Wednesday in Epiphany

FIRST READING

Genesis 16:1-14

Verse 1. Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. Verse 2. So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Verse 3. So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. Verse 4. And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Verse 5. Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.” Verse 6. “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her. Verse 7. Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert — the spring along the road to Shur. Verse 8. “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. Verse 9. So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” Verse 10. Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.” Verse 11. The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. Verse 12. He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Verse 13. So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me, ” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” Verse 14. Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is located between Kadesh and Bered.

PSALM

Psalm 86

A prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.

Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long.

Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and attend to my plea for mercy.

In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.

O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours.

All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.

For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.

For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.

The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life; they have no regard for You.

But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy; grant Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant.

Show me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see and be ashamed; for You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

SECOND READING

Luke 18:15-17

Verse 15. Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them. Verse 16. But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Verse 17. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”