August 1
 
Readings and Psalm
Semicontinuous First Reading and Psalm
First Reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
 
2The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
  4Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.”
  9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’ ” 10And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12“I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”
  13In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”


Psalm: Psalm 78:23-29
 
 23So God commanded the clouds above
  and opened the doors of heaven,
 24raining down manna upon them to eat
  and giving them grain from heaven. 
 25So mortals ate the bread of angels;
  God provided for them food enough.
 26The Lord caused the east wind to blow in the heavens
  and powerfully led out the south wind,
 27raining down flesh upon them like dust
  and flying birds like the sand of the seas,
 28letting them fall in the midst of the camp
  and round about the dwellings.
 29So the people ate and were well filled,
  for God gave them what they craved. 


Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
 
1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
  7But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it is said,
 “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
  he gave gifts to his people.”
9(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.


Gospel: John 6:24-35
 
24When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were [beside the sea,] they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
  25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
  35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”


Semicontinuous First Reading: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a
 
26When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.
  But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, 12:1and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 4Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” 5Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
  7Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; 8I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. 9Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. 12For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” 13aDavid said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”


Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 51:1-12
 
 1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
  in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
 2Wash me through and through from my wickedness,
  and cleanse me from my sin.
 3For I know my offenses,
  and my sin is ever before me.
 4Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;
  so you are justified when you speak and right in your judgment. 
 5Indeed, I was born steeped in wickedness,
  a sinner from my mother’s womb.
 6Indeed, you delight in truth deep within me,
  and would have me know wisdom deep within.
 7Remove my sins with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
  wash me, and I shall be purer than snow.
 8Let me hear joy and gladness;
  that the body you have broken may rejoice. 
 9Hide your face from my sins,
  and blot out all my wickedness.
 10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
  and renew a right spirit within me.
 11Cast me not away from your presence,
  and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation
  and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. 

 
August 8
 
Readings and Psalm
Semicontinuous First Reading and Psalm
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4-8
 
4[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” 8He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Psalm: Psalm 34:1-8
 
 1I will bless the Lord at all times;
  the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth.
 2I will glory in the Lord;
  let the lowly hear and rejoice.
 3Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord;
  let us exalt God’s name together.
 4I sought the Lord, who answered me
  and delivered me from all my terrors. 
 5Look upon the Lord and be radiant,
  and let not your faces be ashamed.
 6I called in my affliction, and the Lord heard me
  and saved me from all my troubles.
 7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear the Lord
  and delivers them.
 8Taste and see that the Lord is good;
  happy are they who take refuge in God! 


Second Reading: Ephesians 4:25--5:2
 
25So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.


Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51
 
35Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”


Semicontinuous First Reading: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
 
5[King David] ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.
  6So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
  9Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 15And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.
  31Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.” 32The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.”
  33The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”


Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 130
 
 1Out of the depths
  I cry to you, O Lord;
 2O Lord,  hear my voice!
  Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
 3If you were to keep watch over sins,
  O Lord,  who could stand?
 4Yet with you is forgiveness,
  in order that you may be feared. 
 5I wait for you, O Lord; my soul waits;
  in your word is my hope.
 6My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning,
  more than those who keep watch for the morning.
 7O Israel, wait for the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love;
  with the Lord there is plenteous redemption.
 8For the Lord shall redeem Israel
  from all their sins. 

 
August 15
 
Readings and Psalm
Semicontinuous First Reading and Psalm
First Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6
 
 1Wisdom has built her house,
  she has hewn her seven pillars.
 2She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
  she has also set her table.
 3She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
  from the highest places in the town,
 4“You that are simple, turn in here!”
  To those without sense she says,
 5“Come, eat of my bread
  and drink of the wine I have mixed.
 6Lay aside immaturity, and live,
  and walk in the way of insight.”


