Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Wednesday, July 26, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Psalm 139:13-18; Genesis 35:16-29; Matthew 12:15-21
(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 139:13-18
Wonderful are God’s works
Domine, probasti

For you yourself created my inmost parts; *
  you knit me together in my mother’s womb.


I will thank you because I am marvelously made; *
  your works are wonderful, and I know it well.


My body was not hidden from you, *
  while I was being made in secret
    and woven in the depths of the earth.


Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
    all of them were written in your book; *
  they were fashioned day by day,
    when as yet there was none of them.


How deep I find your thoughts, O God! *
  how great is the sum of them!


If I were to count them, they would be more in number
    than the sand; *
  to count them all, my life span would need to
    be like yours.


Heavenly Father, You created us and watch over us as a loving parent cares for a child. Help us to always walk in Your ways and praise Your name as we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray in the power of Your Spirit,
“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.”
Genesis 35:16-29
Benjamin is born; Rachel Isaac die

Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.

Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.

Jacob had twelve sons:

The sons of Leah:
Reuben the firstborn of Jacob,

Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.
The sons of Rachel:
Joseph and Benjamin.
The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah:
Dan and Naphtali.
The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah:
Gad and Asher.
These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Matthew 12:15-21
God’s chosen servant

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
    In his name the nations will put their hope.”
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, July 26, 2023
Psalm 139:13-18; Genesis 35:16-29; Matthew 12:15-21

The Morning Prayer for Wednesday, July 26, 2023

 

The Morning Prayer
Wednesday, July 26, 2023


In the Psalter, the psalmist wrote, "Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you."

Lord God, we thank you for your Word, the greatest and most glorious of all that comes to our human life. Every day we want to find more joy in your help, in what you are doing for us. Again and again, we feel and rejoice in the new help, new strength, and new courage for life given by your Word. We seek and seek to find Jesus Christ, the eternal Life. He will surely come to establish your kingdom. Praise to your name, eternal, glorious, almighty God! Be with us poor, lowly people. Strengthen us in spirit, and enable us to persevere until everything is fulfilled that is promised by your Word. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Wednesday, July 26, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Wednesday, July 26, 2023


Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is confidence that the Lord will do what He has promised. It is not simply wishful thinking. It is the absolute conviction that God is not only willing, but also able, to accomplish all He has pledged to us, regardless of how our circumstances may appear or what obstacles may have to be overcome. As the saints of old learned, your confidence in Him is never in vain, for “He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).

Read all of Hebrews Chapter 11

Listen to Hebrews Chapter 11


Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.