1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2
David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place which he had prepared for it. David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kinsmen as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it. Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
Brothers and sisters: When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for her dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied,
“Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Then the sanctuary of God in heaven opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it. Then came flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and an earthquake, and violent hail.
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready, for her to be looked after in the twelve hundred and sixty days.
Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the persecutor, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down.’
or
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
or
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Psalm 34 or 34:1-9
1 I will bless the Lord continually *
his praise shall be always in my mouth.
2 Let my soul boast of the Lord *
the humble shall hear it and rejoice.
3 O praise the Lord with me *
let us exalt his name together.
4 For I sought the Lord’s help and he answered *
and he freed me from all my fears.
5 Look towards him and be bright with joy *
your faces shall not be ashamed.
6 Here is a wretch who cried, and the Lord heard him *
and saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps round those who fear him *
and delivers them in their need.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good *
happy the man who hides in him!
9 Fear the Lord, all you his holy ones *
for those who fear him never lack.
[10 Lions may suffer want and go hungry *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing good.
11
Come, my children, listen to me *and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Which of you relishes life *
wants time to enjoy good things?
13 Keep your tongue from evil *
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good *
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of God are on the righteous *
and his ears towards their cry.
16 The Lord sets his face against wrongdoers *
to root out their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry; the Lord hears it *
and frees them from all their afflictions.
18 The Lord is close to those who are broken-hearted *
and the crushed in spirit he saves.
19 The trials of the righteous are many *
but our God delivers him from them all.
20 He guards all his bones *
so that not one is broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked *
and those who hate the righteous will be destroyed.
22 The Lord ransoms the lives of his servants *
and none who hide in him will be destroyed.]
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’
Daily Office
Psalm 45
1 My heart is astir with fine phrases, I make my song for a king *
my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 You are the fairest of the sons of men, grace flows from your lips *
therefore has God blessed you for ever and ever.
3 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior *
in glory and majesty tread down your foes, and triumph!
4 Ride on in the cause of truth *
and for the sake of justice.
5 Your right hand shall teach a terrible instruction *
peoples shall fall beneath you,
your arrows shall be sharp in the hearts of the king’s enemies.
6 Your throne is the throne of God, it endures for ever *
and the sceptre of your kingdom is a righteous sceptre.
7 You have loved righteousness and hated evil *
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia *
music from ivory palaces makes you glad.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your noble women *
the queen is at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
10
Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear *forget your own people and your father’s house.
11 The king desires your beauty *
he is your lord, therefore bow down before him.
12 The richest among the people, O daughter of Tyre *
shall entreat your favour with gifts.
13
The king’s daughter is all glorious within *her clothing is embroidered cloth-of-gold.
14 In robes of many colours she is led to you, O king *
and, after her, the virgins that are with her.
15 They are led with gladness and rejoicing *
they enter the palace of the king.
16 In place of your fathers you shall have sons *
and make them princes over all the land.
17 And I will make known your name to every generation *
therefore the peoples shall give you praise for ever.
At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, 3the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 4Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. 5Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. 6For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: "Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God." 7For thus says the LORD: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, "Save, O LORD, your people, the remnant of Israel." 8See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
10
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock." 11For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. 13Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 14I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the LORD.
23
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfill what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’ 25And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ 27Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Psalm 113
1
Praise the Lord,O sing praises, you that are his servants *
O praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be blessed *
from this time forward and for ever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its going down *
let the name of the Lord be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations *
and his glory is above the heavens.
5 Who can be likened to the Lord our God *
in heaven or upon the earth,
6 Who has his dwelling so high *
yet condescends to look on things beneath?
7 He raises the lowly from the dust *
and lifts the poor from out of the dungheap;
8 He gives them a place among the princes *
even among the princes of his people.
9 He causes the barren woman to keep house *
and makes her a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 115
for the sake of your faithfulness and your loving-kindness.
2 Why should the heathen say ‘Where is their God?’ *
our God is in heaven, he does whatever he wills.
3 As for their idols, they are silver and gold *
the work of a man’s hand.
4 They have mouths, but speak not *
they have eyes, but they cannot see.
5 They have ears, yet hear nothing *
they have noses, but cannot smell.
6 Hands they have, but handle nothing,
feet, but they do not walk *
they make no sound with their throats.
7 Those who make them shall be like them *
so shall everyone that trusts in them.
8
O Israel, trust in the Lord *he is your help and your shield.
9 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord *
he is your help and your shield.
10 You that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord *
he is your help and your shield.
11 The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us *
he will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron.
12 He will bless all those that fear the Lord *
both high and low together.
13 May the Lord increase you greatly *
you and your children after you.
14 The blessing of the Lord be upon you *
he that made heaven and earth.
15 As for the heavens, they are the Lord’s *
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
16 The dead do not praise the Lord *
nor do any that go down to silence.
17 But we will bless the Lord *
both now and for evermore.
O praise the Lord.
Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the L
ORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. 2"There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. 5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 6The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 8He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world. 9"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. 10The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.
Psalm 138
1
I will give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart *even before the gods will I sing your praises.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name *
because of your faithfulness and your loving-kindness,
for you have made your name and your word
supreme over all things.
3 At a time when I called to you, you gave me answer *
and put new strength within my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord *
for they have heard the words of your mouth;
5 And they shall sing of the ways of the Lord *
that the glory of the Lord is great.
6 For though the Lord is exalted, he looks upon the lowly *
but he humbles the proud from afar.
7
Though I walk in the midst of danger,yet will you preserve my life *
you will stretch out your hand against the fury of my enemies,
and your right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord will complete his purpose for me *
your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever;
do not forsake the work of your own hands.
Psalm 149
1
O praise the Lord, and sing to the Lord a new song *O praise him in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
3 Let them praise him in the dance *
let them sing his praise with timbrel and with harp.
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people *
he adorns the meek with his salvation.
5 Let his faithful ones exult in his glory *
let them sing for joy upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouths *
and a two-edged sword in their hands,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations *
and chastisement upon the peoples,
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To visit upon them the judgement that is decreed *
such honour belongs to all his faithful servants.
Praise the Lord.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD. 11Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 12The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13Be silent, all people, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
12
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.