Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Ruth 4:18-22

Verse 18. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Verse 19. Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Verse 20. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Verse 21. Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, Verse 22. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

PSALM

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat — for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 24:17-22

Verse 17. Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security. Verse 18. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from that place. Therefore I am commanding you to do this. Verse 19. If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf there, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. Verse 20. When you beat the olives from your trees, you must not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Verse 21. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you must not go over the vines again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Verse 22. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

PSALM

Psalm 146

Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul.

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

Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.

When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.

He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD protects foreigners; He sustains the fatherless and the widow, but the ways of the wicked He frustrates.

The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

Mark 11:12-14, 20-24

Verse 12. The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Verse 13. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. Verse 14. Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement. Verse 20. As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. Verse 21. Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.” Verse 22. “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. Verse 23. “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. Verse 24. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.