Daily Reading for Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021

Reading 1, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

¹ Some time later, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram! I am your shield and shall give you a very great reward.

² 'Lord Yahweh,' Abram replied, 'what use are your gifts, as I am going on my way childless? . . .

³ Since you have given me no offspring,' Abram continued, 'a member of my household will be my heir.'

⁴ Then Yahweh's word came to him in reply, 'Such a one will not be your heir; no, your heir will be the issue of your own body.'

⁵ Then taking him outside, he said, 'Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Just so will your descendants be,' he told him.

⁶ Abram put his faith in Yahweh and this was reckoned to him as uprightness.

⁷ He then said to him, 'I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldaeans to give you this country as your possession.'

⁸ 'Lord Yahweh,' Abram replied, 'how can I know that I shall possess it?'

⁹ He said to him, 'Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon.'

¹⁰ He brought him all these, split the animals down the middle and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not divide.

¹¹ And whenever birds of prey swooped down on the carcases, Abram drove them off.

¹² Now, as the sun was on the point of setting, a trance fell on Abram, and a deep dark dread descended on him.

¹⁷ When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passing between the animals' pieces.

¹⁸ That day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram in these terms: 'To your descendants I give this country, from the River of Egypt to the Great River, the River Euphrates,

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

¹ Alleluia! Give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name, proclaim his deeds to the peoples!

² Sing to him, make music for him, recount all his wonders!

³ Glory in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice!

⁴ Seek Yahweh and his strength, tirelessly seek his presence!

⁶ Stock of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob whom he chose!

⁷ He is Yahweh our God, his judgements touch the whole world.

⁸ He remembers his covenant for ever, the promise he laid down for a thousand generations,

⁹ which he concluded with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

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