During the Lenten Season we will be posting some questions for reflection.

Gracious Lord, as you call us to yourself, you call us into companionship with all your people.  Turn our hearts and our affections toward one another in charity, and let our prayer answer your own, that we may all be one. Amen

St. Augustine’s Prayer Book

For Reflection

1)      How would you answer the query put to the early catechumens:

“How has your life been transformed by Christianity?”  Is this a more difficult question than the alternative:  “What do you believe?” Why or why not?

 

2)     Can you think of an instance where the practice of Christianity has helped you more fully understand a doctrine?

 

3)     How have you approached Lenten Disciplines and practice in the past?  Consider the words of Evelyn Underhill:  “ As to your Lent – no physical hardships beyond what normal life provides – but take each of these serenely and gratefully as you can and make of them your humble offerings to God.”  How could this advice shape your Lenten journey?

 

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, March-01-2015 Second Sunday in Lent

The Collect

Second Sunday in Lent
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from thy ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of thy Word, Jesus Christ thy Son; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

Genesis 22:1-14
¹ After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." ² He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." ³ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴ On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. ⁵ Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." ⁶ And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷ And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" ⁸ Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. ⁹ When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." ¹² He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." ¹³ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

Psalm

Psalm 16 16:5-11

5O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; *
     it is you who uphold my lot.
6My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
     indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; *
     my heart teaches me, night after night.
8I have set the LORD always before me; *
     because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
     my body also shall rest in hope.
10For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
     nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11You will show me the path of life; *
     in your presence there is fullness of joy,
     and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

New Testament Reading

Romans 8:31-39
³¹ What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; ³⁴ who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Reading

Mark 8:31-38
³¹ And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men." ³⁴ And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his life? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, August-31-2014 Proper 17

The Collect

Proper 17
Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Jeremiah 15:15-21
¹⁵ O LORD, thou knowest; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In thy forbearance take me not away; know that for thy sake I bear reproach. ¹⁶ Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts. ¹⁷ I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me, for thou hadst filled me with indignation. ¹⁸ Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Wilt thou be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. ²⁰ And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. ²¹ I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."

Psalm

Psalm 26

udica me, Domine
1Give judgment for me, O LORD,
     for I have lived with integrity; *
     I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
2Test me, O LORD, and try me; *
     examine my heart and my mind.
3For your love is before my eyes; *
     I have walked faithfully with you.
4I have not sat with the worthless, *
     nor do I consort with the deceitful.
5I have hated the company of evildoers; *
     I will not sit down with the wicked.
6I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, *
     that I may go in procession round your altar,
7Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *
     and recounting all your wonderful deeds.
8LORD, I love the house in which you dwell *
     and the place where your glory abides.
9Do not sweep me away with sinners, *
     nor my life with those who thirst for blood,
10Whose hands are full of evil plots, *
     and their right hand full of bribes.
11As for me, I will live with integrity; *
     redeem me, O LORD, and have pity on me.
12My foot stands on level ground; *
     in the full assembly I will bless the LORD.

- OR -

Psalm 26:1-8

1Give judgment for me, O LORD,
     for I have lived with integrity; *
     I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
2Test me, O LORD, and try me; *
     examine my heart and my mind.
3For your love is before my eyes; *
     I have walked faithfully with you.
4I have not sat with the worthless, *
     nor do I consort with the deceitful.
5I have hated the company of evildoers; *
     I will not sit down with the wicked.
6I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, *
     that I may go in procession round your altar,
7Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *
     and recounting all your wonderful deeds.
8LORD, I love the house in which you dwell *
     and the place where your glory abides.

New Testament Reading

Romans 12:1-8
¹ I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ³ For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 16:21-27
²¹ From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." ²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? ²⁷ For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, August-24-2014 Proper 16

The Collect

Proper 16
Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 51:1-6
¹ "Hearken to me, you who pursue deliverance, you who seek the LORD; look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were digged. ² Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him and made him many. ³ For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. ⁴ "Listen to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go forth from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. ⁵ My deliverance draws near speedily, my salvation has gone forth, and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. ⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be for ever, and my deliverance will never be ended.

