The Daily Lectionary for Wednesday, February 8, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Psalm 119:105-112; Proverbs 6:6-23; John 8:12-30
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 119:105-112
The law is light
Lucerna pedibus meis

Your word is a lantern to my feet
and a light upon my path.

I have sworn and am determined
to keep your righteous judgments.

I am deeply troubled;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips,
and teach me your judgments.

My life is always in my hand,
yet I do not forget your law.

The wicked have set a trap for me,
but I have not strayed from your commandments.

Your decrees are my inheritance for ever;
truly, they are the joy of my heart.

I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes
for ever and to the end.

O God, everyday we thank You for the Bible. Your word reveals Your compassion and understanding of our needs and problems, of our trials and temptation, of our afflictions and diseases. Your word offers us strength, healing, eternal life, and the assurance of your love and faithfulness forever. Help us draw closer to you as we pray each day in Jesus Name. Amen. Now hear our prayers as You taught us to pray:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

Proverbs 6:6-23
The law is a lamp

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
     consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
     no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
     and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
     When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
      a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
      and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A troublemaker and a villain,
      who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13    who winks maliciously with his eye,
      signals with his feet
      and motions with his fingers,
14    who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
      he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
      he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

16 There are six things the Lord hates,
      seven that are detestable to him:
17        haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
18        a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19        a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

20 My son, keep your father’s command
      and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
      fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
      when you sleep, they will watch over you;
      when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
      this teaching is a light,
   and correction and instruction
      are the way to life,

John 8:12-30
Christ the light of the world

8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Psalm 119:105-112; Proverbs 6:6-23; John 8:12-30