Season after Pentecost

Thanksgiving Day, USA

Thursday, November 25, 2027

FIRST READING

Joel 2:21-27

Verse 21. Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. Verse 22. Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best. Verse 23. Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Verse 24. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. Verse 25. I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts — the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — My great army that I sent against you. Verse 26. You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame. Verse 27. Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.

PSALM

Psalm 126

Verse 1. A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
Verse 2. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
Verse 3. The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Verse 4. Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Verse 5. Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
Verse 6. He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

SECOND READING

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Verse 1. First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— Verse 2. for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. Verse 3. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, Verse 4. who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Verse 5. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Verse 6. who gave Himself as a ransom for all — the testimony that was given at just the right time. Verse 7. For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

GOSPEL

Matthew 6:25-33

Verse 25. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Verse 26. Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Verse 27. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Verse 28. And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Verse 29. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. Verse 30. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Verse 31. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Verse 32. For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Verse 33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.