Wednesday 26 December 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 26 December 2007 (St. Stephen)
DAILY LECTIONARY

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2 Chronicles 24:17-22

Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did
obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. 18They abandoned
the house of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred
poles* and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this
guilt of theirs. 19Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to
the Lord; they testified against them, but they would not listen. 
20 Then the spirit of God took possession of* Zechariah son of the
priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, 'Thus says
God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you
cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken
you.' 21But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they
stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. 22King Joash
did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had
shown him, but killed his son. As he was dying, he said, 'May the Lord
see and avenge!'
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Acts 6:1-7

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the
Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were
being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2And the twelve
called together the whole community of the disciples and said, 'It is
not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at
tables.* 3Therefore, friends,* select from among yourselves seven men of
good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to
this task, 4while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and
to serving the word.' 5What they said pleased the whole community, and
they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together
with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a
proselyte of Antioch. 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who
prayed and laid their hands on them. 
7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples
increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became
obedient to the faith.
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Wisdom 4:7-15

But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest. 
8For old age is not honoured for length of time,
or measured by number of years; 
9but understanding is grey hair for anyone,
and a blameless life is ripe old age. 


10There were some who pleased God and were loved by him,
and while living among sinners were taken up. 
11They were caught up so that evil might not change their understanding
or guile deceive their souls. 
12For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good,
and roving desire perverts the innocent mind. 
13Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years; 
14for their souls were pleasing to the Lord,
therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness. 
15Yet the peoples saw and did not understand,
or take such a thing to heart,
that God's grace and mercy are with his elect,
and that he watches over his holy ones. 
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Acts 7:59-8:8

While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.' 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do
not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he died.* 81And
Saul approved of their killing him.
Saul Persecutes the ChurchThat day a severe persecution began against
the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 2Devout men buried
Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul was ravaging the
church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women,
he committed them to prison. 
Philip Preaches in Samaria4 Now those who were scattered went from place
to place, proclaiming the word. 5Philip went down to the city* of
Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah* to them. 6The crowds with one accord
listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the
signs that he did, 7for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came
out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or
lame were cured. 8So there was great joy in that city.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 28, 30

Psalm 28

To you, O Lord, I call;
   my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
   I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 
2Hear the voice of my supplication,
   as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
   towards your most holy sanctuary.* 


3Do not drag me away with the wicked,
   with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbours,
   while mischief is in their hearts. 
4Repay them according to their work,
   and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
   render them their due reward. 
5Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
   or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more. 


6Blessed be the Lord,
   for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. 
7The Lord is my strength and my shield;
   in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
   and with my song I give thanks to him. 


8The Lord is the strength of his people;
   he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 
9O save your people, and bless your heritage;
   be their shepherd, and carry them for ever.


Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
   and did not let my foes rejoice over me. 
2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
   and you have healed me. 
3O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
   restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.* 


4Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
   and give thanks to his holy name. 
5For his anger is but for a moment;
   his favour is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning. 


6As for me, I said in my prosperity,
   'I shall never be moved.' 
7By your favour, O Lord,
   you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
   I was dismayed. 


8To you, O Lord, I cried,
   and to the Lord I made supplication: 
9'What profit is there in my death,
   if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
   Will it tell of your faithfulness? 
10Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
   O Lord, be my helper!' 


11You have turned my mourning into dancing;
   you have taken off my sackcloth
   and clothed me with joy, 
12so that my soul* may praise you and not be silent.
   O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you for ever.
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 118

Psalm 118

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his steadfast love endures for ever! 


2Let Israel say,
   'His steadfast love endures for ever.' 
3Let the house of Aaron say,
   'His steadfast love endures for ever.' 
4Let those who fear the Lord say,
   'His steadfast love endures for ever.' 


5Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
   the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 
6With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
   What can mortals do to me? 
7The Lord is on my side to help me;
   I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 
8It is better to take refuge in the Lord
   than to put confidence in mortals. 
9It is better to take refuge in the Lord
   than to put confidence in princes. 


10All nations surrounded me;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 
11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 
12They surrounded me like bees;
   they blazed* like a fire of thorns;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 
13I was pushed hard,* so that I was falling,
   but the Lord helped me. 
14The Lord is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation. 


15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
'The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; 
16   the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
   the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.' 
17I shall not die, but I shall live,
   and recount the deeds of the Lord. 
18The Lord has punished me severely,
   but he did not give me over to death. 


19Open to me the gates of righteousness,
   that I may enter through them
   and give thanks to the Lord. 


20This is the gate of the Lord;
   the righteous shall enter through it. 


21I thank you that you have answered me
   and have become my salvation. 
22The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone. 
23This is the Lord's doing;
   it is marvellous in our eyes. 
24This is the day that the Lord has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it.* 
25Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
   O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! 


26Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.*
   We bless you from the house of the Lord. 
27The Lord is God,
   and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
   up to the horns of the altar.* 


28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
   you are my God, I will extol you. 


29O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever.
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