· 25 Louis, King of France, 1270 (also in the Philippines, alternative
commemoration for Charles Henry Brent)
· 28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 430. Moses
the Black, Desert Father and Martyr, c. 400 was an ascetic monk and priest
in Egypt in the
fourth century AD, and a notable Desert
Father.
· 29 John
Bunyan, Writer, 1688 was an English writer and baptist[1]
preacher best remembered as the author of the religious allegory The Pilgrim's Progress.
OLD TESTAMET: 1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10, 11) 22 - 30, 41 -
43 (RCL)
1Kin 8:1 (NRSV) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel
and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the
Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem,
to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David,
which is Zion.
6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the
LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place,
underneath the wings of the cherubim.
10 And when the priests came out of the holy place, a
cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to
minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of
the LORD.
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the
presence of all the assembly of Israel,
and spread out his hands to heaven. 23 He said, "O LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant
and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart,
24 the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared
to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your
hand. 25 Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father
David that which you promised him, saying, "There shall never fail you a
successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look
to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' 26 Therefore, O
God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant
my father David.
27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even
heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I
have built! 28 Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God,
heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29 that
your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you
said, "My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your
servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the plea of your servant and of your
people Israel
when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed
and forgive.
41 "Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your
people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name 42 --for they
shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched
arm--when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, 43 then hear in heaven
your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you,
so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do
your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked
on this house that I have built.
Joshua 24: 1 - 2a, 15 -
17, 18b (Roman Catholic)
Joshua 24: 1 - 2a, 14 -
18 (alt. for RCL)
Josh 24:1 (NRSV) Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel
to She'chem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers
of Israel; and
they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people,
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
14 "Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in
sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served
beyond the River and in Egypt,
and serve the LORD. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this
day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region
beyond the River or the gods of the Am'orites in whose land you are living; but
as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that
we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God
who brought us and our ancestors up from the land
of Egypt, out of the house of
slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all
the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and
the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Am'orites who lived in the
land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
PSALM 84 (RCL)
Psal 84:1 (NRSV) How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise. [Se'lah]
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley
of Ba'ca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! [Se'lah]
9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the LORD withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
84 Quam dilecta! (ECUSA
BCP)
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD
of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the
courts of
the
LORD;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living
God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her
young; *
by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell in your house!
*
they will always be praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength is
in you! *
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley
will find
it
a place of springs, *
for the early rains have covered it with
pools of water.
6 They will climb from height to height, *
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
7 Lord
God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defender, O God; *
and look upon the face of your Anointed.
9 For one day in your courts is better
than
a
thousand in my own room, *
and to stand at the threshold of the house
of my God
than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.
10 For the Lord
God is both sun and shield; *
he will give grace and glory;
11 No good thing will the Lord withhold *
from those who walk with integrity.
12 O Lord
of hosts, *
happy are they who put their trust in you!
Psalm 34: 15 - 22 (alt. for RCL)
Psalm 34: 1 - 2, 15 -
20 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Note:
Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the above.
34 Benedicam Domi (ECUSA
BCP)
15 The
eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, *
and his
ears are open to their cry.
16 The
face of the Lord is against those who do evil, *
to root
out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The
righteous cry, and the Lord hears them *
and
delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord
is near to the brokenhearted *
and will
save those whose spirits are crushed.
19 Many
are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the
Lord will deliver him out of them all.
20 He
will keep safe all his bones; *
not one
of them shall be broken.
21 Evil
shall slay the wicked, *
and those
who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The
Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none
will be punished who trust in him.
NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians 6: 10 - 20 (RCL)
Ephe 6:10
(NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put
on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh,
but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of
this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to
withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand
therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the
breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will
make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the
shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows
of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and
supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for
all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be
given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which
I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must
speak.
h/t Montreal
Anglican
Now the author tells them that they must learn to rely on that power: they are to equip themselves with “armour” (vv. 11, 13) provided by God, as they oppose not people (“blood and flesh”, v. 12) but the malevolent forces (“rulers ... authorities”) which control them. The metaphor of the soldier is from Isaiah; here he is girded with “truth” (v. 14) and integrity (“righteousness”); his “shoes” (v. 15) give him firmer footing for (paradoxically) proclaiming the “gospel of peace”. His faith will protect him against attack from the devil (“the evil one”, v. 16). He accepts “salvation” (v. 17). He has one offensive weapon, given to him by the Spirit, “the word of God”. Persistent prayer, prompted by the Spirit, is his aid in interceding for fellow Christians (“saints”, v. 18). In vv. 19-20, the author asks his readers to pray for him that he may be given a gift of the right words in telling of the “mystery”, God’s age-long purpose, now disclosed, to call both Jews and Gentiles to share in Christ’s saving action. Paul is (like) a prisoner awaiting trial (“in chains”) yet is able to tell the good news “boldly” and freely.
