Wednesday 27 February 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 27 February 2008 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Genesis 45:16-28

The children of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and
Areli. The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their
sister Serah. The children of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel (these are the
children of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and these she
bore to Jacob-sixteen persons). The children of Jacob's wife Rachel:
Joseph and Benjamin. To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh
and Ephraim, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to
him. The children of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi,
Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard (these are the children of Rachel, who
were born to Jacob-fourteen persons in all). The children of Dan:
Hashum.* The children of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem
(these are the children of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter
Rachel, and these she bore to Jacob-seven persons in all). All the
persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own
offspring, not including the wives of his sons, were sixty-six persons
in all. The children of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two;
all the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.
 Israel* sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into
Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,
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1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that 'all of us possess
knowledge.' Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to
know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who
loves God is known by him.

 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that 'no idol
in the world really exists', and that 'there is no God but one.' Indeed,
even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-as in fact
there are many gods and many lords- yet for us there is one God, the
Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord,
Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have
become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food
they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak,
is defiled. 'Food will not bring us close to God.'* We are no worse off
if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this
liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak.
For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an
idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to
the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those
weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed.* But when you thus
sin against members of your family,* and wound their conscience when it
is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their
falling,* I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them* to
fall. ******************************************************************
Mark 6:13-29

They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and
cured them.
 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus'* name had become known. Some were*
saying, 'John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this
reason these powers are at work in him.' But others said, 'It is
Elijah.' And others said, 'It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of
old.' But when Herod heard of it, he said, 'John, whom I beheaded, has
been raised.'

 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put
him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because
Herod* had married her. For John had been telling Herod, 'It is not
lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' And Herodias had a grudge
against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared
John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected
him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed;* and yet he liked to
listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a
banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.
When his daughter Herodias* came in and danced, she pleased Herod and
his guests; and the king said to the girl, 'Ask me for whatever you
wish, and I will give it.' And he solemnly swore to her, 'Whatever you
ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.' She went out and said
to her mother, 'What should I ask for?' She replied, 'The head of John
the baptizer.' Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, 'I
want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.'
The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the
guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a
soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's* head. He went and
beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it
to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples
heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 119:97-120

Psalm 119:97-120

Oh, how I love your law!
   It is my meditation all day long. 
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
   for it is always with me. 
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
   for your decrees are my meditation. 
I understand more than the aged,
   for I keep your precepts. 
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
   in order to keep your word. 
I do not turn away from your ordinances,
   for you have taught me. 
How sweet are your words to my taste,
   sweeter than honey to my mouth! 
Through your precepts I get understanding;
   therefore I hate every false way. 


Your word is a lamp to my feet
   and a light to my path. 
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
   to observe your righteous ordinances. 
I am severely afflicted;
   give me life, O Lord, according to your word. 
Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,
   and teach me your ordinances. 
I hold my life in my hand continually,
   but I do not forget your law. 
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
   but I do not stray from your precepts. 
Your decrees are my heritage for ever;
   they are the joy of my heart. 
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
   for ever, to the end. 


I hate the double-minded,
   but I love your law. 
You are my hiding-place and my shield;
   I hope in your word. 
Go away from me, you evildoers,
   that I may keep the commandments of my God. 
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
   and let me not be put to shame in my hope. 
Hold me up, that I may be safe
   and have regard for your statutes continually. 
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes;
   for their cunning is in vain. 
All the wicked of the earth you count as dross;
   therefore I love your decrees. 
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
   and I am afraid of your judgements.
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 81, 82

Psalm 81

Sing aloud to God our strength;
   shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 
Raise a song, sound the tambourine,
   the sweet lyre with the harp. 
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
   at the full moon, on our festal day. 
For it is a statute for Israel,
   an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 
He made it a decree in Joseph,
   when he went out over* the land of Egypt. 


I hear a voice I had not known: 
'I relieved your* shoulder of the burden;
   your* hands were freed from the basket. 
In distress you called, and I rescued you;
   I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
   I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
          Selah 
Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
   O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 
There shall be no strange god among you;
   you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 
I am the Lord your God,
   who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
   Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 


'But my people did not listen to my voice;
   Israel would not submit to me. 
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
   to follow their own counsels. 
O that my people would listen to me,
   that Israel would walk in my ways! 
Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,
   and turn my hand against their foes. 
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
   and their doom would last for ever. 
I would feed you* with the finest of the wheat,
   and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.'


Psalm 82

God has taken his place in the divine council;
   in the midst of the gods he holds judgement: 
'How long will you judge unjustly
   and show partiality to the wicked?
          Selah 
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
   maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. 
Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.' 


They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
   they walk around in darkness;
   all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 


I say, 'You are gods,
   children of the Most High, all of you; 
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
   and fall like any prince.'* 


Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
   for all the nations belong to you!
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