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EIGHTH
SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, PROPER 8
ISAIAH 49:8-16A
PSALM
131
1
CORINTHIANS 4:1-5
MATTHEW
6:24-34
COLLECT
Almighty God,
grant us the Spirit to think and do always
those things that are right,
that we who can do nothing good without you,
may live according to your holy will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
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A
READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
Thus says the Lord: In a time of favour I have answered you, on a
day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you
as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion
the desolate heritages; saying to the prisoners, "Come
out," to those who are in darkness, "Show
yourselves." They shall feed along the ways, on all the bare
heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for he who
has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will
guide them. And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my
highways shall be raised up. Lo, these shall come from far away,
and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the
land of Syene. Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break
forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his
people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. But Zion
said, "The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten
me." Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no
compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I
will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my
hands.
ISAIAH 49:8-16A
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PSALM
REFRAIN I still my soul and keep it quiet, like a child upon its
mother's breast.
O
Lord, I am not proud; I have no haughty looks.
I
do not occupy myself with great matters, or with things that are
too hard for me. R
But
I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother's
breast; my soul is quieted within me. R
O
Israel, wait upon the Lord, from this time forth for evermore.
PSALM 131
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A
READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of
God's mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be
found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I
should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge
myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not
thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not
pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who
will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will
disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive
commendation from God.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5
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THE
HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will
either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one
and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Therefore
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is
not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at
the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of
more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single
hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil
nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the
field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,
will he not much more clothe you, - you of little faith? Therefore
do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?'
or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all
these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need
all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of
its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
MATTHEW 6:24-34
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PRAYER
OVER THE GIFTS
Merciful God,
your word inspires us to bring an offering of our love.
May we always be ready to work according to your will.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.
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PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION
Faithful God,
as we are nourished by heavenly food,
may we live according to your will
and show the fruits of your love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
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