It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Daily Prayer, Friday, November 22, 2013

Because of our God’s deep compassion,
the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)

Morning

Invitatory Psalm 118
Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel say it:
“ God’s faithful love lasts forever! ”
….

5 In tight circumstances, I cried out to the LORD .
The LORD answered me with wide-open spaces.
6 The LORD is for me —I won’t be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?
….

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me
so I can come in and give thanks to the LORD!
20 This is the LORD’s gate;
those who are righteous enter through it.
21 I thank you because you answered me,
because you were my saving help.
22 The stone rejected by the builders
is now the main foundation stone!
23 This has happened because of the LORD;
it is astounding in our sight!
24 This is the day the LORD acted;
we will rejoice and celebrate in it!

….
28 You are my God—I will give thanks to you!
You are my God—I will lift you up high!
29 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
[Common English Bible]

Psalm 131
Lord, my heart isn’t proud;
       my eyes aren’t conceited.
   I don’t get involved with things too great or wonderful for me.
2 No. But I have calmed and quieted myself
   like a weaned child on its mother;
   I’m like the weaned child that is with me.

3 Israel, wait for the Lord—
   from now until forever from now!
[Common English Bible]

Psalm 132
Lord, remember David—
   all the ways he suffered
2     and how he swore to the Lord,
       how he promised the strong one of Jacob:
3     “I won’t enter my house,
   won’t get into my bed.
4     I won’t let my eyes close,
   won’t let my eyelids sleep,
5         until I find a place for the Lord,
       a dwelling place for the strong one of Jacob.”

6 Yes, we heard about it in Ephrathah;
   we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 Let’s enter God’s dwelling place;
   let’s worship at the place God rests his feet!
8 Get up, Lord, go to your residence—
   you and your powerful covenant chest!
9 Let your priests be dressed in righteousness;
   let your faithful shout out with joy!
10 And for the sake of your servant David,
   do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore to David
   a true promise that God won’t take back:
       “I will put one of your own children on your throne.
12 And if your children keep my covenant
       and the laws that I will teach them,
   then their children too will rule on your throne forever.”
13 Because the Lord chose Zion;
   he wanted it for his home.
14 “This is my residence forever.
   I will live here because I wanted it for myself.
15 I will most certainly bless its food supply;
   I will fill its needy full of food!
16 I will dress its priests in salvation,
   and its faithful will shout out loud with joy!
17 It is there that I will make David’s strength thrive.
   I will prepare a lamp for my anointed one there.
18 I will dress his enemies in shame,
   but the crown he wears will shine.”
[Common English Bible]

Psalm 133
Look at how good and pleasing it is
   when families live together as one!
2 It is like expensive oil poured over the head,
   running down onto the beard—
       Aaron’s beard!—
   which extended over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew on Mount Hermon
   streaming down onto the mountains of Zion,
   because it is there that the Lord has commanded the blessing:
       everlasting life.
[Common English Bible]

Daily Lectionary Reading, Luke 1:68-79
68 “Bless the Lord God of Israel because he has come to help and has delivered his people. 69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house, 70 just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago. 71 He has brought salvation from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us. 72 He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered his holy covenant, 73 the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham. He has granted 74 that we would be rescued from the power of our enemies so that we could serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes, for as long as we live. 76 You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. 77 You will tell his people how to be saved through the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, 79 to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.” [Common English Bible]

Prayer for Today: Choose a prayer from Joan Stott's website Timeless Psalms.

Midday Psalm 119:169-176
Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word.
Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes.
My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right.

Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Evening
Psalm 137, 138, 139

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