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Lectionary Theme: Participation in nation building: a Christian responsibility
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Nehemiah 2:11-18 First Lesson
11. So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days.
12. Then I got up during the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the animal I rode.
13. I went out by night by the Valley Gate past the Dragon’s Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.
14. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool; but there was no place for the animal I was riding to continue.
15. So I went up by way of the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.
16. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest that were to do the work. Decision to Restore the Walls
17. Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.”
18. I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good.
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1 Peter 2:1-12 Second Lesson
1. Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.
2. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—
3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and
5. like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7. To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,”
8. and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Live as Servants of God
11. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.
12. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.
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Romans 12:9-21 Epistle
9. 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.
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Matthew 13:31-34 Gospel
31. He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;
32. it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33. He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
34. Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.