Sunday 8 August 2010

6Our fathers were made aware of that night beforehand,that, having sure knowledge, they might be cheered by the oaths which they had trusted.7Salvation of the righteous and destruction of the enemies was expected by your people.8For as you took vengeance on the adversaries,by the same means, calling us to yourself, you glorified us.9For holy children of good men offered sacrifice in secret,and with one consent they agreed to the covenant of the divine law,that they would partake alike in the same good things and the same perils,the fathers already leading the sacred songs of praise.

1Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous!Praise is fitting for the upright.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

18Behold, the Lord’s eye is on those who fear him,on those who hope in his loving kindness,19to deliver their soul from death,to keep them alive in famine.

20Our soul has waited for the Lord.He is our help and our shield.22Let your loving kindness be on us, Lord,since we have hoped in you.

1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for,proof of things not seen.2For by this, the elders obtained approval.

· · · verses 3–7 are not read8By faith Abraham, when he was called,obeyed to go out to the placewhich he was to receive for an inheritance.He went out, not knowing where he went.9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise,as in a land not his own,dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,the heirs with him of the same promise.10For he was looking for the city which has foundations,whose builder and maker is God.

11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive,and she bore a child when she was past age,since she counted him faithful who had promised.12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude,and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore,were fathered by one man,and him as good as dead.

13These all died in faith,not having received the promises,but having seen them and embraced them from afar,and having confessed that they were strangersand pilgrims on the earth.14For those who say such things make it clearthat they are seeking a country of their own.15If indeed they had been thinking ofthat country from which they went out,they would have had enough time to return.16But now they desire a better country,that is, a heavenly one.Therefore God is not ashamed of them,to be called their God,for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac.Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son,18to whom it was said,“Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead.Figuratively speaking,he also did receive him back from the dead.

32“Don’t be afraid, little flock,for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.33Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy.Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old,a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail,where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

35“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.36Be like men watching for their lordwhen he returns from the wedding feast,that when he comes and knocks,they may immediately open to him.37Blessed are those servantswhom the lord will find watching when he comes.Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself,make them recline,and will come and serve them.38They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so.39But know this,that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming,he would have watchedand not allowed his house to be broken into.40Therefore be ready also,for the Son of Man is coming in an hourthat you don’t expect him.”

41Peter said to him,“Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”

42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward,whom his lord will set over his household,to give them their portion of food at the right times?43Blessed is that servantwhom his lord will find doing so when he comes.44Truly I tell youthat he will set him over all that he has.45But if that servant says in his heart,‘My lord delays his coming,’and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,and to eat and drink and to be drunken,46then the lord of that servant will come in a daywhen he isn’t expecting himand in an hour that he doesn’t know,and will cut him in two,and place his portion with the unfaithful.47That servant who knew his lord’s will,and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted,will be beaten with many stripes,48but he who didn’t know,and did things worthy of stripes,will be beaten with few stripes.To whomever much is given, of him will much be required;and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.