[Propertalk] READINGS for the TWELFTH SUNDAY after PENTRECOST

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 
(Proper 17), August 31, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal 
(ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common 
Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard 
Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and 
C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day. Throughout 
Pentecost the alternate RCL Psalm would normally be used with the alternate 
RCL O. T. reading. Note also that the Canadian RCL does not have the 
alternative readings.



OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 3: 1 - 15 (RCL)

Exod 3:1 (NRSV) Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jeth'ro, 
the priest of Mid'ian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to 
Ho'reb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him 
in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet 
it was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this 
great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." 4 When the LORD saw 
that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, 
Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove 
the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy 
ground." 6 He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of 
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, 
for he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the LORD said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in 
Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I 
know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from the 
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a 
land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Ca'naanites, the 
Hit'tites, the Am'orites, the Per'izzites, the Hi'vites, and the Jeb'usites. 
9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the 
Egyptians oppress them. 10 So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my 
people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I 
that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 He 
said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I 
who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall 
worship God on this mountain."
13 But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, "The 
God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, "What is his 
name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He 
said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to 
you.'" 15 God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 
"The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, 
and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you':
This is my name forever,
and this my title for all generations.


Jeremiah 15: 15 - 21 (alt. for RCL)

Jere 15:15 (NRSV) O LORD, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.
19 Therefore thus says the LORD:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
20 And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
qsays the LORD.
21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.


Jeremiah 20: 7 - 9 (Roman Catholic)

Jere 20:7 (NRSV) O LORD, you have enticed me,
and I was enticed;
you have overpowered me,
and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all day long;
everyone mocks me.
8 For whenever I speak, I must cry out,
I must shout, "Violence and destruction!"
For the word of the LORD has become for me
a reproach and derision all day long.
9 If I say, "I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,"
then within me there is something like a burning fire
shut up in my bones;
I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.


PSALM 105: 1 - 6, 23 - 26, 45c (RCL)

Psal 105:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
5 Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.
24 And the LORD made his people very fruitful,
and made them stronger than their foes,
25 whose hearts he then turned to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.
26 He sent his servant Moses,
and Aaron whom he had chosen.

45 Praise the LORD!


Psalm 26: 1 - 8 (alt. for RCL)

Psal 26:1 (NRSV) Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
4 I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O LORD,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.


Psalm 63: 1 - 5, 7 - 8 (Roman Catholic)

Psal 63:1 (NRSV) O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic Bibles is one higher than the above.


NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 12: 9 - 21 (RCL)

Roma 12:9 (NRSV) Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what 
is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in 
showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 
Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice 
with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with 
one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim 
to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take 
thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far 
as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge 
yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies 
are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; 
for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21 Do not be 
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Romans 12: 1 - 2   (Roman Catholic)

Roma 12:1 (NRSV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the 
mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and 
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to 
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you 
may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and 
perfect.


GOSPEL: Matthew 16: 21 - 28  (RCL)
                  Matthew 16: 21 - 27  (Roman Catholic)

Matt 16:21 (NRSV) From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that 
he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the 
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be 
raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God 
forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said 
to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you 
are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let 
them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who 
want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my 
sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole 
world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their 
life?
27 "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his 
Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I 
tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they 
see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com