Monday, May 22, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Tuesday, May 23, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Psalm 99; Numbers 16:41-50; 1 Peter 4:7-11

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 99
Priests and people praise God
Dominus regnavit

The LORD is King;
    let the people tremble; *
  he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
    let the earth shake.


The LORD is great in Zion; *
  he is high above all peoples.


Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
  he is the Holy One.


“O mighty King, lover of justice,
    you have established equity; *
  you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”


Proclaim the greatness of the LORD our God
    and fall down before his footstool; *
  he is the Holy One.


Moses and Aaron among his priests,
    and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
  they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.


He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
  they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.


“O LORD our God, you answered them indeed; *
  you were a God who forgave them,
    yet punished them for their evil deeds.”


Proclaim the greatness of the LORD our God
    and worship him upon his holy hill; *
  for the LORD our God is the Holy One.


Father in heaven, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. On the first Palm Sunday, He declared that He was the long expected Messiah. But by the end of the week, the crowds who adored Him called for His crucifixion. However, You raised Him from the dead, and You proved that He did all things well according to Your will. Father, we adore You and love You for the great sacrifice You and Your Son made in our behalf, that You could extend mercy to us justly. Fill us now with Your Holy Spirit that we might be guided and empowered to live holy for You. And now we pray together as Jesus 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.”
Numbers 16:41-50
The high priest Aaron makes atonement

The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord said to Moses, “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

1 Peter 4:7-11
Be good stewards of grace

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

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 Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Psalm 99; Numbers 16:41-50; 1 Peter 4:7-11

The Morning Prayer for Tuesday, May 23, 2023

 

The Morning Prayer
Tuesday, May 23, 2023


They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:16-17, NIV


Dear God and Father of us all, sanctify us in your truth. Your Word is truth. We come before your presence and ask you to touch us with your Spirit, to shape our lives in the truth and in the joy of your name. Touch us with your Spirit, that we may carry out our tasks in your service. May your face shine on us and on all needy people who turn to you. May your power be given ever more fully, and may your cause become great in the world until at last it brings new life to all nations. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Tuesday, May 23, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
If we are serious about our Christian faith, we must take into consideration how our actions affect others. We cannot mature in our relationship with the Lord in isolation from others, and whenever we interact with others, we should have edifying them and glorifying God as our goal.