Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, February-09-2014 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

The Collect

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us, we beseech thee, the liberty of that abundant life which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Epiphany, or of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Habakkuk 3:1-6,17-19
¹ A prayer of Habak'kuk the prophet, according to Shigion'oth. ² O LORD, I have heard the report of thee, and thy work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years renew it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. ³ God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. Selah ⁴ His brightness was like the light, rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power. ⁵ Before him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind. ⁶ He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills sank low. His ways were as of old. ¹⁷ Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like hinds' feet, he makes me tread upon my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

Psalm

Psalm 27

Dominus illuminatio
1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
     whom then shall I fear? *
     the LORD is the strength of my life;
     of whom then shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
     it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who
     stumbled and fell.
3Though an army should encamp against me, *
     yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4And though war should rise up against me, *
     yet will I put my trust in him.
5One thing have I asked of the LORD;
     one thing I seek; *
     that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
     of my life;
6To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
     and to seek him in his temple.
7For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
     in his shelter; *
     he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
     and set me high upon a rock.
8Even now he lifts up my head *
     above my enemies round about me.
9Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
     with sounds of great gladness; *
     I will sing and make music to the LORD.
10Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *
     have mercy on me and answer me.
11You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *
     Your face, LORD, will I seek.
12Hide not your face from me, *
     nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
13You have been my helper;
     cast me not away; *
     do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
14Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
     the LORD will sustain me.
15Show me your way, O LORD; *
     lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
16Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
     for false witnesses have risen up against me,
     and also those who speak malice.
17What if I had not believed
     that I should see the goodness of the LORD *
     in the land of the living!
18O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure;
     be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
     wait patiently for the LORD

- OR -

Psalm 27:1-7

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
     whom then shall I fear? *
     the LORD is the strength of my life;
     of whom then shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
     it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who
     stumbled and fell.
3Though an army should encamp against me, *
     yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4And though war should rise up against me, *
     yet will I put my trust in him.
5One thing have I asked of the LORD;
     one thing I seek; *
     that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
     of my life;
6To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
     and to seek him in his temple.
7For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
     in his shelter; *
     he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
     and set me high upon a rock.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 2:1-11
¹ When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling; ⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ⁶ Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. ⁷ But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," ¹⁰ God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 5:13-20
¹³ "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. ¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ¹⁷ "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. ¹⁸ For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.