Wednesday 4 June 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 4 June 2008  
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven: 
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; 
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
 What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business
that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything
suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future
into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the
beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than
to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is
God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their
toil. I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be
added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all
should stand in awe before him. That which is, already has been; that
which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.*
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Galatians 2:11-21

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he
stood self-condemned; for until certain people came from James, he used
to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept
himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction. And the other
Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray
by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not acting
consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them
all, 'If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how
can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?'*
 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know
that a person is justified* not by the works of the law but through
faith in Jesus Christ.* And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so
that we might be justified by faith in Christ,* and not by doing the
works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the
law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have
been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly
not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then
I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to
the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;
and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And
the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,* who
loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for
if justification* comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
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Matthew 14:1-12

At that time Herod the ruler* heard reports about Jesus; and he said to
his servants, 'This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the
dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.' For Herod
had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of
Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,* because John had been telling him,
'It is not lawful for you to have her.' Though Herod* wanted to put him
to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.
But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before
the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to
grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said,
'Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.' The king was
grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he
commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it
to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then
they went and told Jesus.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 119:49-72

Psalm 119:49-72

Remember your word to your servant,
   in which you have made me hope. 
This is my comfort in my distress,
   that your promise gives me life. 
The arrogant utterly deride me,
   but I do not turn away from your law. 
When I think of your ordinances from of old,
   I take comfort, O Lord. 
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
   those who forsake your law. 
Your statutes have been my songs
   wherever I make my home. 
I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
   and keep your law. 
This blessing has fallen to me,
   for I have kept your precepts. 


The Lord is my portion;
   I promise to keep your words. 
I implore your favour with all my heart;
   be gracious to me according to your promise. 
When I think of your ways,
   I turn my feet to your decrees; 
I hurry and do not delay
   to keep your commandments. 
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
   I do not forget your law. 
At midnight I rise to praise you,
   because of your righteous ordinances. 
I am a companion of all who fear you,
   of those who keep your precepts. 
The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
   teach me your statutes. 


You have dealt well with your servant,
   O Lord, according to your word. 
Teach me good judgement and knowledge,
   for I believe in your commandments. 
Before I was humbled I went astray,
   but now I keep your word. 
You are good and do good;
   teach me your statutes. 
The arrogant smear me with lies,
   but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. 
Their hearts are fat and gross,
   but I delight in your law. 
It is good for me that I was humbled,
   so that I might learn your statutes. 
The law of your mouth is better to me
   than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 49

Psalm 49

Hear this, all you peoples;
   give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 
both low and high,
   rich and poor together. 
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
   the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
   I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp. 


Why should I fear in times of trouble,
   when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 
those who trust in their wealth
   and boast of the abundance of their riches? 
Truly, no ransom avails for one's life,*
   there is no price one can give to God for it. 
For the ransom of life is costly,
   and can never suffice, 
that one should live on for ever
   and never see the grave.* 


When we look at the wise, they die;
   fool and dolt perish together
   and leave their wealth to others. 
Their graves* are their homes for ever,
   their dwelling-places to all generations,
   though they named lands their own. 
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
   they are like the animals that perish. 


Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
   the end of those* who are pleased with their lot.
          Selah 
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
   Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,*
   and their form shall waste away;
   Sheol shall be their home.* 
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
   for he will receive me.
          Selah 


Do not be afraid when some become rich,
   when the wealth of their houses increases. 
For when they die they will carry nothing away;
   their wealth will not go down after them. 
Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
   -for you are praised when you do well for yourself- 
they* will go to the company of their ancestors,
   who will never again see the light. 
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
   they are like the animals that perish.
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