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<DIV>The following are the readings for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
(Proper 12), July 30, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA),
Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship)
lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version
(NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E
lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day. Throughout Pentecost the
alternate RCL Psalm (119) would normally be used with the alternate RCL O. T.
reading. Note also that the Canadian RCL does not have the alternative
readings.</DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 29: 15 - 28 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gene 29:15 (NRSV) Then La'ban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman,
should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"
16 Now La'ban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of
the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and
beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for
your younger daughter Rachel." 19 La'ban said, "It is better that I give her to
you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me." 20 So Jacob
served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of
the love he had for her. </DIV>
<DIV>21 Then Jacob said to La'ban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for
my time is completed." 22 So La'ban gathered together all the people of the
place, and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and
brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 (La'ban gave his maid Zil'pah to
his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob
said to La'ban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for
Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 La'ban said, "This is not done in our
country--giving the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this
one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven
years." 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then La'ban gave him his
daughter Rachel as a wife. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1 Kings 3: 5 - 12 (alt. for RCL) </DIV>
<DIV>1 Kings 3: 5, 7 - 12 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Kin 3:5 (NRSV) At Gib'eon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by
night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have
shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he
walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart
toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have
given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have
made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little
child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the
midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they
cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding
mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can
govern this your great people?" </DIV>
<DIV>10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him,
"Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or
riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself
understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word.
Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before
you and no one like you shall arise after you. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PSALM 105: 1 - 11, 45b (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 105:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, </DIV>
<DIV>make known his deeds among the peoples. </DIV>
<DIV>2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; </DIV>
<DIV>tell of all his wonderful works. </DIV>
<DIV>3 Glory in his holy name; </DIV>
<DIV>let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. </DIV>
<DIV>4 Seek the LORD and his strength; </DIV>
<DIV>seek his presence continually. </DIV>
<DIV>5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, </DIV>
<DIV>his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, </DIV>
<DIV>6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, </DIV>
<DIV>children of Jacob, his chosen ones. </DIV>
<DIV>7 He is the LORD our God; </DIV>
<DIV>his judgments are in all the earth. </DIV>
<DIV>8 He is mindful of his covenant forever, </DIV>
<DIV>of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, </DIV>
<DIV>9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, </DIV>
<DIV>his sworn promise to Isaac, </DIV>
<DIV>10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, </DIV>
<DIV>to Israel as an everlasting covenant, </DIV>
<DIV>11 saying, "To you I will give the land of Ca'naan </DIV>
<DIV>as your portion for an inheritance." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 128 (alt. for above) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 128:1 (NRSV) Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, </DIV>
<DIV>who walks in his ways. </DIV>
<DIV>2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; </DIV>
<DIV>you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. </DIV>
<DIV>3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine </DIV>
<DIV>within your house; </DIV>
<DIV>your children will be like olive shoots </DIV>
<DIV>around your table. </DIV>
<DIV>4 Thus shall the man be blessed </DIV>
<DIV>who fears the LORD. </DIV>
<DIV>5 The LORD bless you from Zion. </DIV>
<DIV>May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem </DIV>
<DIV>all the days of your life. </DIV>
<DIV>6 May you see your children's children. </DIV>
<DIV>Peace be upon Israel! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 119: 129 - 136 (Alt. for RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 119:129 (NRSV) Your decrees are wonderful; </DIV>
<DIV>therefore my soul keeps them. </DIV>
<DIV>130 The unfolding of your words gives light; </DIV>
<DIV>it imparts understanding to the simple. </DIV>
<DIV>131 With open mouth I pant, </DIV>
<DIV>because I long for your commandments. </DIV>
<DIV>132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, </DIV>
<DIV>as is your custom toward those who love your name. </DIV>
<DIV>133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise, </DIV>
<DIV>and never let iniquity have dominion over me. </DIV>
<DIV>134 Redeem me from human oppression, </DIV>
<DIV>that I may keep your precepts. </DIV>
<DIV>135 Make your face shine upon your servant, </DIV>
<DIV>and teach me your statutes. </DIV>
<DIV>136 My eyes shed streams of tears </DIV>
<DIV>because your law is not kept. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76 - 77, 127 - 130 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 119:57 (NRSV) The LORD is my portion; </DIV>
<DIV>I promise to keep your words. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>72 The law of your mouth is better to me </DIV>
<DIV>than thousands of gold and silver pieces. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort </DIV>
<DIV>according to your promise to your servant. </DIV>
<DIV>77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; </DIV>
<DIV>for your law is my delight. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>127 Truly I love your commandments </DIV>
<DIV>more than gold, more than fine gold. </DIV>
<DIV>128 Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts; </DIV>
<DIV>I hate every false way. </DIV>
<DIV>129 Your decrees are wonderful; </DIV>
<DIV>therefore my soul keeps them. </DIV>
<DIV>130 The unfolding of your words gives light; </DIV>
<DIV>it imparts understanding to the simple. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 8: 26 - 39 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV>
Romans 8: 28 - 30 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Roma 8:26 (NRSV) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do
not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too
deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of
the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will
of God. </DIV>
<DIV>28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be
the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also
called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified
he also glorified. </DIV>
<DIV>31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is
against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of
us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any
charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is
Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword? 36 As it is written, </DIV>
<DIV>"For your sake we are being killed all day long; </DIV>
<DIV>we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." </DIV>
<DIV>37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
rulers, 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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 31 - 33, 44 - 52 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV>
Matthew 13: 44 - 46 (47 - 52) (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Matt 13:31 (NRSV) He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of
heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is
the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of
shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in
its branches." </DIV>
<DIV>33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that
a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was
leavened." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone
found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that
field. </DIV>
<DIV>45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine
pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had
and bought it. </DIV>
<DIV>47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea
and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat
down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at
the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the
righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. </DIV>
<DIV>51 "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." 52 And he said to
them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is
like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and
what is old." </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, VT
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>