Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 14:1-10, 17-22

Verse 1. This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: Verse 2. “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. Verse 3. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. Verse 4. The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. Verse 5. Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. Verse 6. Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.” Verse 7. Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You. Verse 8. O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays but a night? Verse 9. Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us! Verse 10. This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins.” Verse 17. You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound. Verse 18. If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’” Verse 19. Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror. Verse 20. We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the guilt of our fathers; indeed, we have sinned against You. Verse 21. For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it. Verse 22. Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.

PSALM

Psalm 94

O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.

They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.

They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.

Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.

Can a corrupt throne be Your ally — one devising mischief by decree?

They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.

He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Job 40:6-14

Verse 6. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: Verse 7. “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me. Verse 8. Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? Verse 9. Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? Verse 10. Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory. Verse 11. Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low. Verse 12. Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand. Verse 13. Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave. Verse 14. Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can save you.

PSALM

Psalm 73

A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.

They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.

So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

Behold, these are the wicked — always carefree as they increase their wealth.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.

If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.

When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.

Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.

How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,

I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

SECOND READING

Luke 22:31-33, 54-62

Verse 31. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat. Verse 32. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Verse 33. “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.” Verse 54. Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance. Verse 55. When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Verse 56. A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said. Verse 57. But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said. Verse 58. A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” Verse 59. About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.” Verse 60. “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. Verse 61. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” Verse 62. And he went outside and wept bitterly.