Tuesday 16 March 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">Genesis 49:29-50:14<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Then he charged them, saying to them, ‘I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my ancestors—in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave in the field at Machpelah, near Mamre, in the land of Canaan, in the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried; there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried; and there I buried Leah— the field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites.’ When Jacob ended his charge to his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Then Joseph threw himself on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded the physicians in his service to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel; they spent forty days in doing this, for that is the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him for seventy days.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph addressed the household of Pharaoh, ‘If now I have found favour with you, please speak to Pharaoh as follows: My father made me swear an oath; he said, “I am about to die. In the tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore let me go up, so that I may bury my father; then I will return.’ Pharaoh answered, ‘Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. Both chariots and charioteers went up with him. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they held there a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed a time of mourning for his father for seven days. When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning on the threshing-floor of Atad, they said, ‘This is a grievous mourning on the part of the Egyptians.’ Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;* it is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had instructed them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, the field near Mamre, which Abraham bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">1 Corinthians 11:17-34</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for* you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink* without discerning the body,* eat and drink judgement against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.* But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined* so that we may not be condemned along with the world.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So then, my brothers and sisters,* when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 8:1-10</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 97, 99</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 97</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the many coastlands be glad!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fire goes before him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and consumes his adversaries on every side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His lightnings light up the world;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the earth sees and trembles.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>before the Lord of all the earth.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The heavens proclaim his righteousness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the peoples behold his glory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All worshippers of images are put to shame,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who make their boast in worthless idols;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all gods bow down before him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Zion hears and is glad,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the towns* of Judah rejoice,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of your judgements, O God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you are exalted far above all gods.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord loves those who hate* evil;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he guards the lives of his faithful;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Light dawns* for the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and joy for the upright in heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and give thanks to his holy name!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 99</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is great in Zion;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is exalted over all the peoples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise your great and awesome name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Holy is he!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mighty King,* lover of justice,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have established equity;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you have executed justice</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and righteousness in Jacob.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Extol the Lord our God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>worship at his footstool.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Holy is he!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Moses and Aaron were among his priests,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Samuel also was among those who called on his name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they kept his decrees,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the statutes that he gave them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord our God, you answered them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you were a forgiving God to them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but an avenger of their wrongdoings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Extol the Lord our God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and worship at his holy mountain;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord our God is holy.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 94</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 94</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, you God of vengeance,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you God of vengeance, shine forth!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O judge of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give to the proud what they deserve!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, how long shall the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how long shall the wicked exult?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">They pour out their arrogant words;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the evildoers boast.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They crush your people, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and afflict your heritage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They kill the widow and the stranger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they murder the orphan,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and they say, ‘The Lord does not see;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of Jacob does not perceive.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Understand, O dullest of the people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>fools, when will you be wise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who planted the ear, does he not hear?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who formed the eye, does he not see?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who disciplines the nations,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he who teaches knowledge to humankind,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>does he not chastise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord knows our thoughts,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that they are but an empty breath.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and whom you teach out of your law,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">giving them respite from days of trouble,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>until a pit is dug for the wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord will not forsake his people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will not abandon his heritage;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for justice will return to the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the upright in heart will follow it.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Who rises up for me against the wicked?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who stands up for me against evildoers?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the Lord had not been my help,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I thought, ‘My foot is slipping’,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the cares of my heart are many,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your consolations cheer my soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can wicked rulers be allied with you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who contrive mischief by statute?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They band together against the life of the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and condemn the innocent to death.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the Lord has become my stronghold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my God the rock of my refuge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will repay them for their iniquity</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and wipe them out for their wickedness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord our God will wipe them out.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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