Morning Prayer

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

17 My child, perform your tasks with humility;    then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. 18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;    so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord. 20 For great is the might of the Lord;    but by the humble he is glorified. 21 Neither seek what is too difficult for you,    nor investigate what is beyond your power. 22 Reflect upon what you have been commanded,    for what is hidden is not your concern. 23 Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you,    for more than you can understand has been shown to you. 24 For their conceit has led many astray, and wrong opinion has impaired their judgement. 25 Without eyes there is no light;    without knowledge there is no wisdom. 26 A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,    and whoever loves danger will perish in it. 27 A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,    and the sinner adds sin to sins. 28 When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,    for an evil plant has taken root in him. 29 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise. 30 As water extinguishes a blazing fire,    so almsgiving atones for sin. 31 Those who repay favours give thought to the future; when they fall they will find support.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

17 Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” 21 They replied, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” 23 After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. 25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, 26 ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’ 28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.