Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Naomi Instructs Ruth
3 At that time,[a] Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure.[b] 2 Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative.[c] Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor.[d] 3 So bathe yourself,[e] rub on some perfumed oil,[f] and get dressed up.[g] Then go down[h] to the threshing floor. But don’t let the man know you’re there until he finishes his meal.[i] 4 When he gets ready to go to sleep,[j] take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs,[k] and lie down[l] beside him.[m] He will tell[n] you what you should do.” 5 Ruth replied to Naomi,[o] “I will do everything you have told[p] me[q] to do.”[r]
A Grandson is Born to Naomi
13 So Boaz married Ruth and slept with her.[a] The Lord enabled her to conceive[b] and she gave birth to a son. 14 The village women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian[c] today! May he[d] become famous in Israel![e] 15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old,[f] for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She[g] is better to you than seven sons!” 16 Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap;[h] she became his caregiver.[i] 17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed.[j] Now he became the father of Jesse—David’s father.
Psalm 127[a]
A song of ascents;[b] by Solomon.
127 If the Lord does not build a house,[c]
then those who build it work in vain.
If the Lord does not guard a city,[d]
then the watchman stands guard in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late,
and work so hard for your food.[e]
Yes,[f] he provides for those whom he loves even when they sleep.[g]
3 Yes,[h] sons[i] are a gift from the Lord;
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Sons born during one’s youth
are like arrows in a warrior’s hand.[j]
5 How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.
They will not be put to shame[k] when they confront[l] enemies at the city gate.
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation[a] of the true sanctuary[b]—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. 25 And he did not enter to offer[c] himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. 27 And just as people[d] are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,[e] 28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many,[f] to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin[g] but to bring salvation.[h]
Warnings About Experts in the Law
38 In his teaching Jesus[a] also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law.[b] They like walking[c] around in long robes and elaborate greetings[d] in the marketplaces,[e] 39 and the best seats in the synagogues[f] and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They[g] devour widows’ property,[h] and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Then[i] he[j] sat down opposite the offering box,[k] and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,[l] worth less than a penny. 43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth,[m] this poor widow has put more into the offering box[n] than all the others.[o] 44 For they all gave out of their wealth.[p] But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”[q]
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