Sunday 6 January 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Sunday 6 January 2008 - Epiphany
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Isaiah 49:1-7

Listen to me, O coastlands,
   pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
   while I was in my mother's womb he named me. 
2He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
   in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
   in his quiver he hid me away. 
3And he said to me, 'You are my servant,
   Israel, in whom I will be glorified.' 
4But I said, 'I have laboured in vain,
   I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
   and my reward with my God.' 


5And now the Lord says,
   who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
   and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord,
   and my God has become my strength- 
6he says,
'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
   to raise up the tribes of Jacob
   and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
   that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.' 


7Thus says the Lord,
   the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
   the slave of rulers,
'Kings shall see and stand up,
   princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
   the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.' 
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Revelations 21:22-27

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty
and the Lamb. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24The
nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring
their glory into it. 25Its gates will never be shut by day-and there
will be no night there. 26People will bring into it the glory and the
honour of the nations. 27But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone
who practises abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written
in the Lamb's book of life.
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Matthew 12:14-21

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy
him. 
God's Chosen Servant15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed.
Many crowds* followed him, and he cured all of them, 16and he ordered
them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfil what had been spoken
through the prophet Isaiah: 
18'Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
   my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
   and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 
19He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
   nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 
20He will not break a bruised reed
   or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory. 
21   And in his name the Gentiles will hope.'
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 46, 97

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
   a very present* help in trouble. 
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
   though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 
3though its waters roar and foam,
   though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
          Selah 


4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy habitation of the Most High. 
5God is in the midst of the city;* it shall not be moved;
   God will help it when the morning dawns. 
6The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
   he utters his voice, the earth melts. 
7The Lord of hosts is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our refuge.*
          Selah 


8Come, behold the works of the Lord;
   see what desolations he has brought on the earth. 
9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
   he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields with fire. 
10'Be still, and know that I am God!
   I am exalted among the nations,
   I am exalted in the earth.' 
11The Lord of hosts is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our refuge.*
          Selah


Psalm 97

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;
   let the many coastlands be glad! 
2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
   righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 
3Fire goes before him,
   and consumes his adversaries on every side. 
4His lightnings light up the world;
   the earth sees and trembles. 
5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
   before the Lord of all the earth. 


6The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
   and all the peoples behold his glory. 
7All worshippers of images are put to shame,
   those who make their boast in worthless idols;
   all gods bow down before him. 
8Zion hears and is glad,
   and the towns* of Judah rejoice,
   because of your judgements, O God. 
9For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
   you are exalted far above all gods. 


10The Lord loves those who hate* evil;
   he guards the lives of his faithful;
   he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. 
11Light dawns* for the righteous,
   and joy for the upright in heart. 
12Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
   and give thanks to his holy name!
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 96, 100

Psalm 96

O sing to the Lord a new song;
   sing to the Lord, all the earth. 
2Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
   tell of his salvation from day to day. 
3Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvellous works among all the peoples. 
4For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   he is to be revered above all gods. 
5For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
   but the Lord made the heavens. 
6Honour and majesty are before him;
   strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 


7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 
8Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts. 
9Worship the Lord in holy splendour;
   tremble before him, all the earth. 


10Say among the nations, 'The Lord is king!
   The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
   He will judge the peoples with equity.' 
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
   let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 
12   let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 
13   before the Lord; for he is coming,
   for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
   and the peoples with his truth.


Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. 
2   Worship the Lord with gladness;
   come into his presence with singing. 


3Know that the Lord is God.
   It is he that made us, and we are his;*
   we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 


4Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
   and his courts with praise.
   Give thanks to him, bless his name. 


5For the Lord is good;
   his steadfast love endures for ever,
   and his faithfulness to all generations.
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