O Almighty God, who have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those indescribable joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.
Ecclesiasticus 44:1-10,13-14 Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
our ancestors in their generations.
The Lord apportioned to them great glory,
his majesty from the beginning.
There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
and made a name for themselves by their valor;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
those who led the people by their counsels
and by their knowledge of the people's lore;
they were wise in their words of instruction;
those who composed musical tunes,
or put verses in writing;
rich men endowed with resources,
living peacefully in their homes--
all these were honored in their generations,
and were the pride of their times.
Some of them have left behind a name,
so that others declare their praise.
But of others there is no memory;
they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
they and their children after them.
But these also were godly men,
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
Their offspring will continue forever,
and their glory will never be blotted out.
Their bodies are buried in peace,
but their name lives on generation after generation.
Revelation 7:2-4,9-17
I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea,saying, "Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel.
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,singing,
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.
"Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
1
Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2
Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3
Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6
Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7
To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8
To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9
To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Ecclesiasticus 2:(1-6)7-11
[My child, when you come to serve the Lord,
prepare yourself for testing.
Set your heart right and be steadfast,
and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.
Cling to him and do not depart,
so that your last days may be prosperous.
Accept whatever befalls you,
and in times of humiliation be patient.
For gold is tested in the fire,
and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust in him, and he will help you;
make your ways straight, and hope in him.]
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
do not stray, or else you may fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust in him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
Consider the generations of old and see:
has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?
Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken?
Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?
For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.
Ephesians 1:(11-14)15-23
[In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.]
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Psalm 149 Cantate Domino
1
Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2
Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3
Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6
Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7
To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8
To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9
To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!
Luke 6:20-26(27-36)
Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
"Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
"Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
"Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
"Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets
["But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."]
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me; *
let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord and he answered me *
and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Look upon him and be radiant *
and your faces shall not be ashamed. 6 This poor soul cried, and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him *
and delivers them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is gracious; *
blessed is the one who trusts in him. 9 Fear the Lord, all you his holy ones, *
for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 Lions may lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord
lack nothing that is good. 11 Come, my children, and listen to me; *
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is there who delights in life *
and longs for days to enjoy good things? 13 Keep your tongue from evil *
and your lips from lying words. 14 Turn from evil and do good; *
seek peace and pursue it. 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 out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted *
and will save those who are crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the troubles of the righteous; *
from them all will the Lord deliver them. 20 He keeps all their bones, *
so that not one of them is broken. 21 But evil shall slay the wicked *
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants *
and will condemn none who seek refuge in him.
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them for ever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, 'Amen. Hallelujah!'
And from the throne came a voice saying, 'Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.' Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure'— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' And he said to me, 'These are true words of God.' Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, 'You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'
1 Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, *
in the company of the faithful and in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are great, *
sought out by all who delight in them. 3 His work is full of majesty and honour *
and his righteousness endures for ever. 4 He appointed a memorial for his marvellous deeds; *
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 5 He gave food to those who feared him; *
he is ever mindful of his covenant. 6 He showed his people the power of his works *
in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are truth and justice; *
all his commandments are sure. 8 They stand fast for ever and ever; *
they are done in truth and equity. 9 He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever; *
holy and awesome is his name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have those who live by it; *
his praise endures for ever.
Psalm 112
1 Alleluia.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments. 2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land, *
a generation of the faithful that will be blest. 3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness endures for ever. 4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
gracious and full of compassion are the righteous. 5 It goes well with those who are generous in lending *
and order their affairs with justice, 6 For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance. 7 They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; *
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 Their heart is sustained and will not fear, *
until they see the downfall of their foes. 9 They have given freely to the poor;
their righteousness stands fast for ever; *
their head will be exalted with honour. 10 The wicked shall see it and be angry;
they shall gnash their teeth in despair; *
the desire of the wicked shall perish.
I, Ezra, saw on Mount Zion a great multitude that I could not number, and they all were praising the Lord with songs. In their midst was a young man of great stature, taller than any of the others, and on the head of each of them he placed a crown, but he was more exalted than they. And I was held spellbound. Then I asked an angel, "Who are these, my lord?" He answered and said to me, "These are they who have put off mortal clothing and have put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God. Now they are being crowned, and receive palms." Then I said to the angel, "Who is that young man who is placing crowns on them and putting palms in their hands?" He answered and said to me, "He is the Son of God, whom they confessed in the world." So I began to praise those who had stood valiantly for the name of the Lord.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; *
praise him in the heights. 2 Praise him, all you his angels; *
praise him, all his host. 3 Praise him, sun and moon; *
praise him, all you stars of light. 4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *
and you waters above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, *
for he commanded and they were created. 6 He made them fast for ever and ever; *
he gave them a law which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *
you sea monsters and all deeps; 8 Fire and hail, snow and mist, *
tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word; 9 Mountains and all hills, *
fruit trees and all cedars; 10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *
creeping things and birds on the wing; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *
princes and all rulers of the world; 12 Young men and women,
old and young together; *
let them praise the name of the Lord. 13 For his name only is exalted, *
his splendour above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up the horn of his people
and praise for all his faithful servants, *
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Alleluia.
Psalm 150
1 Alleluia.
O praise God in his holiness; *
praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *
praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet; *
praise him upon the harp and lyre. 4 Praise him with timbrel and dances; *
praise him upon the strings and pipe. 5 Praise him with ringing cymbals; *
praise him upon the clashing cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath *
praise the Lord.
Alleluia.
Then the righteous will stand with great confidence
in the presence of those who have oppressed them
and those who make light of their labours.
When the unrighteous see them, they will be shaken with dreadful fear,
and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of the righteous.
They will speak to one another in repentance,
and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say,
"These are persons whom we once held in derision
and made a byword of reproach--fools that we were!
We thought that their lives were madness
and that their end was without honour.
Why have they been numbered among the children of God?
And why is their lot among the saints?
Because the hope of the ungodly is like thistledown carried by the wind,
and like a light frost driven away by a storm;
it is dispersed like smoke before the wind,
and it passes like the remembrance of a guest who stays but a day.
But the righteous live for ever,
and their reward is with the Lord;
the Most High takes care of them.
Therefore they will receive a glorious crown
and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord,
because with his right hand he will cover them,
and with his arm he will shield them.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.' I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.