FIRST READER:

IN THIS MORNING’S FIRST READING, THE PROPHET JEREMIAH OFFERS SURPRISING COUNSEL FROM JERUSALEM TO THE ELDERS, PRIESTS AND PROPHETS NOW IN EXILE IN BABYLON.  RATHER THAN LOOK FOR A SPEEDY END TO THEIR CAPTIVITY, THEY SHOULD GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF LIFE AS BEST THEY ARE ABLE IN THEIR NEW CIRCUMSTANCES.  THEY ARE TO BUILD HOUSES, HAVE CHILDREN AND SEEK AFTER THE WELFARE OF BABYLON, KNOWING THAT IN DUE COURSE THE LORD WILL BRING THEM HOME.

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH

These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom [neba – ca – nezzer] Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

THE WORD OF THE LORD

SECOND READER:

IN THIS MORNING’S SECOND READING, SAINT PAUL BIDS TOMOTHY TO BE A FAITHFUL WORKER, REMINDING HIMSELF AND OTHERS OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, AND NEW LIFE THAT IS TO BE KNOWN THROUGH HIM.  ALTHOUGH PAUL IS SHUT UP IN PRISON, THE GOSPEL REMAINS FREE IN THE WORLD AS LONG AS THERE ARE DISCIPLES SUCH AS TIMOTHY TO PROCLAIM THE LIFE-GIVING WORD OF THE LORD.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David– that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful–

for he cannot deny himself.

Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

THE WORD OF THE LORD