Lectionary 30, Year B
Proper 25 The Sunday between October 23 and October 29 Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: Mark 10:46–52
As Jesus leaves Jericho, blind Bartimaeus keeps calling out to him for mercy despite the crowd, receives his sight, and follows Jesus on the way.
What is going on
As Jesus leaves the town of Jericho with a large crowd, a blind man named Bartimaeus is sitting by the road, begging.
When he hears it is Jesus, he shouts, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. The crowd tells him to be quiet, and he shouts all the louder.
Jesus stops and calls him. Bartimaeus throws off his cloak, jumps up, and asks to see again. Jesus says his faith has made him well, and he can see, and he follows Jesus on the way.
Mark 10:46-52
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
46 They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still, and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!” 50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus on the way.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Through Jeremiah, the LORD promises to gather his scattered people from the far north, including the blind and lame, and lead them home by streams.
Read it here
7 For the LORD says, “Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations. Publish, praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel!’ 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together. They will return as a great company. 9 They will come with weeping. I will lead them with petitions. I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they won’t stumble; for I am a father to Israel. Ephraim is my firstborn.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 126
A song of joy for the LORD’s great deeds in bringing people home, and a prayer that those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
Read it here
1 When the LORD brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad. 4 Restore our fortunes again, O LORD, like the streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Hebrews 7:23-28
The letter to the Hebrews says Jesus lives forever as a priest who prays for all who come to God through him, and offered himself once for all.
Read it here
23 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death. 24 But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. 25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them. 26 For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: Job 42:1–6, 10–17 and Psalm 34:1–8 [19–22] in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
Bartimaeus kept calling out when people told him to be quiet. What would you ask Jesus for if he stopped for you?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 30 (Proper 25) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.