Open Word

FIRST READING

Leviticus 5:1-13

Verse 1. “If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity. Verse 2. Or if a person touches anything unclean— whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature— even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty. Verse 3. Or if he touches human uncleanness— anything by which one becomes unclean— even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty. Verse 4. Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil— in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath— even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter. Verse 5. If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed, Verse 6. and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin. Verse 7. If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons — one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. Verse 8. He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first present the one for the sin offering. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck without severing it; Verse 9. then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. Verse 10. And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven. Verse 11. But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering. Verse 12. He is to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful from it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar atop the food offerings to the LORD; it is a sin offering. Verse 13. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”

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

Luke 17:1-4

Verse 1. Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! Verse 2. It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Verse 3. Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Verse 4. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”