First Lesson: Isaiah 44:6-8

The LORD, Not Idols
6“This is what the LORD says—
Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.

7Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come—
yes, let him foretell what will come.

8Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Psalm 86:11–17 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth. (Ps. 86:11)

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and glorify your name forevermore.
13For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the pit of death.
14The arrogant rise up against me, O God, and a band of violent people seeks my life; they have not set you before their eyes.
15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.
16Turn to me and have mercy on me; give your strength to your servant, and save the child of your handmaid.
17Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame; because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Second Lesson: Romans 8:12-25

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[7] And by him we cry, “Abba,[8] Father.”16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.17Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co–heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Future Glory
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope21that[9] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
The Parable of the Weeds
24Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27“The owner's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28”‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29”‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.