Lessons for February 11, 2007  - Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

The first lesson

Jeremiah 17:5-10
 
    This is what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. [6] They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. 
    [7] "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. [8] They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit. 
    [9] "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [10] But I know! I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."  (NLT)

Psalm 1
 
L.  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
C.  or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. 
L.  But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
C.  day and night they think about his law. 
L.  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail.
C.  Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.
L.  But this is not true of the wicked.
C.  They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 
L.  They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
C.  Sinners will have no place among the godly.
L.  For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
C.  but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.  (NLT)
 
The second lesson

1 Corinthians 15:12-20
 
    But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? [13] For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. [14] And if Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless. [15] And we apostles would all be lying about God, for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave, but that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. [16] If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins. [18] In that case, all who have died believing in Christ have perished! [19] And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world. 
    [20] But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.  (NLT) 

 The Gospel Lesson

Luke 6:17-26
 
    When they came down the slopes of the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. [18] They had come to hear him and to be healed, and Jesus cast out many evil spirits. [19] Everyone was trying to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and they were all cured.
 
    [20] Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

    "God blesses you who are poor,
        for the Kingdom of God is given to you. 
    [21] God blesses you who are hungry now,
        for you will be satisfied.
    God blesses you who weep now,
        for the time will come when you will laugh with joy. 
    [22] God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed
        because you are identified with me, the Son of Man.
 
    [23] "When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors. 
    [24] "What sorrows await you who are rich,
        for you have your only happiness now. 
    [25] What sorrows await you who are satisfied and prosperous now,
        for a time of awful hunger is before you.
    What sorrows await you who laugh carelessly,
        for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow. 
    [26] What sorrows await you who are praised by the crowds,
        for their ancestors also praised false prophets.  (NLT)