Proper 23 (28) — Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Job 23:1-9, 16-17

Verse 1. Then Job answered: Verse 2. “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. Verse 3. If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. Verse 4. I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. Verse 5. I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say. Verse 6. Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me. Verse 7. Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge. Verse 8. If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him. Verse 9. When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him. Verse 16. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. Verse 17. Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.[’’]

PSALM

Psalm 22:1-15

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.

Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them.

They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

“He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

Verse 6. Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. Verse 7. There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground. Verse 10. There are those who hate the one who reproves in the gate and despise him who speaks with integrity. Verse 11. Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. Verse 12. For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate. Verse 13. Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil. Verse 14. Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. Verse 15. Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

PSALM

Psalm 90:12-17

So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.

May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands— yes, establish the work of our hands!

SECOND READING

Hebrews 4:12-16

Verse 12. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Verse 13. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Verse 14. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. Verse 15. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Verse 16. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

GOSPEL

Mark 10:17-31

Verse 17. As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Verse 18. “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. Verse 19. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’ ” Verse 20. “Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.” Verse 21. Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me. ” Verse 22. But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. Verse 23. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” Verse 24. And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! Verse 25. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Verse 26. They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?” Verse 27. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Verse 28. Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.” Verse 29. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel Verse 30. will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life. Verse 31. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”