Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
The Righteous Branch
23 “Woe to the shepherds(A) who are destroying and scattering(B) the sheep of my pasture!”(C) declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds(D) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock(E) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil(F) you have done,” declares the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant(G) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,(H) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds(I) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid(J) or terrified, nor will any be missing,(K)” declares the Lord.
5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch,(L)
a King(M) who will reign(N) wisely
and do what is just and right(O) in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.(P)
This is the name(Q) by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior.(R)
Psalm 46[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B)
an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G)
and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I)
3 though its waters roar(J) and foam(K)
and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river(M) whose streams(N) make glad the city of God,(O)
the holy place where the Most High(P) dwells.(Q)
5 God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S)
God will help(T) her at break of day.
6 Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W) fall;
he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD)
the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(AF) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI)
I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 being strengthened with all power(A) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(B) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(C) who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance(D) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(E) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(F) and brought us into the kingdom(G) of the Son he loves,(H) 14 in whom we have redemption,(I) the forgiveness of sins.(J)
The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image(K) of the invisible God,(L) the firstborn(M) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(N) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(O) all things have been created through him and for him.(P) 17 He is before all things,(Q) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(R) of the body, the church;(S) he is the beginning and the firstborn(T) from among the dead,(U) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(V) to have all his fullness(W) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(X) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(Y) by making peace(Z) through his blood,(AA) shed on the cross.
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,(A) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a](B) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(C)
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.(D) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”(E)
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.(F) They offered him wine vinegar(G) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(H) save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(I)
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”(J)
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”(K)
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]”(L)
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(M)
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