5:21-6:9 concerns conduct in the Christian household – in an ancient culture. The basic ideas are mutual respect with honesty and a considerate attitude towards others. The head of the household is subject to the same authority (Christ) as other members of the household.
Verse 10: “be strong”: In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul urges members of the church at Corinth: “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong”. [ CAB]
Verse 11: “wiles”: or stratagems – a combination of tactical shrewdness and ingenious deception.
Verse 11: “devil”: The word diabolos occurs only here and in the Pastoral Epistles in the New Testament. Paul usually uses satanas . [ JBC]
Verse 12: “rulers ...”: See also 1:21; 2:2; 3:10; Colossians 2:15; Romans 8:38; Revelation 12:7-9. [ CAB]
Verse 12: “blood and flesh”: mere mortal beings. [ NOAB] The REB has “human foes”.
Verse 12: “spiritual forces”: The REB has “superhuman forces”.
Verse 13: “whole armour of God”: This is God’s own armour. Isaiah 59:17 also uses a military metaphor: “He [ Yahweh] put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as in a mantle”. See also Isaiah 11:5. Another literary precedent is Wisdom of Solomon 5:17-20. [ JBC] Paul uses this metaphor in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. In Wisdom 5:20, Yahweh carries “stern wrath for a sword”. [ CAB]
Verse 17: “sword”: In Hosea 6:5, Yahweh says: “... I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light:. See also Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 1:16; Hebrews 4:12. Revelation 19:15 also identifies the sword with the word of God. [ CAB]
Verse 18: “keep alert”: Literally awake. This is part of early catechetical teaching (also found in 1 Corinthians 16:13, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 3:2; 16:15) which had its roots in the teaching of Jesus: in Mark 13:33, he advises: “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come”. See also Luke 21:36.
GOSPEL: John 6: 56 - 69 (RCL)
John 6: 60 - 69 (Roman Catholic)
John 6:56
(NRSV) Those who eat my flesh and drink
my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and
I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58
This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your
ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live
forever." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue
at Caper'naum.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said,
"This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61 But Jesus, being
aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does
this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to
where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there
are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the
ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he
said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless
it is granted by the Father."
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and
no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also
wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we
go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know
that you are the Holy One of God."
Many of his followers find “this teaching” (v. 60) “difficult”, i.e. offensive: eating flesh is repugnant; he offends Jewish belief by claiming to be “from heaven” (v. 58) and to give life (only God can do that). Jesus says (v. 62): if you can’t accept these things, seeing me ascend to heaven will really confound you. I speak spiritually, not literally (v. 63): “it is the spirit that gives life”, is the life-giving factor. Humanity, even Christ in human form, is “useless” without the spirit. Jesus’ words link life with spirit. Some, he says, do not believe, so the Eucharist is nonsense to them (v. 64). Belief in him is a gift from the Father (v. 65). This leads many to desert him (as later many left the Church, v. 66). Jesus offers the twelve the chance to leave him (v. 67). Peter replies on their behalf: we are on the way to knowing you, for we already believe in you; we know why you came (v. 69).
Verse 63: “gives life”: In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Paul writes: “it is written, ’he first man, Adam, became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit”. Recall John 3:6: “What is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit”. Only a person born of the spirit will be able to accept the truth of Jesus’ words. Recall 1:4: “in him [“the Word”, the Logos] was life, and the life was the light of all people”. The word is the principle of life. Here, in the context of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, words means not just what Jesus said at the Last Supper but all he said in expounding the meaning of his life and in evoking faith. [ BlkJn]
Verse 64: See 5:38; 6:37; 8:25, 46-47; 10:25-26.
Verse 65: Ephesians 2:8 says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”. [ NOAB] John the Baptizer speaks of the Father eliciting faith: “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven”. See also 6:37. [ BlkJn]
Verse 65: “I have told you”: i.e. in vv. 44ff.
Verse 66: “turned back”: The Greek phrase, apelthon eis ta opiso, occurs again in 18:6, where it is used of the soldiers who recoiled from Jesus when he presented himself to them in Gethsemane. The parallel is no doubt intentional: in both passages, the self revelation of the Christ repels unbelievers. [ BlkJn]
Verse 67: “the twelve”: John assumes that the reader already knows who “the twelve” are. BlkJn sees all except “the twelve” deserting Jesus. John gives little emphasis to the Twelve.
Verse 68: In the Synoptic gospels, Peter’s confession shows that the disciples have begun to perceive Jesus as Messiah; in John, Jesus is the Messiah from the start. Here Peter echos v. 63b.
Verse 69: “Holy”: Elsewhere in John, this word refers to Christ’s mission (“sanctified” in 10:36; 17:19; etc.). BlkJn notes that “the Holy One of God” is a messianic title.
Verses 70-71: Though Jesus had chosen the Twelve, his choice did not guarantee their faithfulness. [ BlkJn]
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