Open Word

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Verse 4. The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Verse 5. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Verse 6. “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” Verse 7. But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. Verse 8. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” Verse 9. Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. Verse 10. See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

PSALM

Psalm 89:5-37

The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD — Your faithfulness as well — in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies can compare with the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?

In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.

O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You? O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You.

You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.

You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded.

North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand. Your right hand is exalted.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.

Blessed are those who know the joyful sound, who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence.

They rejoice in Your name all day long, and in Your righteousness they exult.

For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.

Surely our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

You once spoke in a vision; to Your godly ones You said, “I have bestowed help on a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people.

I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him.

My hand will sustain him; surely My arm will strengthen him.

No enemy will exact tribute; no wicked man will oppress him.

I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.

My faithfulness and loving devotion will be with him, and through My name his horn will be exalted.

I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand upon the rivers.

He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.’

I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

I will forever preserve My loving devotion for him, and My covenant with him will stand fast.

I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments,

if they violate My statutes and fail to keep My commandments,

I will attend to their transgression with the rod, and to their iniquity with stripes.

But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him, nor ever betray My faithfulness.

I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips.

Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness — I will not lie to David —

his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun,

like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.”

SECOND READING

Acts 8:4-13

Verse 4. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Verse 5. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. Verse 6. The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. Verse 7. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. Verse 8. So there was great joy in that city. Verse 9. Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, Verse 10. and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” Verse 11. They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. Verse 12. But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Verse 13. Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.