Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Mary’s Song of Praise
46 Then Mary said,
“My soul praises the greatness of the Lord!
47 My spirit exults in God, my Savior,
48 because he has looked favorably on his humble servant.
From now on, all generations will call me blessed,
49 because the Almighty has done great things for me.
His name is holy.
50 His mercy lasts from generation to generation
for those who fear him.
51 He displayed his mighty power with his arm.
He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart.[a]
52 He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones
and lifted up humble people.
53 He filled hungry people with good things
and sent rich people away with nothing.
54 He helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful,
55 according to the promise he made[b] to our ancestors—
to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
The Nature of True Righteousness
6 How am I to present myself in the Lord’s presence
and bow in the presence of the High God?
Should I present myself with burnt offerings,
with year-old calves?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
or with endless[a] rivers of oil?
Am I to give my firstborn to pay for[b] my rebellion,
the fruit of my body in exchange for[c] my soul?
8 He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good
and what the Lord is requiring from you—
to act with justice,
to treasure the Lord’s[d] gracious love,
and to walk humbly in the company of your God.
The Messiah Offered One Sacrifice
5 For this reason, the Scriptures[a] say, when the Messiah[b] was about to come into the world:
“You did not want sacrifices and offerings,
but you prepared a body for me.
6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings
you never took delight.
7 Then I said, ‘See, I have come to do your will, O God’
In the volume of the scroll this is written about me.”[c]
8 In this passage he says, “You never wanted or took delight in sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sin offerings,”[d] which are offered according to the Law. 9 Then he says, “See, I have come to do your will.”[e] He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By God’s will we have been sanctified once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah.[f]
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