Monday in Epiphany — Open Word

FIRST READING

Genesis 33:1-17

Verse 1. Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. Verse 2. He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. Verse 3. But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. Verse 4. Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. Verse 5. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.” Verse 6. Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. Verse 7. Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down. Verse 8. “What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered. Verse 9. “I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.” Verse 10. But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. Verse 11. Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted. Verse 12. Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” Verse 13. But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. Verse 14. Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.” Verse 15. “Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” Verse 16. So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, Verse 17. but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

PSALM

Psalm 38

A Psalm of David, for remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

For Your arrows have pierced me deeply, and Your hand has pressed down on me.

There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.

For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds are foul and festering because of my sinful folly.

I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.

For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body.

I am numb and badly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You.

My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance.

Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.

I am like a man who cannot hear, whose mouth offers no reply.

I wait for You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God.

For I said, “Let them not gloat over me — those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.

Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.

Do not forsake me, O LORD; be not far from me, O my God.

Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Verse 2. Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. Verse 3. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Verse 4. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. Verse 5. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. Verse 6. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. Verse 7. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. Verse 8. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. Verse 9. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. Verse 10. For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. Verse 11. In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. Verse 12. For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Verse 13. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Verse 14. Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, Verse 15. but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. Verse 16. If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.