Open Word

FIRST READING

1 Kings 19:19-21

Verse 19. So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. Verse 20. So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” Verse 21. So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

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

Luke 5:1-11

Verse 1. On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, Verse 2. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Verse 3. Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat. Verse 4. When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Verse 5. “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Verse 6. When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. Verse 7. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. Verse 8. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” Verse 9. For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, Verse 10. and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.” Verse 11. And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.