He would heal my master of his skin disease.”

⁴ Naaman went to see his own master. He told him what the girl from Israel had said. ⁵ “I think you should go,” the king of Aram replied. “I’ll give you a letter to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left. He took 750 pounds of silver with him. He also took 150 pounds of gold. And he took ten sets of clothes. ⁶ He carried the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “I’m sending my servant Naaman to you with this letter. I want you to heal him of his skin disease.”

⁷ The king of Israel read the letter. As soon as he did, he tore his royal robes. He said, “Am I God? Can I kill people and bring them back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be healed of his skin disease? He must be trying to pick a fight with me!”

⁸ Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes. So he sent the king a message. Elisha said, “Why have you torn your robes? Tell the man to come to me. Then he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” ⁹ So Naaman went to see Elisha. He took his horses and chariots with him. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger out to him. The messenger said, “Go! Wash yourself in the Jordan River seven times. Then your skin will be healed. You will be pure and ‘clean’ again.”

¹¹ But Naaman went away angry. He said, “I was sure Elisha would come out to me. I thought he would stand there and pray to the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over my skin. Then I would be healed. ¹² And what about the Abana and Pharpar rivers of Damascus? Aren’t they better than all the rivers of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in the rivers of Damascus and be made pure and ‘clean’?” So he turned and went away. He was very angry.

¹³ Naaman’s servants went over to him. They said, “You are like a father to us. What if Elisha the prophet had told you to do some great thing? Wouldn’t you have done it? But he only said, ‘Wash yourself. Then you will be pure and “clean.” ’ You should be even more willing to do that!” ¹⁴ So Naaman went down to the Jordan River. He dipped himself in it seven times. He did exactly what the man of God had told him to do. Then his skin was made pure again. It became “clean” like the skin of a young boy.

A psalm of David. A song for setting apart the completed temple to God.

Do Good to Everyone

6 Brothers and sisters, what if someone is caught in a sin? Then you who live by the Spirit should correct that person. Do it in a gentle way. But be careful. You could be tempted too. ² Carry one another’s heavy loads. If you do, you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are somebody when they are nobody, they are fooling themselves. ⁴ Each person should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves. They won’t be comparing themselves to someone else. ⁵ Each person should carry their own load. ⁶ But those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher.

⁷ Don’t be fooled. You can’t outsmart God. A man gathers a crop from what he plants. ⁸ Some people plant to please their desires controlled by sin. From these desires they will harvest death. Others plant to please the Holy Spirit. From the Spirit they will harvest eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ So when we can do good to everyone, let us do it. Let’s try even harder to do good to the family of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹ Look at the big letters I’m using as I write to you with my own hand!

¹² Some people are worried about how things look on the outside. They are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do it for only one reason. They don’t want to suffer by being connected with the cross of Christ. ¹³ Even those who are circumcised don’t obey the law. But they want you to be circumcised. Then they can brag about what has been done to your body. ¹⁴ I never want to brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross the ways of the world have been crucified as far as I am concerned. And I have been crucified as far as the ways of the world are concerned. ¹⁵ Circumcision and uncircumcision don’t mean anything. What really counts is that the new creation has come. ¹⁶ May peace and mercy be given to all who follow this rule. May peace and mercy be given to the Israel that belongs to God.

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed 72 others. He sent them out two by two ahead of him. They went to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is huge, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. And don’t greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘May this house be blessed with peace.’ ⁶ If someone there works to bring peace, your blessing of peace will rest on them. If not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, and eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is given to you. ⁹ Heal the sick people who are there. Tell them, ‘God’s kingdom has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But what if you enter a town and are not welcomed? Then go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘We wipe from our feet even the dust of your town. We do it to warn you. But here is what you can be sure of. God’s kingdom has come near.’

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever does not accept you does not accept me. But whoever does not accept me does not accept the one who sent me.”

¹⁷ The 72 returned with joy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name.”

¹⁸ Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to walk all over snakes and scorpions. You will be able to destroy all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. ²⁰ But do not be glad when the evil spirits obey you. Instead, be glad that your names are written in heaven.”