Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The letter to Laodicea

¹⁴ “Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea. ‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, “I’m rich! I’ve done well! I don’t need anything!”—but you don’t know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ This is my advice to you: buy from me gold refined in the fire—that’ll make you rich!—and white clothes to cover yourselves and prevent your shameful nakedness being seen; and also healing ointment to put on your eyes, so that you will be able to see. ¹⁹ When it comes to my friends, I tell them when they’re in the wrong, and I punish them for it; so stir up your spirits and repent! ²⁰ Look! I’m standing here, knocking at the door. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to them and eat with them, and they with me. ²¹ This will be my gift to the one who conquers: I will sit them beside me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat with my father on his throne. ²² Let the one who has an ear listen to what the spirit is saying to the churches.’ ”