Open Word

FIRST READING

Genesis 29:1-14

Verse 1. Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. Verse 2. He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well. Verse 3. When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. Verse 4. “My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered. Verse 5. “Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied. Verse 6. “Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.” Verse 7. “Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.” Verse 8. But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.” Verse 9. While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Verse 10. As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. Verse 11. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. Verse 12. He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father. Verse 13. When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened. Verse 14. Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

PSALM

Psalm 81

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Verse 1. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. Verse 2. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Verse 3. They all ate the same spiritual food Verse 4. and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.