Wednesday 14 May 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 14 May 2008  
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Ezekiel 34:1-16

The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds
of Israel: prophesy, and say to them-to the shepherds: Thus says the
Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!
Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe
yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not
feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed
the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back
the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness
you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no
shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. My
sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every
high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with
no one to search or seek for them.

 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says
the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have
become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and
because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds
have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you
shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, I am
against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put
a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed
themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may
not be food for them.
 For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will
seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among
their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them
from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds
and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather
them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I
will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in
all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture,
and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they
shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture
on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost,
and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I
will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I
will feed them with justice.
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1 John 2:12-17

I am writing to you, little children,
   because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. 
I am writing to you, fathers,
   because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
   because you have conquered the evil one. 
I write to you, children,
   because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
   because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
   because you are strong
   and the word of God abides in you,
     and you have overcome the evil one.

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the
Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the
world-the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in
riches-comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and
its desire* are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for
ever.
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Matthew 10:5-15

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: 'Go nowhere
among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good
news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near."* Cure the sick, raise the
dead, cleanse the lepers,* cast out demons. You received without
payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in
your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a
staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you
enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As
you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace
come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If
anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust
from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it
will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of
judgement than for that town.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 119:145-176

Psalm 119:145-176

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord.
   I will keep your statutes. 
I cry to you; save me,
   that I may observe your decrees. 
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
   I put my hope in your words. 
My eyes are awake before each watch of the night,
   that I may meditate on your promise. 
In your steadfast love hear my voice;
   O Lord, in your justice preserve my life. 
Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near;
   they are far from your law. 
Yet you are near, O Lord,
   and all your commandments are true. 
Long ago I learned from your decrees
   that you have established them for ever. 


Look on my misery and rescue me,
   for I do not forget your law. 
Plead my cause and redeem me;
   give me life according to your promise. 
Salvation is far from the wicked,
   for they do not seek your statutes. 
Great is your mercy, O Lord;
   give me life according to your justice. 
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
   yet I do not swerve from your decrees. 
I look at the faithless with disgust,
   because they do not keep your commands. 
Consider how I love your precepts;
   preserve my life according to your steadfast love. 
The sum of your word is truth;
   and every one of your righteous ordinances endures for ever. 


Princes persecute me without cause,
   but my heart stands in awe of your words. 
I rejoice at your word
   like one who finds great spoil. 
I hate and abhor falsehood,
   but I love your law. 
Seven times a day I praise you
   for your righteous ordinances. 
Great peace have those who love your law;
   nothing can make them stumble. 
I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
   and I fulfil your commandments. 
My soul keeps your decrees;
   I love them exceedingly. 
I keep your precepts and decrees,
   for all my ways are before you. 


Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
   give me understanding according to your word. 
Let my supplication come before you;
   deliver me according to your promise. 
My lips will pour forth praise,
   because you teach me your statutes. 
My tongue will sing of your promise,
   for all your commandments are right. 
Let your hand be ready to help me,
   for I have chosen your precepts. 
I long for your salvation, O Lord,
   and your law is my delight. 
Let me live that I may praise you,
   and let your ordinances help me. 
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant,
   for I do not forget your commandments.
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 128, 129, 130

Psalm 128

Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
   who walks in his ways. 
You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands;
   you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. 


Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
   within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
   around your table. 
Thus shall the man be blessed
   who fears the Lord. 


The Lord bless you from Zion.
   May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
   all the days of your life. 
May you see your children's children.
   Peace be upon Israel!


Psalm 129

'Often have they attacked me from my youth'
   -let Israel now say- 
'often have they attacked me from my youth,
   yet they have not prevailed against me. 
Those who plough ploughed on my back;
   they made their furrows long.' 
The Lord is righteous;
   he has cut the cords of the wicked. 
May all who hate Zion
   be put to shame and turned back. 
Let them be like the grass on the housetops
   that withers before it grows up, 
with which reapers do not fill their hands
   or binders of sheaves their arms, 
while those who pass by do not say,
   'The blessing of the Lord be upon you!
   We bless you in the name of the Lord!'


Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. 
   Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my supplications! 


If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
   Lord, who could stand? 
But there is forgiveness with you,
   so that you may be revered. 


I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope; 
my soul waits for the Lord
   more than those who watch for the morning,
   more than those who watch for the morning. 


O Israel, hope in the Lord!
   For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
   and with him is great power to redeem. 
It is he who will redeem Israel
   from all its iniquities.
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