Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 25:19-34

Verse 19. This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Verse 20. and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean. Verse 21. Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. Verse 22. But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, Verse 23. and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Verse 24. When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. Verse 25. The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau. Verse 26. After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born. Verse 27. When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. Verse 28. Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Verse 29. One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished. Verse 30. He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom. ) Verse 31. “First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied. Verse 32. “Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?” Verse 33. “Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright. Verse 34. Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

PSALM

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

I am severely afflicted, O LORD; revive me through Your word.

Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments.

I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.

The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from Your precepts.

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 55:10-13

Verse 10. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, Verse 11. so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. Verse 12. You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Verse 13. Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

PSALM

Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13

You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth.

You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth.

You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty.

The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy.

The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys are decked with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.

SECOND READING

Romans 8:1-11

Verse 1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Verse 2. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. Verse 3. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, Verse 4. so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Verse 5. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Verse 6. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, Verse 7. because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Verse 8. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. Verse 9. You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Verse 10. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. Verse 11. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

GOSPEL

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Verse 1. That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Verse 2. Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. Verse 3. And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Verse 4. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Verse 5. Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. Verse 6. But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Verse 7. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. Verse 8. Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop — a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. Verse 9. He who has ears, let him hear.” Verse 18. Consider, then, the parable of the sower: Verse 19. When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. Verse 20. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. Verse 21. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. Verse 22. The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Verse 23. But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop — a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”