Sunday 8 June 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Sunday 8 June 2008  
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon
humankind: those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honour, so
that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable
them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity;
it is a grievous ill. A man may beget a hundred children, and live for
many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not
enjoy life's good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child
is better off than he. For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness,
and in darkness its name is covered; moreover, it has not seen the sun
or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he
should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good-do not all go
to one place?

 All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied. For
what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who
know how to conduct themselves before the living? Better is the sight of
the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing
after wind.*

 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what
human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who
are stronger. The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?
For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of
their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them
what will be after them under the sun?
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Acts 10:9-23

About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching
the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted
something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a
trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming
down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all
kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then
he heard a voice saying, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But Peter said,
'By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or
unclean.' The voice said to him again, a second time, 'What God has made
clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times, and the
thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.

 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision
that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were
asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate. They called out
to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. While
Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him,
'Look, three* men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go
with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.' So Peter went down
to the men and said, 'I am the one you are looking for; what is the
reason for your coming?' They answered, 'Cornelius, a centurion, an
upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish
nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his
house and to hear what you have to say.' So Peter* invited them in and
gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers*
from Joppa accompanied him.
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Luke 12:32-40

'Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make
purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
 'Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are
waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that
they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed
are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell
you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will
come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near
dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

 'But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the
thief was coming, he* would not have let his house be broken into. You
also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.'
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 24, 29

Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it,
   the world, and those who live in it; 
for he has founded it on the seas,
   and established it on the rivers. 


Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
   And who shall stand in his holy place? 
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
   who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
   and do not swear deceitfully. 
They will receive blessing from the Lord,
   and vindication from the God of their salvation. 
Such is the company of those who seek him,
   who seek the face of the God of Jacob.*
          Selah 


Lift up your heads, O gates!
   and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
   that the King of glory may come in. 
Who is the King of glory?
   The Lord, strong and mighty,
   the Lord, mighty in battle. 
Lift up your heads, O gates!
   and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
   that the King of glory may come in. 
Who is this King of glory?
   The Lord of hosts,
   he is the King of glory.
          Selah


Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,*
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
   worship the Lord in holy splendour. 


The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
   the God of glory thunders,
   the Lord, over mighty waters. 
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
   the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 


The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
   the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
   and Sirion like a young wild ox. 


The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
   the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 


The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,*
   and strips the forest bare;
   and in his temple all say, 'Glory!' 


The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
   the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever. 
May the Lord give strength to his people!
   May the Lord bless his people with peace!
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 8, 84

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Sovereign,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth! 


You have set your glory above the heavens. 
   Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
   to silence the enemy and the avenger. 


When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
   the moon and the stars that you have established; 
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
   mortals* that you care for them? 


Yet you have made them a little lower than God,*
   and crowned them with glory and honour. 
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
   you have put all things under their feet, 
all sheep and oxen,
   and also the beasts of the field, 
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
   whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 


O Lord, our Sovereign,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth!


Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,
   O Lord of hosts! 
My soul longs, indeed it faints
   for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
   to the living God. 


Even the sparrow finds a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
   my King and my God. 
Happy are those who live in your house,
   ever singing your praise.
          Selah 


Happy are those whose strength is in you,
   in whose heart are the highways to Zion.* 
As they go through the valley of Baca
   they make it a place of springs;
   the early rain also covers it with pools. 
They go from strength to strength;
   the God of gods will be seen in Zion. 


O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
   give ear, O God of Jacob!
          Selah 
Behold our shield, O God;
   look on the face of your anointed. 


For a day in your courts is better
   than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
   than live in the tents of wickedness. 
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
   he bestows favour and honour.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
   from those who walk uprightly. 
O Lord of hosts,
   happy is everyone who trusts in you.
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