Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
68 “Let us thank the Lord God of Israel. He has bought His people and made them free. 69 He has raised up from the family of David One Who saves people from the punishment of their sins. 70 His holy early preachers told us this long ago. 71 God told us that we should be saved from those who hate us and from all those who work against us. 72 He would show loving-kindness to our early fathers. He would remember His holy promise. 73 God promised this to our early father Abraham. 74 He promised that we would be saved from those who hate us and that we might worship Him without being afraid. 75 We can be holy and right with God all the days of our life.
76 “And you, my son, will be the one who speaks for the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to make the way ready for Him. 77 You will tell His people how to be saved from the punishment of sin by being forgiven of their sins. 78 Because the heart of our God is full of loving-kindness for us, a light from heaven will shine on us. 79 It will give light to those who live in darkness and are under the shadow of death. It will lead our feet in the way of peace.”
The Great Day of the Lord
4 “See, the day is coming. It is burning like a hot fire. And all those who are proud and those who do wrong will be like dry grass. The day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord of All. “Not a root or branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who fear My name, the sun of what is right and good will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and dance like calves from the cattle-house. 3 You will crush the sinful under foot. They will be ashes under your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the Lord of All.
4 “Remember the Law of My servant Moses. Remember all the Laws I gave him in Horeb for all Israel. 5 See, I will send you Elijah the man of God before the day of the Lord comes, that great day that will be full of much trouble. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Or else I will come and destroy the land with a curse.”
Jesus Sends His Twelve Followers Out (A)
9 Jesus called His twelve followers to Him. He gave them the right and the power over all demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them to preach about the holy nation of God and to heal the sick. 3 Then He said to them, “Take nothing along for the trip. Do not take a walking stick or a bag or bread or money. Do not take two coats. 4 Whatever house you go into, stay there until you are ready to go on. 5 If anyone will not take you in, as you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet. That will speak against them.”
6 They went out, going from town to town. They preached the Good News and healed the sick everywhere.
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