Psalm

Psalm 138

Confitebor tibi
1I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; *
     before the gods I will sing your praise.
2I will bow down toward your holy temple
     and praise your Name, *
     because of your love and faithfulness;
3For you have glorified your Name *
     and your word above all things.
4When I called, you answered me; *
     you increased my strength within me.
5All the kings of the earth will praise you, O LORD, *
     when they have heard the words of your mouth.
6They will sing of the ways of the LORD, *
     that great is the glory of the LORD.
7Though the LORD be high, he cares for the lowly; *
     he perceives the haughty from afar.
8Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *
     you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
     your right hand shall save me.
9The LORD will make good his purpose for me; *
     O LORD, your love endures for ever;
     do not abandon the works of your hands.

New Testament Reading

Romans 11:33-36
³³ O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ³⁴ "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" ³⁵ "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" ³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 16:13-20
¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" ¹⁴ And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." ¹⁵ He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, August-17-2014 Proper 15

The Collect

Proper 15
Almighty God, who hast given thy only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavor ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 56:1(2-5)6-7
¹ Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. (² Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." ³ Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." ⁴ For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, ⁵ I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be cut off. )⁶ "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant-- ⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Psalm

Psalm 67

Deus misereatur
1May God be merciful to us and bless us, *
     show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
2Let your ways be known upon earth, *
     your saving health among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
     let all the peoples praise you.
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
     for you judge the peoples with equity
     and guide all the nations upon earth.
5Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
     let all the peoples praise you.
6The earth has brought forth her increase; *
     may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
7May God give us his blessing, *
     and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

New Testament Reading

Romans 11:13-15,29-32
¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴ in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? ²⁹ For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. ³² For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 15:21-28
²¹ And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²² And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." ²³ But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." ²⁴ He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." ²⁵ But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." ²⁶ And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." ²⁷ She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, August-10-2014 Proper 14

Change Bible Version (Current Version: RSV) (Psalms from the BCP)
Lectionary: 1979 | Collect & Preface: Traditional

The Collect

Proper 14
Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right, that we, who cannot exist without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Jonah 2:1-9
¹ Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, ² saying, "I called to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and thou didst hear my voice. ³ For thou didst cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood was round about me; all thy waves and thy billows passed over me. ⁴ Then I said, `I am cast out from thy presence; how shall I again look upon thy holy temple?' ⁵ The waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me; weeds were wrapped about my head ⁶ at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me for ever; yet thou didst bring up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God. ⁷ When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to thee, into thy holy temple. ⁸ Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their true loyalty. ⁹ But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to thee; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the LORD!"

Psalm

Psalm 29

Afferte Domino
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 splendour.
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.

New Testament Reading

Romans 9:1-5
¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race. ⁴ They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; ⁵ to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 14:22-33
²² Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴ but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. ²⁷ But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." ²⁸ And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." ²⁹ He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; ³⁰ but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, July-13-2014 Proper 10

The Collect

Proper 10
O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee, and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 55:1-5,10-13
¹"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. ²Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. ³Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you- The sure mercies of David. ⁴Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. ⁵Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the LORD your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you." ¹⁰" For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. ¹²" For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 65

Te decet hymnus
1You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
     to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
2To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
     because of their transgressions.
3Our sins are stronger than we are, *
     but you will blot them out.
4Happy are they whom you choose
     and draw to your courts to dwell there! *
     they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
     by the holiness of your temple.
5Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
     O God of our salvation,*
     O Hope of all the ends of the earth
     and of the seas that are far away.
6You make fast the mountains by your power; *
     they are girded about with might.
7You still the roaring of the seas, *
     the roaring of their waves,
     and the clamor of the peoples.
8Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your
     marvelous signs; *
     you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
9You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
     you make it very plenteous; *
     the river of God is full of water.
10You prepare the grain, *
     for so you provide for the earth.
11You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
     with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
12You crown the year with your goodness, *
     and your paths overflow with plenty.
13May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
     and the hills be clothed with joy.
14May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
     and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
     let them shout for joy and sing.

- OR -
Psalm 65:9-14

9You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
     you make it very plenteous; *
     the river of God is full of water.
10You prepare the grain, *
     for so you provide for the earth.
11You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
     with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
12You crown the year with your goodness, *
     and your paths overflow with plenty.
13May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
     and the hills be clothed with joy.
14May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
     and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
     let them shout for joy and sing.

New Testament Reading

Romans 8:9-17
⁹But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ¹²Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
¹On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. ²And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. ³Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. ⁶But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. ⁷And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. ⁸But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" ¹⁸"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ²⁰But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ²²Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." -- NK