Saturday 12 May 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Saturday 12 May 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wisdom 19:1-22

But the ungodly were assailed to the end by pitiless anger,
for God knew in advance even their future actions: 
how, though they themselves had permitted your people to depart
and hastily sent them out,
they would change their minds and pursue them. 
For while they were still engaged in mourning,
and were lamenting at the graves of their dead,
they reached another foolish decision,
and pursued as fugitives those whom they had begged and compelled to
leave. 
For the fate they deserved drew them on to this end,
and made them forget what had happened,
in order that they might fill up the punishment that their torments
still lacked, 
and that your people might experience an incredible journey,
but they themselves might meet a strange death. 


For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew,
complying with your commands,
so that your children might be kept unharmed. 
The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp,
and dry land emerging where water had stood before,
an unhindered way out of the Red Sea,
and a grassy plain out of the raging waves, 
where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation,
after gazing on marvellous wonders. 
For they ranged like horses,
and leapt like lambs,
praising you, O Lord, who delivered them. 
For they still recalled the events of their sojourn,
how instead of producing animals the earth brought forth gnats,
and instead of fish the river spewed out vast numbers of frogs. 
Afterwards they saw also a new kind of birds,
when desire led them to ask for luxurious food; 
for, to give them relief, quails came up from the sea. 


The punishments did not come upon the sinners
without prior signs in the violence of thunder,
for they justly suffered because of their wicked acts;
for they practised a more bitter hatred of strangers. 
Others had refused to receive strangers when they came to them,
but these made slaves of guests who were their benefactors. 
And not only so—but, while punishment of some sort will come upon the
former
for having received strangers with hostility, 
the latter, having first received them with festal celebrations,
afterwards afflicted with terrible sufferings
those who had already shared the same rights. 
They were stricken also with loss of sight—
just as were those at the door of the righteous man—
when, surrounded by yawning darkness,
all of them tried to find the way through their own doors. 


For the elements changed places with one another,
as on a harp the notes vary the nature of the rhythm,
while each note remains the same.
This may be clearly inferred from the sight of what took place. 
For land animals were transformed into water creatures,
and creatures that swim moved over to the land. 
Fire even in water retained its normal power,
and water forgot its fire-quenching nature. 
Flames, on the contrary, failed to consume
the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them,
nor did they melt the crystalline, quick-melting kind of heavenly food. 


For in everything, O Lord, you have exalted and glorified your people,
and you have not neglected to help them at all times and in all places.
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Romans 15:1-13

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not
to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbour for the good
purpose of building up the neighbour. For Christ did not please
himself; but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you
have fallen on me.’ For whatever was written in former days was written
for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement
of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and
encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in
accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the
glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the
circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might
confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the
Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
   and sing praises to your name’; 
and again he says,
‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; 
and again,
‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
   and let all the peoples praise him’; 
and again Isaiah says,
‘The root of Jesse shall come,
   the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
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Luke 9:1-17

Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim
the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your
journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra
tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.
Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake
the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and
went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases
everywhere. 
Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was
perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from
the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of
the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who
is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he tried to see him. 
On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them
with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the
crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and
spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to
be cured. 
The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said,
‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages
and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a
deserted place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’
They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are
to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five
thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in
groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down.
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven,
and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set
before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was
gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 75, 76

Psalm 75

We give thanks to you, O God;
   we give thanks; your name is near.
People tell of your wondrous deeds. 


At the set time that I appoint
   I will judge with equity. 
When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,
   it is I who keep its pillars steady.
          Selah 
I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast’,
   and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; 
do not lift up your horn on high,
   or speak with insolent neck.’ 


For not from the east or from the west
   and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; 
but it is God who executes judgement,
   putting down one and lifting up another. 
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup
   with foaming wine, well mixed;
he will pour a draught from it,
   and all the wicked of the earth
   shall drain it down to the dregs. 
But I will rejoice for ever;
   I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 


All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
   but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.



Psalm 76

In Judah God is known,
   his name is great in Israel. 
His abode has been established in Salem,
   his dwelling-place in Zion. 
There he broke the flashing arrows,
   the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war.
          Selah 


Glorious are you, more majestic
   than the everlasting mountains. 
The stout-hearted were stripped of their spoil;
   they sank into sleep;
none of the troops
   was able to lift a hand. 
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
   both rider and horse lay stunned. 


But you indeed are awesome!
   Who can stand before you
   when once your anger is roused? 
>From the heavens you uttered judgement;
   the earth feared and was still 
when God rose up to establish judgement,
   to save all the oppressed of the earth.
          Selah 


Human wrath serves only to praise you,
   when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you. 
Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them;
   let all who are around him bring gifts
   to the one who is awesome, 
who cuts off the spirit of princes,
   who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 23, 27

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters; 
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake. 


Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me. 


You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.



Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
   of whom shall I be afraid? 


When evildoers assail me
   to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
   they shall stumble and fall. 


Though an army encamp against me,
   my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
   yet I will be confident. 


One thing I asked of the Lord,
   that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
   and to inquire in his temple. 


For he will hide me in his shelter
   in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
   he will set me high on a rock. 


Now my head is lifted up
   above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
   sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 


Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
   be gracious to me and answer me! 
‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’
   Your face, Lord, do I seek. 
   Do not hide your face from me. 


Do not turn your servant away in anger,
   you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
   O God of my salvation! 
If my father and mother forsake me,
   the Lord will take me up. 


Teach me your way, O Lord,
   and lead me on a level path
   because of my enemies. 
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
   for false witnesses have risen against me,
   and they are breathing out violence. 


I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
   in the land of the living. 
Wait for the Lord;
   be strong, and let your heart take courage;
   wait for the Lord!
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