Open Word

FIRST READING

1 Kings 21:20-29

Verse 20. When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. Verse 21. This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free. Verse 22. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.’ Verse 23. And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ Verse 24. Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.” Verse 25. (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. Verse 26. He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.) Verse 27. When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. Verse 28. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Verse 29. “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

PSALM

Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

“Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.

Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:

“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.

You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery. ”

Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

SECOND READING

Mark 9:9-13

Verse 9. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Verse 10. So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead. Verse 11. And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Verse 12. He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? Verse 13. But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”