Tuesday, September 20, 2022

The Daily Lectionary for Wednesday, September 21, 2022

The Widow’s Offering
Luke 21:1-4

The Daily Lectionary
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Psalm 106:40-48; Jeremiah 10:17-25; Luke 20:45—21:4
(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 106:40-48
40 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his
     people, and he abhorred his heritage;
41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,
     so that those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them,
     and they were brought into subjection under their
     power.
43 Many times he delivered them,
     but they were rebellious in their purposes,
     and were brought low through their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress
     when he heard their cry.
45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,
     and showed compassion according to the abundance
     of his steadfast love.
46 He caused them to be pitied
     by all who held them captive.

47 Save us, O Lord our God,
     and gather us from among the nations,
   that we may give thanks to your holy name
     and glory in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
     from everlasting to everlasting.
   And let all the people say, “Amen.”
     Praise the Lord!

Jeremiah 10:17-25
The Coming Exile
10:17 Gather up your bundle from the ground,
     O you who live under siege!
18 For thus says the Lord:
   I am going to sling out the inhabitants of the land
     at this time,
   and I will bring distress on them,
     so that they shall feel it.

19 Woe is me because of my hurt!
     My wound is severe.
   But I said, “Truly this is my punishment,
     and I must bear it.”
20 My tent is destroyed,
     and all my cords are broken;
   my children have gone from me,
     and they are no more;
   there is no one to spread my tent again,
     and to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds are stupid,
     and do not inquire of the Lord;
   therefore they have not prospered,
     and all their flock is scattered.

22 Hear, a noise! Listen, it is coming—
     a great commotion from the land of the north
   to make the cities of Judah a desolation,
     a lair of jackals.

23 I know, O Lord, that the way of human beings
     is not in their control,
     that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps.
24 Correct me, O Lord, but in just measure;
     not in your anger, or you will bring me to nothing.

25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you,
     and on the peoples that do not call on your name;
   for they have devoured Jacob;
     they have devoured him and consumed him,
     and have laid waste his habitation.

Luke 20:45—21:4
Jesus Denounces the Scribes
20:45 In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering
21:1 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The story of the widow's offering has been used to show Christians what their attitude toward giving should be.

The Morning Prayer for Wednesday, September 21, 2022

 


The Morning Prayer
Wednesday, September 21, 2022


On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."
John 7:37–38 (NIV)

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for sending down powers from on high into our earthly life. We thank you for sending us a higher nature in which we can live for others because we are living by what we receive from you. May we be simple, childlike, and trusting. When anyone despairs of himself, show him the way to the Savior so that he can find trust. Show to us the way of trust, trust for ourselves and for all people, because it is your will for all to receive help. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Wednesday, September 21, 2022

 


Verse of the Day
Wednesday, September 21, 2022

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
In this simple but beautiful benediction, Paul calls attention to all three Persons of the Trinity. As the Godhead, He works together for our spiritual growth and joy in the Christian life.