Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 126[a]
A song of ascents.[b]
126 When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion,[c]
we thought we were dreaming.[d]
2 At that time we laughed loudly
and shouted for joy.[e]
At that time the nations said,[f]
“The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”
3 The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us.
We were happy.
4 O Lord, restore our well-being,
just as the streams in the arid south are replenished.[g]
5 Those who shed tears as they plant
will shout for joy when they reap the harvest.[h]
6 The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag[i] of seed,
will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.[j]
3 Strengthen the hands that have gone limp,
steady the knees that shake.[a]
4 Tell those who panic,[b]
“Be strong! Do not fear!
Look, your God comes to avenge;
with divine retribution he comes to deliver you.”[c]
5 Then blind eyes will open,
deaf ears will hear.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
the mute tongue will shout for joy;
for water will burst forth in the wilderness,
streams in the arid rift valley.[d]
7 The dry soil will become a pool of water,
the parched ground springs of water.
Where jackals once lived and sprawled out,
grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow.
Jesus and John the Baptist
18 John’s[a] disciples informed him about all these things. So[b] John called[c] two of his disciples 19 and sent them to Jesus[d] to ask,[e] “Are you the one who is to come,[f] or should we look for another?” 20 When[g] the men came to Jesus,[h] they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,[i] ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”[j] 21 At that very time[k] Jesus[l] cured many people of diseases, sicknesses,[m] and evil spirits, and granted[n] sight to many who were blind. 22 So[o] he answered them,[p] “Go tell[q] John what you have seen and heard:[r] The blind see, the lame walk, lepers[s] are cleansed, the[t] deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 23 Blessed is anyone[u] who takes no offense at me.”
24 When[v] John’s messengers had gone, Jesus[w] began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness[x] to see? A reed shaken by the wind?[y] 25 What[z] did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?[aa] Look, those who wear soft clothing and live in luxury[ab] are in the royal palaces![ac] 26 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more[ad] than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,[ae] who will prepare your way before you.’[af] 28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater[ag] than John.[ah] Yet the one who is least[ai] in the kingdom of God[aj] is greater than he is.” 29 (Now[ak] all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors,[al] acknowledged[am] God’s justice, because they had been baptized[an] with John’s baptism. 30 However, the Pharisees[ao] and the experts in religious law[ap] rejected God’s purpose[aq] for themselves, because they had not been baptized[ar] by John.[as])[at]
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