Open Word

FIRST READING

Numbers 11:24-30

Verse 24. So Moses went out and relayed to the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tent. Verse 25. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied — but they never did so again. Verse 26. Two men, however, had remained in the camp — one named Eldad and the other Medad — and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp. Verse 27. A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Verse 28. Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” Verse 29. But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!” Verse 30. Then Moses returned to the camp, along with the elders of Israel.

PSALM

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small.

There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season.

When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.

When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works.

He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder.

I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

John 7:37-39

Verse 37. On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Verse 38. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” Verse 39. He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.