Sunday, December 20, 2020

Fifth Sunday of Heesnag

Isaiah 40:18-31
Hebrews 4:16-5:10
Luke 18:9-14

Isaiah 40:18-31

[18] To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?
[19] The idol! a workman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold,
and casts for it silver chains.
[20] He who is impoverished chooses for an offering
wood that will not rot;
he seeks out a skilful craftsman
to set up an image that will not move.
[21] Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
[23] who brings princes to nought,
and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
[24] Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
[25] To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.
[27] Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hid from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
his understanding is unsearchable.
[29] He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
[30] Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
[31] but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

Hebrews 4:16-5:10

[16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Chapter 5
[1] For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
[2] He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
[3] Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.
[4] And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.
[5] So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son,
today I have begotten thee”;
[6] as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever,
after the order of Melchiz’edek.”
[7] In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear.
[8] Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;
[9] and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
[10] being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchiz’edek.

Luke 18:9-14

[9] He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:
[10] “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
[12] I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’
[13] But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyright © National Council of Churches of Christ in America