Daily Lectionary Readings for June 18, 2026

Daily Lectionary Readings (Two-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Thursday, June 18, 2026

Morning Psalm 97 1   The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;           let the many coastlands be glad! 2   Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;           righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3   Fire goes before him,           and consumes his adversaries on every side. 4   His lightnings light up the world;           the earth sees and trembles. 5   The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,           before the Lord of all the earth. 6   The heavens proclaim his righteousness;           and all the peoples behold his glory. 7   All worshipers of images are put to shame,           those who make their boast in worthless idols;           all gods bow down before him. 8   Zion hears and is glad,           and the towns of Judah rejoice,           because of your judgments, O God. 9   For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;           you are exalted far above all gods. 10  The LORD loves those who hate evil;           he guards the lives of his faithful;           he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. 11  Light dawns for the righteous,           and joy for the upright in heart. 12  Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,           and give thanks to his holy name! Morning Psalm 147:12-20 12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!           Praise your God, O Zion! 13  For he strengthens the bars of your gates;           he blesses your children within you. 14  He grants peace within your borders;           he fills you with the finest of wheat. 15  He sends out his command to the earth;           his word runs swiftly. 16  He gives snow like wool;           he scatters frost like ashes. 17  He hurls down hail like crumbs —           who can stand before his cold? 18  He sends out his word, and melts them;           he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. 19  He declares his word to Jacob,           his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20  He has not dealt thus with any other nation;           they do not know his ordinances.      Praise the Lord! First Reading Numbers 12:1-16 1While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman); 2and they said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it. 3Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth. 4Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." So the three of them came out. 5Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6And he said, "Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the LORD make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams. 7Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. 8With him I speak face to face - clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" 9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed. 10When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. 11Then Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. 12Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb." 13And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her." 14But the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again." 15So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again. 16After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran. Second Reading Romans 2:12-24 12All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them 16on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. 17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God 18and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, 19and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, 21you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Gospel Reading Matthew 18:10-20 10"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. 12What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. 15"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Evening Psalm 16 1   Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2   I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;           I have no good apart from you.” 3   As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,           in whom is all my delight. 4   Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;           their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out           or take their names upon my lips. 5   The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;           you hold my lot. 6   The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;           I have a goodly heritage. 7   I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;           in the night also my heart instructs me. 8   I keep the LORD always before me;           because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9   Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;           my body also rests secure. 10  For you do not give me up to Sheol,           or let your faithful one see the Pit. 11  You show me the path of life.           In your presence there is fullness of joy;           in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Evening Psalm 62 1   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 never be shaken. 3   How long will you assail a person,           will you batter your victim, all of you,           as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4   Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.           They take pleasure in falsehood;      they bless with their mouths,           but inwardly they curse. Selah 5   For God alone my soul waits in silence,           for my hope is from him. 6   He alone is my rock and my salvation,           my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7   On God rests my deliverance and my honor;           my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. 8   Trust in him at all times, O people;           pour out your heart before him;           God is a refuge for us. Selah 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 confidence in extortion,           and set no vain hopes on robbery;           if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11  Once God has spoken;           twice have I heard this:      that power belongs to God, 12       and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.      For you repay to all           according to their work.

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Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

WCC interview: How can churches create space to engage with the Bible? Rev. Dirk Gevers reflects

