The Texts for July 3, 2016 The 7th Sunday after Pentecost

First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14

 10Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

  all you who love her;

 rejoice with her in joy,

  all you who mourn over her—

 11that you may nurse and be satisfied

  from her consoling breast;

 that you may drink deeply with delight

  from her glorious bosom.

 12For thus says the Lord:

 I will extend prosperity to her like a river,

  and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;

 and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,

  and dandled on her knees.

 13As a mother comforts her child,

  so I will comfort you;

  you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

 14You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;

  your bodies shall flourish like the grass;

 and it shall be known that the hand of the Lord is with his servants,

  and his indignation is against his enemies.

Psalm: Psalm 66:1-9

1 Be joyful in God, all you lands; 

    sing the glory of his Name;

    sing the glory of his praise.

2 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! 

    because of your great strength your enemies

                             cringe before you.

3 All the earth bows down before you, 

    sings to you, sings out your Name."

4 Come now and see the works of God, 

    how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.

5 He turned the sea into dry land,

so that they went through the water on foot, 

    and there we rejoiced in him.

6 In his might he rules for ever;

his eyes keep watch over the nations; 

    let no rebel rise up against him.

7 Bless our God, you peoples; 

    make the voice of his praise to be heard;

8 Who holds our souls in life, 

    and will not allow our feet to slip.

Second Reading: Galatians 6:[1-6] 7-16

[1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5For all must carry their own loads.

  6Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.] 

  7Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

  11See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Gospel: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

1After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ ”

  16“Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

  17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”