Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Call of Jeremiah

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;^(F) I am too young.”^(G)

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid^(H) of them, for I am with you^(I) and will rescue^(J) you,” declares the Lord.^(K)

⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched^(L) my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.^{(M) 10} See, today I appoint you over nations^(N) and kingdoms to uproot^(O) and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”^(P)

Psalm 71^(A)

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(A) 19} to a trumpet blast^(B) or to such a voice speaking words^(C) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(D) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[a](E) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b](F)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(G) to the city^(H) of the living God,^(I) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(J) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(K) whose names are written in heaven.^(L) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(M) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(N) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(O) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(P) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(Q)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse^(R) him who speaks.^(S) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^(T) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{(U) 26} At that time his voice shook the earth,^(V) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{[c](W) 27} The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^(X)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(Y) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(Z) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[d](AA)

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,^{(A) 11} and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.^(B) She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her,^(C) and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath,^(D) the synagogue leader^(E) said to the people, “There are six days for work.^(F) So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?^{(G) 16} Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham,^(H) whom Satan^(I) has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated,^(J) but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.