Wednesday 21 March 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 21 March 2007
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Jeremiah 18:1-11

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Come, go down to the
potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down
to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel
he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked
it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 
Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of
Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay
in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At one
moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will
pluck up and break down and destroy it, but if that nation, concerning
which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about
the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I
may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and
plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice,
then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to
it. Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against
you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil
way, and amend your ways and your doings.
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Romans 8:1-11

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you
free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law,
weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the
flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For
those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of
the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds
on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but
to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the
mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to
God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot
please God. 
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of
God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does
not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead
because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the
Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
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John 6:27-40

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures
for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him
that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What
must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is
the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they
said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may
see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate
the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from
heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it
was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father
who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that
which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to
him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ 
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But
I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything
that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I
will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my
own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him
who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me,
but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father,
that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and
I will raise them up on the last day.’
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 101, 109:1-30

Psalm 101

I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
   to you, O Lord, I will sing. 
I will study the way that is blameless.
   When shall I attain it? 


I will walk with integrity of heart
   within my house; 
I will not set before my eyes
   anything that is base. 


I hate the work of those who fall away;
   it shall not cling to me. 
Perverseness of heart shall be far from me;
   I will know nothing of evil. 


One who secretly slanders a neighbour
   I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart
   I will not tolerate. 


I will look with favour on the faithful in the land,
   so that they may live with me;
whoever walks in the way that is blameless
   shall minister to me. 


No one who practises deceit
   shall remain in my house;
no one who utters lies
   shall continue in my presence. 


Morning by morning I will destroy
   all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all evildoers
   from the city of the Lord.



Psalm 109:1-30

Do not be silent, O God of my praise. 
For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
   speaking against me with lying tongues. 
They beset me with words of hate,
   and attack me without cause. 
In return for my love they accuse me,
   even while I make prayer for them. 
So they reward me evil for good,
   and hatred for my love. 


They say, ‘Appoint a wicked man against him;
   let an accuser stand on his right. 
When he is tried, let him be found guilty;
   let his prayer be counted as sin. 
May his days be few;
   may another seize his position. 
May his children be orphans,
   and his wife a widow. 
May his children wander about and beg;
   may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit. 
May the creditor seize all that he has;
   may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil. 
May there be no one to do him a kindness,
   nor anyone to pity his orphaned children. 
May his posterity be cut off;
   may his name be blotted out in the second generation. 
May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the Lord,
   and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out. 
Let them be before the Lord continually,
   and may his memory be cut off from the earth. 
For he did not remember to show kindness,
   but pursued the poor and needy
   and the broken-hearted to their death. 
He loved to curse; let curses come on him.
   He did not like blessing; may it be far from him. 
He clothed himself with cursing as his coat,
   may it soak into his body like water,
   like oil into his bones. 
May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,
   like a belt that he wears every day.’ 


May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
   of those who speak evil against my life. 
But you, O Lord my Lord,
   act on my behalf for your name’s sake;
   because your steadfast love is good, deliver me. 
For I am poor and needy,
   and my heart is pierced within me. 
I am gone like a shadow at evening;
   I am shaken off like a locust. 
My knees are weak through fasting;
   my body has become gaunt. 
I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
   when they see me, they shake their heads. 


Help me, O Lord my God!
   Save me according to your steadfast love. 
Let them know that this is your hand;
   you, O Lord, have done it. 
Let them curse, but you will bless.
   Let my assailants be put to shame; may your servant be glad. 
May my accusers be clothed with dishonour;
   may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle. 
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
   I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:121-144

Psalm 119:121-144

I have done what is just and right;
   do not leave me to my oppressors. 
Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
   do not let the godless oppress me. 
My eyes fail from watching for your salvation,
   and for the fulfilment of your righteous promise. 
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
   and teach me your statutes. 
I am your servant; give me understanding,
   so that I may know your decrees. 
It is time for the Lord to act,
   for your law has been broken. 
Truly I love your commandments
   more than gold, more than fine gold. 
Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts;
   I hate every false way. 


Your decrees are wonderful;
   therefore my soul keeps them. 
The unfolding of your words gives light;
   it imparts understanding to the simple. 
With open mouth I pant,
   because I long for your commandments. 
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   as is your custom towards those who love your name. 
Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
   and never let iniquity have dominion over me. 
Redeem me from human oppression,
   that I may keep your precepts. 
Make your face shine upon your servant,
   and teach me your statutes. 
My eyes shed streams of tears
   because your law is not kept. 


You are righteous, O Lord,
   and your judgements are right. 
You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
   and in all faithfulness. 
My zeal consumes me
   because my foes forget your words. 
Your promise is well tried,
   and your servant loves it. 
I am small and despised,
   yet I do not forget your precepts. 
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
   and your law is the truth. 
Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
   but your commandments are my delight. 
Your decrees are righteous for ever;
   give me understanding that I may live. 
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