The Daily Lectionary for Thursday, May 25, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Psalm 33:12-22; Exodus 19:1-9a; Acts 2:1-11
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 33:12-22
Our help and our shield
Exultate, justi

Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! *
  happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

The LORD looks down from heaven, *
  and beholds all the people in the world.

From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
  on all who dwell on the earth.

He fashions all the hearts of them *
  and understands all their works.

There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
  a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
  for all its strength it cannot save.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, *
  on those who wait upon his love,

To pluck their lives from death, *
  and to feed them in time of famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD; *
  he is our help and our shield.

Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
  for in his holy Name we put our trust.

Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, *
  as we have put our trust in you.

Heavenly Father, we have learned from the Scriptures, history, and our own experience that You never fail those You love. We know we cannot trust in earthly and material possessions, for they can easily be stolen away. Yet those You grasp in Your heart of love can never be taken from Your hand. O Lord, no matter what their power or wealth, mere human beings and governments cannot be as trustworthy and almighty as You. Lord Jesus, each day we place our hope in You. Be our Guide and Shield, our Savior, now and forever. Today, fill us once again with Your Holy Spirit as we pray in the way You taught us to pray:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

Exodus 19:1-9a
The covenant at Sinai

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.”

Acts 2:1-11
The giving of the Spirit

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for Thursday, May 25, 2023
Psalm 33:12-22; Exodus 19:1-9a; Acts 2:1-11