Year A – Proper 7
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
June 21 – 4 Pentecost – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Genesis 21:8-21
Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar struggle to understand God’s will for their lives. They discover that no one has a monopoly on God’s covenant, and each of them plays a role in that covenant’s fulfillment.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Genesis:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: The child grew…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the lad and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your descendants be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went, and sat down over against him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Let me not look upon the death of the child.” And as she sat over against him, the child lifted up his voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
New Revised Standard Version
The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
ILLUMINATION for the Alternate First Lesson
Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Even as he cries out to God about the difficulties of being a prophet, Jeremiah gives thanks to God for his protection and deliverance.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:
(Lead in with) RSV: “O Lord, thou hast deceived me…”; NRSV: O Lord, you have enticed me…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and thou hast prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; every one mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him.” But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
New Revised Standard Version
O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.” But the LORD is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.
O LORD of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Romans 6:1b-11
Paul asserts that through baptism we die and are buried with Christ. Our rising with Christ frees us from sin’s grasp and makes us a new creation.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Lead in with) RSV: Are we to continue in sin…; NRSV: Should we continue in sin…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
New Revised Standard Version
Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Matthew 10:24-39
Jesus gives instructions to his disciples as he prepares them for their missionary work. He offers them warnings as well as reassurance about what they will find on their journeys.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV: Jesus said to the twelve…; NRSV: Jesus said to his disciples…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to the twelve apostles, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to his disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
June 21 – 4 Pentecost – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
4 Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Even as he cries out to God about the difficulties of being a prophet, Jeremiah gives thanks to God for his protection and deliverance.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:
(Lead in with) RSV: O Lord, thou hast deceived me…; NRSV: O Lord, you have enticed me…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and thou hast prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; every one mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him.” But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
New Revised Standard Version
O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.” But the LORD is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.
O LORD of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
4 Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Romans 5:15b-19
Paul contrasts Adam, who by his disobedience brought death into the world, with Christ, by whose perfect obedience we receive the free gifts of grace and eternal life.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: For if many died…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
New Revised Standard Version
For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
4 Pentecost (Proper 7), Year A, June 21, 2026
Matthew 10: (16-23 optional) 24-33
Jesus gives instructions to his disciples as he prepares them for their missionary work. He offers them warnings as well as reassurance about what they will find on their journeys.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV: (vs. 16) Jesus said to the twelve…, (vs. 24) Jesus said to the twelve…; NRSV: (vs. 16) Jesus said to the twelve…, (vs. 24) Jesus said to his disciples…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to the twelve apostles,
[“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.]
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
New Revised Standard Version
[Jesus said to the twelve apostles, “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.]
[Jesus said to his disciples,]
“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“The story of love is also the story of anguish and death. We know this from lived experience, and we read about it in sacred Scripture. The apostles suffered, the prophets suffered, Jesus languished and died upon a tree, and amid this pain, love was and is bringing forth a New Being.”
“[Ishmael] grew up, lived in the wilderness, became an expert with the bow, and was the father of a great nation. Though sent into the wilderness, angels ministered to him. Near death, he was brought to life.”
“This week’s gospel reading might seem winter-dour, but Jesus’ purpose in telling his disciples about their future persecution and martyrdom was intended rather to warm their courage and make sure that they faced those difficult times with a secure knowledge that he is in the lead.”
Preaching Today
Julia Gatta: God Saves Us Despite Our Rebellion
“Like Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac, our dilemmas may be mixed up with our families. Or also like these figures, they may have still larger implications for society or for the future. … We all stand in need of forgiveness; sometimes, outright rescue.”
Charleston Wilson: Dead to Sin
“What if, however, on the day of the annual review — after a disastrous third quarter of botched deals and lost sales — we show up for the review and hear only this: ‘Your pay is doubled; go in peace.’ That would be called grace, and it changes everything, including you and me.”
Jacob Smith: Peace on God’s Terms, Not Mine
“This is no cheap life, this is no cheap peace, that Jesus is speaking of here, and it comes by way of the gospel only. It comes by way of the God who knows that we want peace, the God who knows that we want life, and on our own we have no idea where to truly find it.”
Classic Texts
John Calvin: A Heart-Discerner
“There are many recesses in the heart of man, and we know that all things there have many wrappings and coverings, but God in the meantime is a heart-discerner who proves the heart and reins.”
Jeremy Taylor: More Than We Can Tell
“His mercies are more than we can tell, and they are more than we can feel; for all the world in the abyss of the Divine mercies is like a man diving into the bottom of the sea, over whose head the waters run insensibly and unperceived, and yet the weight is vast, and the sum of them is unmeasurable.”
Francis de Sales: All Will Be Well Done
“Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily. And our Lord himself has told us that ‘he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.’ If you do all in God’s name, all you do will be well done.”
Articles on Being Beloved
Paul Wheatley: The Destiny of the Beloved
“Jesus again here is that beloved one. He is declared God’s son, like David, but more. He is declared God’s beloved, like Isaac, but greater. He is to rule and redeem. He is anointed, and marked as God’s beloved who will be offered on the mountain.”
Leander Harding: What’s Love Got to Do with It?
“Knowing ourselves loved with such a love, loved while we were still enemies, loved when we found ourselves still betraying the love of God, we want to return this love by loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and by loving our neighbors as our self, including those who do not deserve it, who will not or cannot return it, who are our enemies.”
Jerusalem Greer: The Way of Love: Go
“From exhaustion, to anger, to sadness, to responding to criticism, to loving the wrong people, to being willing to change his mind (not to mention a public execution), Jesus shows us that great vulnerability is often required to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God with both our lips and our lives.”
Articles on Baptism
Boone Porter: Baptism and the Holy Spirit
“Those who perceive the Holy Spirit operating in all of life find themselves in opposition to those who believe the Spirit can only be identified and properly recognized within the Christian Church. Is the Holy Ghost the divine agent of creation, or only of re-creation?”
Mac Stewart: On Baptism
“Baptism is the act by which the eternal God — the God who spoke and the world came to be, the God whose ineffable mysteries cannot be compassed by the highest cherubim, the God who is Being beyond all being, Good beyond all good, pure life and activity, perfect rest and repose — it is the act by which this God rips us out of our congenital self-absorption and grips us with the unimaginable force of his everlasting mercy.”
Sarah Puryear: Baptism, A New Birth into a Living Hope
“Baptism is a similar sort of encounter: God in Christ drawing us up out of the waters of sin and death that threaten to quench our life; God in Christ tenderly embracing us as he calls us by name; God in Christ infusing us with new life that is infinitely stronger than death, and that he promises will be everlasting.”
Articles on Fear
Paul Wheatley: Fear at the Resurrection
“Terror and amazement: the wonder, the glory of the resurrection, and the terrifying possibility that now everything was different, everything changed. They were afraid of a world turned upside down, afraid of what the resurrection might mean.”
Matthew S.C. Olver: The Terror of the Nativity
“But this is only the profound reality of standing before the God of Abraham, the Fear of Isaac, the Holy One of Nazareth, the Alpha and the Omega. A certain fear will disappear when we know our deliverance and we actually offer him service in our bodies. But it is a service that must be offered ‘with reverence and awe’ for this Numinous and Blessed Trinity is nothing if not ‘consuming fire’ (Heb. 12:28-29).”
Benjamin Guyer: Do Not Be Afraid
“Generation after generation, fear appears as a coarse thread, woven in all sorts of wayward ways into the unhappy tapestry of human nature and experience. Unavoidable and inevitable, even when necessary, it is far from desirable. Fear does not define us as an external force: it is part of who and what we are.”
