Saturday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 14-22

Verse 1. Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Verse 2. “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Verse 3. Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her were found guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD. Verse 14. Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey? Verse 15. The young lions have roared at him; they have sounded their voices. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant. Verse 16. The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. Verse 17. Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way? Verse 18. Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile ? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates ? Verse 19. Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” Verse 20. “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. Verse 21. I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine? Verse 22. Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,”

PSALM

Psalm 81:1, 10-16

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Proverbs 21:1-4, 24-26

Verse 1. The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases. Verse 2. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Verse 3. To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice. Verse 4. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked— are sin. Verse 24. Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man — of him who acts with excessive pride. Verse 25. The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. Verse 26. All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

PSALM

Psalm 112

Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.

His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright — for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.

Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever.

He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.

SECOND READING

Matthew 20:20-28

Verse 20. Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him. Verse 21. “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.” Verse 22. “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered. Verse 23. “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.” Verse 24. When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Verse 25. But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. Verse 26. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Verse 27. and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave — Verse 28. just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”