Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 130^[a]

Prayer for Pardon and Peace

¹ A song of ascents.

¹⁶ In the house of Pharaoh they heard the report: “The brothers of Joseph have arrived.” This pleased Pharaoh and his ministers. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: load up your animals, leave, and go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Then bring your father and your families and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the finest products of the land.’

¹⁹ “As for you, give them this command: ‘Do this: take wagons with you from the land of Egypt for your children and your wives. Bring your father and come. ²⁰ Do not be concerned about your possessions, for the best of everything in the land of Egypt shall be yours.’ ”

²¹ The Sons of Jacob Return Home Again.^[a] This is what the sons of Israel did. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh ordered, and he gave them provisions for their journey. ²² He gave all of them fresh clothing, but he gave Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. ²³ He also sent his father ten donkeys loaded with products of Egypt and ten donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and other food for their father’s trip. ²⁴ He then sent his brothers off and, while they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not fight during the journey.”

²⁵ They left Egypt and returned to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob, ²⁶ and immediately told him, “Joseph is alive; he is the ruler over the whole land of Egypt!” But his heart was cold, for he could not believe them. ²⁷ When they told him all the things Joseph had said to them and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to bring him, their father’s spirit revived. ²⁸ Israel said, “Enough! Joseph, my son, is alive. I will go to see him before I die!”

The Signs of the Kingdom of God^[a]

Ten Miracles^[b]

Chapter 8

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy.^{[c] 1} When he had come down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. ² Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, if you choose to do so, you can make me clean.” ³ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately, his leprosy was cured. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses prescribed. That will be proof for them.”

Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant.^{[d] 5} When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and pleaded for his help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant is lying at home paralyzed and enduring agonizing sufferings.” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “I will come and cure him.” ⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But simply say the word and my servant will be healed.^{[e] 9} For I myself am a man subject to authority, with soldiers who are subject to me. I say to one ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed, and he said to those who were following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one throughout Israel have I found faith as great as this. ¹¹ Many, I tell you, will come from the east and the west to sit with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Jesus then said to the centurion, “Return home. Your petition has been granted because of your faith.” And at that very hour the servant was healed.