First reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20 | Today's reading tells of the suffering of the prophet Jeremiah, who announced God's word to Judah but was met with intense opposition and persecution. Jeremiah continues to trust in God in the midst of his suffering.

Psalm 54

Second reading: James 3:13 — 4:3, 7-8 | God gives wisdom that unites our hearts and minds. Instead of living to satisfy our own wants and desires, we manifest this wisdom in peace, gentleness, mercy and impartiality toward others.

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 | Jesus' teaching and action in this text are directed to the church whenever it is seduced by the world's definition of greatness: prestige, power, influence and money. The antidote to such a concern for greatness is servanthood. 

First reading: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 | What constitutes legitimate need and legitimate leadership is the focus of this reading. God provides manna in the wilderness, yet the people crave meat. What is truly needful? God bestows the spirit on 70 elders, yet two men not designated as leaders prophesy in the power of God's spirit. What constitutes real leadership?

Psalm 19:7-14

Second reading: James 5:13-20 | Marks of the Christian community include praying for those who are sick and in need, celebrating with those in good health, restoring those who have strayed, confessing sins to one another, and offering forgiveness to each other.

Gospel: Mark 9:38-50 | On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches his disciples about ministry that involves service and sacrifice. His disciples are slow to realize that these words apply to them as well as others.

First reading: Genesis 2:18-24 | Genesis 2 stresses that people are not meant to live in isolation but in relationship. Out of love for humanity, God creates them male and female, to provide companionship for each other and to become with each other "one flesh." The Hebrew words used here are "ish" (man) and "ishshah" (woman).

Psalm 8

Second reading: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 | Quoting from the psalms, this passage from Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus, the one through whom God created everything and who sits at God's right hand, is also the one who experienced human suffering and death in order to blaze the path of salvation for us. 

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16 | Jesus announced and enacted in history the new reality of God's surprising activity. These two stories demonstrate this new reality: Women and children are accepted and valued, not dismissed as inferior to adult men. 

First reading: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 | Amos was a herdsman by profession and a prophet by God's call. During a time of great prosperity in the northern kingdom of Israel, the prophet speaks to the wealthy upper class. He warns his listeners that fulfilling God's demand for justice brings blessing, while corruption and oppression incur God's wrath.

Psalm 90:12-17 

Second reading: Hebrews 4:12-16 | We cannot hide our thoughts, desires and actions from God, to whom we are completely accountable. Nevertheless, Jesus understands our human weakness and temptations, because he also experienced them. Therefore we can approach the throne of grace to receive diving mercy from Christ. 

Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 | Jesus has been teaching his disciples about what is most valued in God's eyes. Now, a conversation with a rich man brings Jesus' message home to the disciples in a way that is surprising but unforgettable. 

First reading: Isaiah 53:4-12 | This reading is from the last four passages in Isaiah that are often called "servant songs." Christians are probably most familiar with this servant song. In light of Christian faith, the servant's healing ministry and redemptive suffering are understood to be fulfilled in the life and death of Christ.

Psalm 91:9-16 

Second reading: Hebrews 5:1-10  | Using imagery from scripture and from Jewish worship practices, Jesus is presented as the great high priest who was obedient to God's saving plan. Through his suffering and death, Jesus has become the source of eternal salvation.

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45 | On the way to Jersusalem, the disciples ask Jesus to grant them seats of honor. Jesus responds by announcing that he and his followers will "rule" through self-giving service.

First reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 | The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant, it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the LORD means that one will defend the cauuse of the poor and needy (Jeremiah 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the LORD will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.

Psalm 46

Second reading: Romans 3:19-28 | Paul's words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activing centered in Christ's death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.

Gospel: John 8:31-36  | Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

First reading: Isaiah 25:6-9 | Isaiah sees a vision of the end of days when God will gather all people on God's holy mountain and will provide for them a rich feast. At this banquet, God will wipe the tears from all eyes. And there will be no more sorrow, for God will destroy death itself.

Psalm 24

Second reading: Revelation 21:1-6 | Here is a vision of the new heaven and the new earth in which God resides fully with his people so that mourning, despair and pain have been eradicated. These renewing words from the God who spans all of time are trustworthy and true.

Gospel: John 11:32-44 | Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus offers the world a vision of the life to come, when death and weeping will be no more. 

First reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16 | This chapter begins the story of Elijah. God sends a drought on Israel because of the sins of King Ahab. This passage depicts God's saving acts not only on behalf of Elijah but also on behalf of those who are associated with the prophet, even a foreigner, the widow of Zarephath.

Psalm 146

Second reading: Hebrews 9:24-28 | The letter to the Hebrews describes Christ as a high priest who offers himself as a sacrifice for our sin. Christ does not die again and again each year. He died once, is alive with God, and will reveal himself on the last day.

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 | After engaging in a series of public arguments with religious leaders in the temple, Jesus contrasts the proud and oppressive ways of those leaders with the sacrificial humility and poverty of the widow. 

First reading: Daniel 12:1-3  | The book of Daniel is an example of apocalyptic literature, which is full of strange visions and symbolism. Arising during times of great persecution, apocalyptic literature is concerned with God's revelation about the end time and the coming kingdom of God, when he will vindicate the righteous who have been persecuted.

Psalm 16

Second reading: Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25 | Images of worship and sacrifice are used throughout Hebrews to highlight what Christ has uniquely accomplished through his death. Because we have received forgiveness through Christ's death, we live with sincere hearts by trusting in God's promises and encouraging love and good works from each other.

Gospel: Mark 13:1-8 | In the last week of his life, Jesus warned his disciples concerning trials that were to come upon them and upon the world. He exhorts the listener: Do not be alarmed.

First reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 | To the community for whom this passage was written, it seemed as though the oppression they were experiencing would never end. Daniel's message is: It shall end. The Ancient One, who is judge, will call all nations to account and will give dominion to "one like a human being," the Messiah.

Psalm 93

Second reading: Revelation 1:4b-8 | The book of Revelation begins by celebrating the Almighty God, who spans all of time. Similarly, Jesus is celebrated as the firstborn from the dead who rules over the world's rulers. He is the one whose return we eagerly await.

Gospel: John 18:33-37 | In John's gospel, the story of Jesus and Pilate presents two different ways of exercising power: through force or with love. 

First reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 25:1-10

Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Gospel: Luke 21:25-36

First reading: Malachi 3:1-4 

Second reading: Luke 1:68-79 

Third reading: Philippians 1:3-11 

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6 

First reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20 

Second reading: Isaiah 12:2-6  

Third reading: Philippians 4:4-7  

Gospel: Luke 3:7-18 

First reading: Micah 5:2-5a  

Second reading: Luke 1:46b-55 (52) 

Third reading: Hebrews 10:5-10 

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] 

First reading: Isaiah 9:2-7 

Psalm 96 

Second reading: Titus 2:11-14 

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]