Proper 16 (21) — Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Verse 4. The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Verse 5. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Verse 6. “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” Verse 7. But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. Verse 8. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” Verse 9. Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. Verse 10. See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

PSALM

Psalm 71:1-6

In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.

In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me.

Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.

I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 58:9b-14

Verse 9. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, Verse 10. and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. Verse 11. The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Verse 12. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling. Verse 13. If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, Verse 14. then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.”

PSALM

Psalm 103:1-8

Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds —

He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,

who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 12:18-29

Verse 18. For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; Verse 19. to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. Verse 20. For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” Verse 21. The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” Verse 22. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels Verse 23. in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, Verse 24. to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Verse 25. See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? Verse 26. At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” Verse 27. The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that the unshakable may remain. Verse 28. Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Verse 29. “For our God is a consuming fire.”

GOSPEL

Luke 13:10-17

Verse 10. One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, Verse 11. and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight. Verse 12. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.” Verse 13. Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God. Verse 14. But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.” Verse 15. “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water? Verse 16. Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” Verse 17. When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.