Third Sunday after the Epiphany	January 21, 2024
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and eternal God, graciously look down on our weakness. Reach out to us with your majestic right hand, and satisfy us with his glory. We ask through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 
First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 
10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Psalm 62 (LBW)
1For God alone my soul in | silence waits;*
	from him comes | my salvation.
2He alone is my rock and | my salvation,*
	my stronghold, so that I shall not be | greatly shaken.
3How long will you assail me to crush me, all of | you together,*
	as if you were a leaning fence, a | toppling wall?
4They seek only to bring me down from my | place of honor;*
	lies are their | chief delight.
5They bless | with their lips,*
	but in their | hearts they curse.
6For God alone my soul in | silence waits;*
	truly, my hope | is in him.
7He alone is my rock and | my salvation,*
	my stronghold, so that I shall | not be shaken.
8In God is my safety | and my honor;*
	God is my strong rock | and my refuge.
9Put your trust in him al- | ways, O people,*
	pour out your hearts before him, for God | is our refuge.
10Those of high degree are but a | fleeting breath,*
	even those of low estate can- | not be trusted.
11On the scales they are lighter | than a breath,*
	all of | them together.
12Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no | empty pride;*
	though wealth increase, set not your | heart upon it.
13God has spoken once, twice | have I heard it,*
	that power be- | longs to God.
14Steadfast love is | yours, O Lord,*
	for you repay everyone according | to his deeds.
Psalm 62 (ESV)
1For For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
    They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. 
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. 
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
    those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
    set no vain hopes on robbery;
    if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
    twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
    according to his work.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 [32-35] 
29This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. [32I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.]
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
14After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 16Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Next Week’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28