Proper 12 (17) — Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 29:15-28

Verse 15. Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” Verse 16. Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. Verse 17. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Verse 18. Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Verse 19. Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” Verse 20. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her. Verse 21. Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.” Verse 22. So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. Verse 23. But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. Verse 24. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. Verse 25. When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?” Verse 26. Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. Verse 27. Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.” Verse 28. And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

PSALM

Psalm 105:1-11, 45b

Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

He is the LORD our God; His judgments carry throughout the earth.

He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac.

He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

“I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”

Hallelujah!

PSALM

Psalm 128

A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!

For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.

In this way indeed shall blessing come to the man who fears the LORD.

May the LORD bless you from Zion, that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life,

that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

1 Kings 3:5-12

Verse 5. One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” Verse 6. Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Verse 7. And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Verse 8. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. Verse 9. Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” Verse 10. Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. Verse 11. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies — but you have asked for discernment to administer justice — Verse 12. behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.

PSALM

Psalm 119:129-136

Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.

Turn to me and show me mercy, as You do to those who love Your name.

Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.

Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.

SECOND READING

Romans 8:26-39

Verse 26. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. Verse 27. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Verse 28. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Verse 29. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. Verse 30. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. Verse 31. What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Verse 32. He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? Verse 33. Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Verse 34. Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God— and He is interceding for us. Verse 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Verse 36. As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” Verse 37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Verse 38. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Verse 39. neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GOSPEL

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Verse 31. He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. Verse 32. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Verse 33. He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” Verse 44. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Verse 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. Verse 46. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. Verse 47. Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. Verse 48. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. Verse 49. So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous Verse 50. and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 51. Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. Verse 52. Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”