Sunday 14 February 2010<!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ecclesiasticus 48:1-11<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his word burned like a torch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He brought a famine upon them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and by his zeal he made them few in number.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and also three times brought down fire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whose glory is equal to yours?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You raised a corpse from death</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and from Hades, by the word of the Most High.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You sent kings down to destruction,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and famous men, from their sickbeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You heard rebuke at Sinai</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and judgements of vengeance at Horeb.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You anointed kings to inflict retribution,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and prophets to succeed you.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in a chariot with horses of fire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to turn the hearts of parents to their children,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and to restore the tribes of Jacob.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those who saw you</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and were adorned* with your love!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For we also shall surely live.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">2 Corinthians 3:7-18</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Now if the ministry of death, chiselled in letters on stone tablets,* came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses’ face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory! Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory; for if what was set aside came through glory, much more has the permanent come in glory!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that* was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Luke 9:18-27</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Once when Jesus* was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah* of God.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 148, 149, 150</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 148</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord from the heavens;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him in the heights!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him, all his angels;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him, all his host!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him, sun and moon;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him, all you shining stars!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him, you highest heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and you waters above the heavens!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise the name of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for he commanded and they were created.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He established them for ever and ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord from the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you sea monsters and all deeps,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">fire and hail, snow and frost,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>stormy wind fulfilling his command!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mountains and all hills,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>fruit trees and all cedars!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wild animals and all cattle,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>creeping things and flying birds!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Kings of the earth and all peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>princes and all rulers of the earth!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Young men and women alike,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>old and young together!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise the name of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his name alone is exalted;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his glory is above earth and heaven.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has raised up a horn for his people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise for all his faithful,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the people of Israel who are close to him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 149</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing to the Lord a new song,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his praise in the assembly of the faithful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let Israel be glad in its Maker;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise his name with dancing,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he adorns the humble with victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the faithful exult in glory;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them sing for joy on their couches.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the high praises of God be in their throats</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and two-edged swords in their hands,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to execute vengeance on the nations</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and punishment on the peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to bind their kings with fetters</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their nobles with chains of iron,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to execute on them the judgement decreed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is glory for all his faithful ones.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 150</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise God in his sanctuary;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him in his mighty firmament!*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him for his mighty deeds;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him according to his surpassing greatness!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him with trumpet sound;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him with lute and harp!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him with tambourine and dance;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him with strings and pipe!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him with clanging cymbals;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him with loud clashing cymbals!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 114, 115</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 114</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When Israel went out from Egypt,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Judah became God’s* sanctuary,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Israel his dominion.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The sea looked and fled;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jordan turned back.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mountains skipped like rams,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the hills like lambs.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why is it, O sea, that you flee?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Jordan, that you turn back?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O mountains, that you skip like rams?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O hills, like lambs?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at the presence of the God of Jacob,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who turns the rock into a pool of water,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the flint into a spring of water.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 115</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why should the nations say,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Where is their God?’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Our God is in the heavens;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he does whatever he pleases.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their idols are silver and gold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the work of human hands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have mouths, but do not speak;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>eyes, but do not see.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have ears, but do not hear;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>noses, but do not smell.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have hands, but do not feel;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>feet, but do not walk;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they make no sound in their throats.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who make them are like them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so are all who trust in them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Israel, trust in the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will bless the house of Israel;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will bless the house of Aaron;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he will bless those who fear the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>both small and great.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May the Lord give you increase,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>both you and your children.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May you be blessed by the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who made heaven and earth.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but the earth he has given to human beings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The dead do not praise the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor do any that go down into silence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But we will bless the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from this time on and for evermore.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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