King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, “Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the people, that I may know their number.” Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered: in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand.

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.

Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants.

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

Thus says the Lord God:/ Lo, I am sending my messenger/ to prepare the way before me;/ and ­suddenly there will come to the temple/ the Lord whom you seek,/ and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire./ Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts./ But who will endure the day of his coming?/ And who can stand when he appears?/ For he is like the refiner’s fire,/ or like the fuller’s lye./ He will sit refining and ­purifying silver,/ and he will purify the sons of Levi,/ Refining them like gold or like silver/ that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord./ Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem/ will please the Lord,/ as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might ­destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth,/ who have observed his law;/ seek justice, seek humility;/ perhaps you may be sheltered/ on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.