Readings for Sunday – 6/29/25

The Third Sunday after Pentecost

THE COLLECT
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined
together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple
acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah
and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the
Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you
yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, they went down to Bethel. Then Elijah said
to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the
Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, the two of them went
on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance
from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle
and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the
other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you,
before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of
your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I
am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they
continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two
of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and
crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he
could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and
stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from
him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he
had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and
Elisha went over.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God

PSALM Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
1 I will cry aloud to God; *
I will cry aloud, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; *
my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire; I refused to be
comforted.
11 I will remember the works of the Lord, *
and call to mind your wonders of old time.
12 I will meditate on all your acts *
and ponder your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy; *
who is so great a god as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders *
and have declared your power among the peoples.
15 By your strength you have redeemed your people, *
the children of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you and trembled; *
the very depths were shaken.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; *
your arrows flashed to and fro;
18 The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the
world* the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea, and your paths in the great waters, *
yet your footsteps were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock *
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

EPISTLE: Galatians 5:1, 13-25
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again
to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do
not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love
become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single
commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite
and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Live
by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh
desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh;
for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But
if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the
flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-
control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us
also be guided by the Spirit.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God

THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Luke 9:51-62 People: Glory to You Lord Christ
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to
Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a
village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him,
because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John
saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from
heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went
on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay
his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go
and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead;
but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will
follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said
to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is f it for the
kingdom of God.”
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