Open Word

FIRST READING

Genesis 27:30-38

Verse 30. As soon as Isaac had finished blessing him and Jacob had left his father’s presence, his brother Esau returned from the hunt. Verse 31. He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.” Verse 32. But his father Isaac replied, “Who are you?” “I am Esau, your firstborn son,” he answered. Verse 33. Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him — and indeed, he will be blessed!” Verse 34. When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, O my father!” Verse 35. But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” Verse 36. So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?” Verse 37. But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him your master and given him all his relatives as servants; I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?” Verse 38. Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.

PSALM

Psalm 40:1-11

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us — none can compare to You — if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll:

I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.

I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.

O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

SECOND READING

Acts 1:1-5

Verse 1. In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, Verse 2. until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. Verse 3. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Verse 4. And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. Verse 5. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ”