Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Pot-Maker and the Clay
18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, 2 “Go down to the pot-maker’s house, and there I will let you hear My words.” 3 So I went down to the pot-maker’s house, and saw him making one on the wheel. 4 But the pot he was making of clay did not come out like he wanted it. So the pot-maker used the clay to make another pot that pleased him.
5 Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying, 6 “O people of Israel, can I not do with you as this potmaker has done?” says the Lord. “Like the clay in the pot-maker’s hand, so are you in My hand, O people of Israel. 7 If at any time I speak about a nation, to pull up, and to break down and to destroy, 8 and if that nation I spoke against turns from its sin, then I will change My mind about the trouble I planned to bring upon it. 9 If at another time I speak about a nation, that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does what is sinful in My eyes by not obeying My voice, then I will change My mind about the good I had promised to bring to it. 11 So now speak to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. Tell them, ‘The Lord says, “See, I am making trouble for you and making a plan against you. So each of you turn from your sinful way. Change your ways and your works.”’
God Cares for His People
139 O Lord, You have looked through me and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You look over my path and my lying down. You know all my ways very well. 4 Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have closed me in from behind and in front. And You have laid Your hand upon me. 6 All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand.
13 For You made the parts inside me. You put me together inside my mother. 14 I will give thanks to You, for the greatness of the way I was made brings fear. Your works are great and my soul knows it very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and put together with care in the deep part of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be.
17 Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are! 18 If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
1 This letter is from Paul. I am in prison because of Jesus Christ. Brother Timothy is also writing to you, Philemon. You are a much-loved workman together with us. 2 We are also writing to the church that meets in your home. This letter is also for our Christian sister Apphia and it is for Archippus who is a soldier together with us. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you His loving-favor and peace.
4 I always thank God when I speak of you in my prayers. 5 It is because I hear of your love and trust in the Lord Jesus and in all the Christians. 6 I pray that our faith together will help you know all the good things you have through Christ Jesus. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort. The hearts of the Christians have been made happy by you, Christian brother.
8 So now, through Christ, I am free to tell you what you must do. 9 But because I love you, I will only ask you. I am Paul, an old man, here in prison because of Jesus Christ. 10 I am asking you for my son, Onesimus. He has become my son in the Christian life while I have been here in prison. 11 At one time he was of no use to you. But now he is of use to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you. It is like sending you my own heart. 13 I would like to keep him with me. He could have helped me in your place while I am in prison for preaching the Good News. 14 But I did not want to keep him without word from you. I did not want you to be kind to me because you had to but because you wanted to. 15 He ran away from you for awhile. But now he is yours forever. 16 Do not think of him any longer as a servant you own. He is more than that to you. He is a much-loved Christian brother to you and to me.
17 If you think of me as a true friend, take him back as you would take me. 18 If he has done anything wrong or owes you anything, send me
the bill. 19 I will pay it. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will not talk about how much you owe me because you owe me your life. 20 Yes, Christian brother, I want you to be of use to me as a Christian. Give my heart new joy in Christ. 21 I write this letter knowing you will do what I ask and even more.
Giving Up Things of This Earth (A)
25 Many people followed Jesus. Then He turned around and said to them, 26 “If any man comes to Me and does not have much more love for Me than for his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My follower. 27 If he does not carry his cross and follow Me, he cannot be My follower.
28 “If one of you wanted to build a large building, you would sit down first and think of how much money it would take to build it. You would see if you had enough money to finish it, 29 or when the base of the building is finished, you might see that you do not have enough money to finish it. Then all who would see it would make fun of you. 30 They would say, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
31 “What if a king is going to war with another king? Will he not sit down first and decide if he is able to go with 10,000 men against the other king who is coming with 20,000 men? 32 Or, he will send a soldier to the other king while he is still a long way off. He will ask what can be done to have peace. 33 In the same way, whoever does not give up all that he has, cannot be My follower.
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