Morning Prayer

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

1 Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who have been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found; they are blameless. 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Then another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” 9 Then another angel, a third, followed them, crying with a loud voice, “Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands, 10 they will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and they will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image and for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

24 The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure;    only the one who has little business can become wise. 25 How can one become wise who handles the plough,    and who glories in the shaft of a goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work,    and whose talk is about bulls? 26 He sets his heart on ploughing furrows,    and he is careful about fodder for the heifers. 27 So it is with every artisan and master artisan    who labours by night as well as by day; those who cut the signets of seals,    each is diligent in making a great variety; they set their heart on painting a lifelike image,    and they are careful to finish their work. 28 So it is with the smith, sitting by the anvil,    intent on his ironwork; the breath of the fire melts his flesh,    and he struggles with the heat of the furnace; the sound of the hammer deafens his ears,    and his eyes are on the pattern of the object. He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork,    and he is careful to complete its decoration. 29 So it is with is the potter sitting at his work    and turning the wheel with his feet; he is always deeply concerned over his products,    and he produces them in quantity. 30 He moulds the clay with his arm and makes it pliable with his feet; he sets his heart on finishing the glazing, and he takes care in firing the kiln. 31 All these rely on their hands,    and all are skilful in their own work. 32 Without them no city can be inhabited,    and wherever they live, they will not go hungry. Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people, 33    nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly. They do not sit in the judge’s seat,    nor do they understand the decisions of the courts; they cannot expound discipline or judgement,    and they are not found among the rulers. 34 But they maintain the fabric of the world, and their concern is for the exercise of their trade. 34 How different the one who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High!