Readings

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

    The Collect of the Day

    Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

    Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

    Psalms

    24

    Domini est terraBCP p. 613

    1The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, *the world and all who dwell therein.

    2For it is he who founded it upon the seas *and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.

    3“Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? *and who can stand in his holy place?”

    4“Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud.

    5They shall receive a blessing from the Lord *and a just reward from the God of their salvation.”

    6Such is the generation of those who seek him, *of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

    7Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; *and the King of glory shall come in.

    8“Who is this King of glory?” *“The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.”

    9Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; *and the King of glory shall come in.

    10“Who is he, this King of glory?” *“The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.”

    29

    Afferte DominoBCP p. 620

    1Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

    2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

    3The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; *the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

    4The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

    5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

    6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

    7The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

    8The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *and strips the forests bare.

    9And in the temple of the Lord *all are crying, “Glory!”

    10The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

    11The Lord shall give strength to his people; *the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

    Daily Office Readings

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    Gal. 5:13-25

    13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

    Mark 8:22-30

    22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ 24 And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’ 27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28 And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29 He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

    Gen. 18:16-33

    16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.” 22 So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.