The Old Testament Lesson
The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Isaiah 54:1-17
Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the LORD. Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer. This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you. O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the prosperity of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. See it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for its purpose; I have also created the ravager to destroy. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, says the LORD.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Epistle Lesson
The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from Galatians 4:21-31
Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married." Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman." So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Holy Gospel Lesson
The Holy Gospel is written in Mark 8:11-26
Glory be to Thee, O Lord
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out-- beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." They said to one another, "It is because we have no bread." And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" And they said to him, "Seven." Then he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Can you see anything?" And the man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees, walking." Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."
Here ends the Gospel lesson for today.
Glory be to Thee ,O Christ!
Morning Psalms
Psalm 72 Deus, judicium
1 Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the King's son;
2 That he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice.
3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the little hills bring righteousness.
4 He shall defend the needy among the people; he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5 He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water the earth.
7 In his time shall the righteous flourish; there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
8 He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 His foes shall bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
11 All kings shall bow down before him, and all the nations do him service.
12 For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, and the oppressed who has no helper.
13 He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
14 He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
15 Long may he live! and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; may prayer be made for him always, and may they bless him all the day long.
16 May there be abundance of grain on the earth, growing thick even on the hilltops; may its fruit flourish like Lebanon, and its grain like grass upon the earth.
17 May his Name remain for ever and be established as long as the sun endures; may all the nations bless themselves in him and call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord GOD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous deeds!
19 And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! and may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen. Amen.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 119: Yodh Manus tuæ fecerunt me
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, because I trust in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, as you have promised to your servant.
77 Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; but I will meditate on your commandments.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me, and also those who know your decrees.
80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
Psalm 119: Kaph Defecit in salutare
81 My soul has longed for your salvation; I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, and I say, "When will you comfort me?"
83 I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, but I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How much longer must I wait? when will you give judgment against those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me; they do not keep your law.
86 All your commandments are true; help me, for they persecute me with lies.
87 They had almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88 In your loving-kindness, revive me, that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
Psalm 119: Lamedh In æternum, Domine
89 O LORD, your word is everlasting; it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; you established the earth, and it abides.
91 By your decree these continue to this day, for all things are your servants.
92 If my delight had not been in your law, I should have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your commandments, because by them you give me life.
94 I am yours; oh, that you would save me! for I study your commandments.
95 Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, I will apply my mind to your decrees.
96 I see that all things come to an end, but your commandment has no bounds.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
No comments:
Post a Comment