Barnabas, Apostle

Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

1 Praise the Lord!

How joyful are those who fear the Lord

    and delight in obeying his commands.

2 Their children will be successful everywhere;

    an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

3 They themselves will be wealthy,

    and their good deeds will last forever.

4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.

    They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

5 Good comes to those who lend money generously

    and conduct their business fairly.

6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.

    Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

7 They do not fear bad news;

    they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

8 They are confident and fearless

    and can face their foes triumphantly.

9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.

    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.

    They will have influence and honor.

Psalm 112 – New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18 – Galatians 5:1-15 – Matthew 16:1-12

Ephrem Of Edessa

We pray you, O Lord, pour into our hearts your Holy Spirit, by whose inspiration the deacon Ephrem loved to sing your mysteries with single minded devotion to your  service; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

    with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

    the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands;

    let the hills sing for joy together

9 before the Lord, for he comes

    to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

    and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 8:14-9:10 – Galatians 4:21-31 – Matthew 15:29-39

Columba

O God, who by the preaching of your blessed servant Columba caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;

    let the many coastlands be glad!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;

    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,

    who make their boast in worthless idols;

    worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,

    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,

    because of your judgments, O Lord.

9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;

    you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!

    He preserves the lives of his saints;

    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous,

    and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,

    and give thanks to his holy name!

Psalm 97 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 – Galatians 4:12-20 – Matthew 15:21-28

William Alfred Passavant

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you call us to care for those whom the world would forget, the ill, the orphaned, the homeless, the aged: We pray that by the gifts and graces bestowed upon your servant William Passavant and by the example of his perseverance and service we may be encouraged to bring the comfort and joy of the gospel to those who have no one to care for them; through your son Jesus Christ our Lord, who rives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

(Philip H. Pfatteicher)

12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;

    forget not the afflicted.

13 Why does the wicked renounce God

    and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?

14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,

    that you may take it into your hands;

to you the helpless commits himself;

    you have been the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;

    call his wickedness to account till you find none.

16 The Lord is king forever and ever;

    the nations perish from his land.

17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;

    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

    so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Psalm 10 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Jeremiah 31:27-34 – Ephesians 5:1-20 – Matthew 9:9-17

Boniface

Almighty God, who called your faithful servant Boniface to be a witness and martyr in the lands of Germany and Friesland, and by his labor and suffering raised up a people for your own possession:  Pour forth your Holy Spirit upon your Church in every land, that by the service and sacrifice of many your holy Name may be glorified and your kingdom enlarged; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

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)

Zechariah 4:1-14 – Ephesians 4:17-32 – Matthew 9:1-8

John XXIII, Renewer of the Church

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 for ever. 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! Selah

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.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;

    give ear, O God of Jacob!

Psalm 84 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 4:2-6 – Ephesians 4:1-16 – Matthew 8:28-34

Blandina and Her Companions

Grant, O Lord, we pray, that we who keep the feast of the holy martyrs Blandina and her companions may be rooted and grounded in love of you, and may endure the sufferings of this life for the glory that shall be revealed in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

    He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

    he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.

    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalm 34 –New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Joshua 1:1-9  – Ephesians 3:1-13 – Matthew 8:5-17