Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

This is a psalm to say ‘thank you’.

Thank you, God!^[a]

²⁵ I will make an agreement with them, that I will give them peace. I will remove the dangerous wild animals from the land. Then they can live there safely, even in the wilderness. They will not be afraid when they sleep in the forests. ²⁶ I will bless them with many good things as they live around my holy hill. I will send rain at the proper time each year. The rain will bring my blessings to them. ²⁷ The trees in the fields will give them fruit to eat. Crops of food will grow in the ground. The people will live safely in their land. I will take away the power of those who were cruel to them. I will rescue them from the people who made them their slaves. Then they will know that I am the Lord. ²⁸ They will no longer be in danger from other nations. Wild animals will no longer eat them. They will live safely and nobody will cause them to be afraid. ²⁹ I will give them a land that is famous for its good crops. So famine will never cause them to suffer in that land. Other nations will no longer insult them. ³⁰ Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them. They will know that they are my people, the Israelites. That is what the Almighty Lord says.

³¹ You are my people and I take care of you, as a shepherd takes care of his sheep. You are my people and I am your God. That is what the Almighty Lord says.” ’

Jesus speaks about his family

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still speaking to the crowd of people, his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside the house. They wanted to speak to Jesus. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, ‘Look! Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you.’

⁴⁸ Jesus replied, ‘I will tell you who my mother and my brothers really are.’ ⁴⁹ Then he pointed to his disciples. He said, ‘Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ My brothers and sisters and my mother are those people who do what my Father in heaven wants.’^[a]