God of hosts, from whom every good gift proceeds, implant in our hearts the love of your name. Nurture within us whatever is good by binding us more closely to you, and in your watchful care tend the good fruit you have nurtured. 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 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,

    and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
    to you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
    you atone for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
    to dwell in your courts!
   We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple!
 5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
    O God of our salvation,
    the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
    being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth
   are in awe at your signs.
   You make the going out of the morning
   and the evening to shout for joy.

Psalm 65 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

 (click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Isaiah 49:1-12 - Galatians 2:11-21 - Mark 6:13-29

Almighty God, from whom every good gift proceeds, grant that by your inspiration we may discern those things that are right and, by your merciful guidance, do them. 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 O God, save me by your name,

    and vindicate me by your might.

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.

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 – New English Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 48:12-21 – Galatians 1:18-2:10 - Mark 6:1-13

Thomas Aquinas

Almighty God, you have enriched your Church with the singular learning and holiness of your servant Thomas Aquinas: Enlighten us more and more, we pray, by the disciplined thinking and teaching of Christian scholars, and deepen our devotion by the example of saintly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

97 Oh how I love your law!

    It is my meditation all the day.

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

    for it is ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,

    for your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the aged,

    for I keep your precepts.

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,

    in order to keep your word.

102 I do not turn aside from your rules,

    for you have taught me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts I get understanding;

    therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119 – New English Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 48:1-11 – Galatians 1:1-17 - Mark 5:21-43

The Conversion of the Apostle Paul

O God, who by the preaching of your apostle Paul have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations!

   Applaud him, all you foreigners!

2 For his loyal love towers over us,

   and the Lord’s faithfulness endures.

   Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 – New English Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 45:18-25 – Ephesians 6:1-9 - Mark 4:35-41

Francis de Sales

O God, you gave your blessed bishop Francis de Sales the spirit of compassion to befriend all on the way to salvation. By his example, lead us to show your gentle love in the service of our fellow men. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

9 Does the one who makes the human ear not hear?

   Does the one who forms the human eye not see?

10 Does the one who disciplines the nations not punish?

    He is the one who imparts knowledge to human beings!

11 The Lord knows that

     peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt.

12 How blessed is the one whom you instruct, O Lord,

     the one whom you teach from your law,

13 in order to protect him from times of trouble,

    until the wicked are destroyed.

14 Certainly the Lord does not forsake his people;

     he does not abandon the nation that belongs to him.

15 For justice will prevail,

    and all the morally upright will be vindicated.

Psalm 94 – New English Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 45:5-17 – Ephesians 5:15-33 - Mark 4:21-34

Phillips Brooks

O everlasting God, who revealed truth to your servant Phillips Brooks, and so formed and molded his mind and heart that he was able to mediate that truth with grace and power: Grant, we pray, that all those whom you call to preach the Gospel may steep themselves in your word, and conform their lives to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen(From Lesser Feasts and Fasts)

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!

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 dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

    the Lord bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold

    from those who walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Psalm 84 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 44:24-45:7 – Ephesians 5:1-14 - Mark 4:1-20

Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon and Martyr (ca 304)

Eternal Father, You gave your deacon Vincent the courage to endure torture and death for the Gospel: fill us with Your Spirit and strengthen us in Your love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen(From Lesser Feasts and Fasts)

12 What shall I render to the Lord

    for all his benefits to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation

    and call on the name of the Lord,

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord

    is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, I am your servant;

    I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.

    You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

    and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,

    in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Psalm 116 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 44:9-20 – Ephesians 4:17-32 - Mark 3:19-35