Rev. Dirk Gevers is secretary general of the United Bible Societies (UBS). He took time to reflect on the recently released UBS statement, “The Bible for Tomorrow: A Global Commitment to Future Christian Generations,” and why it’s important for churches to create spaces in which people across the world can engage with the Bible. 17 June 2026 Why is it especially significant that the “The Bible for Tomorrow: A Global Commitment to Future Christian Generations” focuses on the future even we commemorate 80 years of the United Bible Societies?  Rev. Gevers: Focusing on the future has been part of the DNA of Bible societies from the very beginning—not just UBS but the Bible society movement, which is now over 220 years old. The Bible society movement was inspired by a girl in her early teens, Mary Jones. She lived in the Welsh countryside, and she wasn’t able to go to school. But her grandmother had a Bible, and Mary Jones started to learn to read when she visited her grandmother. Mary was desperate to have a Bible of her own. She worked for four years saving up money, and announced to her parents that she would walk 47 kilometers to the town of Bala in North Wales to meet Rev. Thomas Charles. But Rev. Charles had just sold the last Bible he had! Poor Mary was distraught. That moved him to the point where he gathered some Christian leaders. They met in London at an inn and asked: what are we going to do about the scarcity of Bibles, not only in Wales but in the rest of the world? Even then, at that very founding, future generations were in mind. And it is even more crucial now because of the state of our world. It’s about thinking beyond ourselves. To commemorate an anniversary is never just about looking back—it’s about looking back only to look forward. In what ways can Bible engagement serve as the compass many young people are seeking? Rev. Gevers: Currently the world’s geopolitical space is very fragmented—broken. It’s a very unkind world. One out of four of our 156 Bible Societies is operating in a war zone. Young people need the option of a different world view and a different value system. Some of them are wondering: Am I even going to have a world to live in? I think about Psalm 119: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” and “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” In a world of constant change, the Bible provides a fixed point for people, particularly if we understand the Bible through the lens of the New Testament. I think for us the important thing is the Bible is not just a book that has moral codes and life codes. The Bible leads people to Jesus and to transformation. The recent Patmos youth survey data indicates that young people are open. What are some practical ways in which churches can foster Bible engagement?  Rev. Gevers: The churches are the places where this will happen. Churches can create more spaces for young people to engage with the Bible, and to engage with the message and content of the Bible in a nonthreatening way and even in a non-directive way in a community setting.  For me, it’s really important that the church create these spaces in different ways – inside the church, at the door, and outside. This means going beyond Bible study into different types of engagement. There are those at the door of the church—standing at the door looking in. Then you need space totally outside the church where people can come and engage with the authentic meaning of the Bible. The church should not react defensively but engage in dialogue. In some contexts, the Bible has been misused and distorted, and young people may have negative perceptions, but what is the authentic story of the Bible? Our point of entry is not about religion or church, but the Bible itself. This book has been around for so long—more than 2,000 years! It’s the most translated book of all time. It’s the only book that’s on the moon. Would you like to discover why? As we at the World Council of Churches share the global declaration worldwide, what is your main message to churches? Rev. Gevers: Firstly, thank you! I believe churches are very good at Bible engagement inside the church. Perhaps more focus is needed on creating outside spaces which will then also link to the door. Christianity is growing very quickly in Africa. But the danger there is superficial Christianity. It’s often prosperity linked. There is a need for the church to provide solid Bible engagement. All three spaces are critical.  What can your ecumenical family pray for UBS as it embarks on its 81st year of global ministry? Rev. Gevers: For UBS, first pray for Bible societies that are in these war zones that are doing incredible work with such resilience, creativity, and courage. Pray for the unity of fellowship and across dividing lines, for unity and openness of hearts, minds and spirits. Pray for those in difficult circumstances where the church faces restriction and opposition. Pray for God’s blessing on our declaration for the future generations.  The Bible for Tomorrow: A Global Commitment to Future Christian Generations United Bible Societies Marks 80th Anniversary with Global Declaration for Future Christian Generations See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Bible Readings for June 18, 2026

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today, our passages are 1 Kings 19:1-21; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm 136:1-26; and Proverbs 17:14-15. The readings are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson.

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1 Kings 19:1-21 (The Message)

1 Kings 19

Revenge from Jezebel

^1-2 Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: "The gods will get you for this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead as any one of those prophets." ^3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day's journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: "Enough of this, God! Take my life—I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!" Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush. 
Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, "Get up and eat!" 
⁶ He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep. 
⁷ The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, "Get up and eat some more—you've got a long journey ahead of you." 
^8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep. 
Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?" 
¹⁰ "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me." 
^11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by." 
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. 
^13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me." 
^15-18 God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image." 
¹⁹ Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field where there were twelve pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak over him. 
²⁰ Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I'll follow you." 
"Go ahead," said Elijah, "but, mind you, don't forget what I've just done to you." 
²¹ So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat—a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man.

