The Daily Lectionary for Thursday, June 29, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Psalm 13; Micah 7:18-20; Galatians 5:2-6
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 13
Will you forget me forever?
Usquequo, Domine?

How long, O LORD?
    will you forget me for ever? *
  how long will you hide your face from me?

How long shall I have perplexity in my mind,
    and grief in my heart, day after day? *
  how long shall my enemy triumph over me?

Look upon me and answer me, O LORD my God; *
  give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” *
  and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.

But I put my trust in your mercy; *
  my heart is joyful because of your saving help.

I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt with me richly; *
  I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.

Heavenly Father, we worship You as our defender, guardian, and protector. You care for us in ways that make You the perfect example of true fatherhood. Sometimes we pray to You with groans that words cannot express, and You rise up to meet our needs with a perfect understanding. You lead us to safety and Your everlasting arms hold us securely. We find our rest in the palm of Your hand. We trust in all of Your promises, and we confess that You have never failed to keep Your word to us. Fill us now with Your Spirit and help us keep our word to You. We rejoice in You and in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who 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.”

Micah 7:18-20
God’s faithfulness to Jacob Abraham

Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
You will be faithful to Jacob,
    and show love to Abraham,
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors
    in days long ago.

Galatians 5:2-6
The nature of Christian freedom

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

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 Thursday, June 29, 2023
Psalm 13; Micah 7:18-20; Galatians 5:2-6