O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth: Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2 O God, hear my prayer;

    give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers have risen against me;
    ruthless men seek my life;
    they do not set God before themselves. Selah
 4 Behold, God is my helper;
    the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
    in your faithfulness put an end to them.
 6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
    I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Psalm 54 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

 (click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Proverbs 15:16-33 - 1 Timothy 1:18-2:15 - Matthew 12:33-42

O God,

the strength of all who hope in you, accept our earnest prayer. And since without you we are weak and certain to fall, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you in desire and in deed. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen.

1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—

     let Israel now say—

2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

     yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back;

    they made long their furrows.”

4 The Lord is righteous;

    he has cut the cords of the wicked.

5 May all who hate Zion

    be put to shame and turned backward!

6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops,

    which withers before it grows up,

Psalm 19 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 23:19-24:2  - 1 Timothy 5:17-22 - Matthew 13:31-35

Seattle, Chief of the Duwamish Confederacy

Almighty God, who in giving us dominion over things on earth Have made us fellow workers in your creation: Grant us such wisdom and reverence toward you that, following the counsel and example of your servant Noah Seattle, we may so use the resources of nature that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

   the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

   the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

   the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;

   sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

     in keeping them there is great reward.

12  Who can discern his errors?

     Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

    let them not have dominion over me!

    Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Psalm 19 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 21:30-22:6  - 1 Timothy 4:1-16 - Matthew 13:24-30

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(BCP, LBW)

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I take counsel in my soul

    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

   How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3  Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;

     light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord,

    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 17:1-20  - 1 Timothy 3:1-16 - Matthew 12:43-50

Boniface

Eternal God, the refuge and help of all your children, we praise you for all you have given us, for all you have done for us, for all that you are to us. In our weakness, you are our strength, in our darkness, you are light, in our sorrow you are comfort and peace. We cannot number your blessings, we cannot declare your love: For all your blessings we bless you. May we live as in your presence, and love the things that you love, and serve you in our daily lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz)

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

     for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

2 Why should the nations say,

     “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in the heavens;

     he does all that he pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold,

     the work of human hands.

5 They have mouths, but do not speak;

    eyes, but do not see.

6 They have ears, but do not hear;

    noses, but do not smell.

7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk;

    and they do not make a sound in their throat.

8 Those who make them become like them;

    so do all who trust in them.

Psalm 115 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 15:16-33  - 1 Timothy 1:18-2:15 - Matthew 12:22-32

John XXIII (Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli)

Lord of all truth and peace, you raised up your bishop John to be servant of the servants of God and gave him wisdom to call for the work of renewing your Church: Grant that, following his example, we may reach out to other Christians to clasp them with the love of your Son, and labor throughout the nations of the world to kindle a desire for justice and peace; through Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

    O Lord of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord;

   my heart and 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  Blessed are those who dwell in your house,

    ever singing your praise!

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

     in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;  

   the early rain also covers it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength;

    each one appears before God in Zion.

Psalm 84 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 10:1-12 - 1 Timothy 1:1-17 - Matthew 12:22-32

Justin Martyr

Almighty and everlasting God, who found your martyr Justin wandering from teacher to teacher, seeking the true God, and revealed to him the sublime wisdom of your eternal Word: Grant that all who seek you, or a deeper knowledge of you, may find and be found by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

    you hold my lot.

6  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

    in the night also my heart instructs me.

8  I have set the Lord always before me;

    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

    my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

     or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

    in your presence there is fullness of joy;

    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Ezekiel 39:21-29 - 1 John 3:1-10 - Matthew 10:24-33