Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake.Their offspring will continue for ever, and their glory will never be blotted out. Ecclesiasticus 44:1,9-13, NRSV The author of Ecclesiasticus brings his work towards its end by recalling and praising the lives of the great ancestors of Israel. Those he recalls include kings,…
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‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’,he also adds,‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Hebrews…
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Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and put all the nations in fear of you.Then they will know, as we have known, that there is no God but you, O Lord. Ecclesiasticus 36:1-2,5-7,13-19, NRSV In today’s reading, the author (Ben Sira) prays for the restoration of Israel and the overcoming of its enemies. At the time…
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Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford.For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. Ecclesiasticus 35:2-15, NRSV The author of Ecclesiasticus speaks of the offerings and sacrifices that were traditionally made under the Jewish Law. This practice…
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When 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. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including…
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I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:17-27, NRSV These words form part of Paul’s final speech to the church at…
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Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was…
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Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was…
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Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48 NRSV Many of the early Christians believed that the salvation brought by Jesus was just for Jews. When Peter visited the…
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As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily. Acts 16: 1-10, NRSV Following the Council at Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas with their…
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