Wednesday in Epiphany

FIRST READING

Isaiah 8:1-15

Verse 1. Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Verse 2. And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses— Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.” Verse 3. And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Verse 4. For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” Verse 5. And the LORD spoke to me further: Verse 6. “Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoiced in Rezin and the son of Remaliah, Verse 7. the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates — the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks. Verse 8. It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel! Verse 9. Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! Verse 10. Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us. ” Verse 11. For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people: Verse 12. “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. Verse 13. The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded. Verse 14. And He will be a sanctuary — but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. Verse 15. Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”

PSALM

Psalm 115

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;

they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats.

Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

The LORD is mindful of us; He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron;

He will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.

May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children.

May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.

It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.

But it is we who will bless the LORD, both now and forevermore. Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

Luke 5:27-32

Verse 27. After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, Verse 28. and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him. Verse 29. Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them. Verse 30. But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Verse 31. Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Verse 32. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”