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Acts 12:1-23 (The Message)

Acts 12

Peter Under Heavy Guard

^1-4 That's when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John's brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter—all this during Passover Week, mind you—and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover. ⁵All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously. 
⁶Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances! 
^7-9Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: "Hurry!" The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. Then, "Grab your coat and let's get out of here." Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming. 
^10-11Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That's when Peter realized it was no dream. "I can't believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to." 
^12-14Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who was John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter's voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street. 
^15-16But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. "You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. 
^16-17Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, "Tell James and the brothers what's happened." He left them and went off to another place. 
^18-19At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What's happened to Peter?" When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: "Off with their heads!" Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea. 

The Death of Herod

^20-22But things went from bad to worse for Herod. Now people from Tyre and Sidon put him on the warpath. But they got Blastus, King Herod's right-hand man, to put in a good word for them and got a delegation together to iron things out. Because they were dependent on Judea for food supplies, they couldn't afford to let this go on too long. On the day set for their meeting, Herod, robed in pomposity, took his place on the throne and regaled them with a lot of hot air. The people played their part to the hilt and shouted flatteries: "The voice of God! The voice of God!" ²³That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod's arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died.

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Psalm 136:1-26 (The Message)

Psalm 136

Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. 
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits.

^4-22 Thank the miracle-working God,
His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
His love never quits.
The sun to watch over the day,
His love never quits.
Moon and stars as guardians of the night,
His love never quits.
The God who struck down the Egyptian firstborn,
His love never quits.
And rescued Israel from Egypt's oppression,
His love never quits.
Took Israel in hand with his powerful hand,
His love never quits.
Split the Red Sea right in half,
His love never quits.
Led Israel right through the middle,
His love never quits.
Dumped Pharaoh and his army in the sea,
His love never quits.
The God who marched his people through the desert,
His love never quits.
Smashed huge kingdoms right and left,
His love never quits.
Struck down the famous kings,
His love never quits.
Struck Sihon the Amorite king,
His love never quits.
Struck Og the Bashanite king,
His love never quits.
Then distributed their land as booty,
His love never quits.
Handed the land over to Israel.
His love never quits.

^23-26 God remembered us when we were down,
His love never quits.
Rescued us from the trampling boot,
His love never quits.
Takes care of everyone in time of need.
His love never quits.
Thank God, who did it all!
His love never quits!

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Proverbs 17:14-15 (The Message)

¹⁴ The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before it bursts.

¹⁵ Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
are equally abhorrent to God.

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Thought for the Day

“Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 - Contemporary English Version) God has given parents an incredible opportunity. Not only can we influence our children's lives, but we can also impact every person they meet and know. And we can do this through the lessons we teach and the lives we live.

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Quote for the Day

American businessman and author who contributed to management theory and quality management practices, Phil Crosby wrote, “Quality has to be caused, not controlled.”

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Joke for Today

Bubba decided it was time to purchase a new saw to help clear his heavily timbered property. A salesman showed him the latest model chain saw and assured him that he could easily cut three or four cords of wood per day with it. But the first day, Bubba barely cut one cord of wood. The second morning he arose an hour earlier and managed to cut a little over one cord. The third day he got up even earlier but only managed to achieve a total of 1½ cords of wood.

Bubba returned the saw to the store the next day and explained the situation.

“Well,” said the salesman, “Let’s see what’s the matter.” He then pulled the cable and the chain saw sprang into action.

Leaping back, Bubba shouted, “What the heck is that noise?”  

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A Prayer Request

As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we’re laying before God today.

That people reflect the love and mercy of God in their daily lives.