Psalm: Psalm 34:9-14
 
 9Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord,
  for those who fear the Lord lack nothing.
 10The lions are in want and suffer hunger,
  but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good. 
 11Come, children, and listen to me;
  I will teach you reverence for the Lord.
 12Who among you takes pleasure in life
  and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
 13Keep your tongue from evil
  and your lips from lying words.
 14Turn from evil and do good;
  seek peace and pursue it. 


Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20
 
15Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Gospel: John 6:51-58
 
[Jesus said,] 51“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
  52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”


Semicontinuous First Reading: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
 
10David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. 11The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.
 3:3Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”
  10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”


Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 111
 
 1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
  in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
 2Great are your works, O Lord,
  pondered by all who delight in them.
 3Majesty and splendor mark your deeds,
  and your righteousness endures forever.
 4You cause your wonders to be remembered;
  you are gracious and full of compassion. 
 5You give food to those who fear you,
  remembering forever your covenant.
 6You have shown your people the power of your works
  in giving them the lands of the nations.
 7The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice;
  all of your precepts are sure.
 8They stand fast forever and ever,
  because they are done in truth and equity. 
 9You sent redemption to your people and commanded your covenant forever;
  holy and awesome is your name.
 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
  all who practice this have a good understanding. God’s praise endures forever. 
 

 
August 22
 
Readings and Psalm
Semicontinuous First Reading and Psalm
First Reading: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
 
1Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2aAnd Joshua said to all the people, 14“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
  16Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

Psalm: Psalm 34:15-22
 
 15The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
  and God’s ears are open to their cry.
 16The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
  to erase the remembrance of them from the earth.
 17The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them
  and delivers them from all their troubles.
 18The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
  and saves those whose spirits are crushed. 
 19Many are the troubles of the righteous,
  but the Lord delivers them from every one.
 20God will keep safe all their bones;
  not one of them shall be broken.
 21Evil will bring death to the wicked
  and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
 22O Lord, you redeem the life of your servants,
  and those who put their trust in you will not be punished. 

Second Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20
 
10Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
  18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.


Gospel: John 6:56-69
 
[Jesus said,] 56“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
  60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
  66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”


Semicontinuous First Reading: 1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11] 22-30, 41-43
 
[1Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 6Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 10And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.]
  22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven.23He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 24the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. 25Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ 26Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.
  27“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! 28Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 30Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.
  41“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name 42—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, 43then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.”


Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 84
 
 1How dear to me is your dwelling,
  O Lord of hosts!
 2My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
  my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
 3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young,
  by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
 4Happy are they who dwell in your house!
  They will always be praising you. 
 5Happy are the people whose strength is in you,
  whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way.
 6Those who go through the balsam valley will find it a place of springs,
  for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
 7They will climb from height to height,
  and the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
 8Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
  give ear, O God of Jacob. 
 9Behold our defender, O God;
  and look upon the face of your anointed.
 10For one day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
  I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
 11For the Lord God is both sun and shield, bestowing grace and glory;
  no good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity.
 12O Lord of hosts,
  happy are they who put their trust in you! 

 
August 29

Readings and Psalm
Semicontinuous First Reading and Psalm
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
 
1So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you.
  6You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” 7For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? 8And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?
  9But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.


Psalm: Psalm 15
 
 1Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle?
  Who may abide upon your holy hill?
 2Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right,
  who speak the truth from their heart;
 3they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil to their friends;
  they do not cast discredit upon a neighbor.
 4In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who fear the Lord.
  They have sworn upon their health and do not take back their word.
 5They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes against the innocent.
  Those who do these things shall never be overthrown. 


Second Reading: James 1:17-27
 
17Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

  19You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
  22But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.
  26If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.


Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
 
1Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], 2they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) 5So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
 ‘This people honors me with their lips,
  but their hearts are far from me;
 7in vain do they worship me,
  teaching human precepts as doctrines.’
8You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
  14Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”
  21For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”


Semicontinuous First Reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
 
 8The voice of my beloved!
  Look, he comes,
 leaping upon the mountains,
  bounding over the hills.
 9My beloved is like a gazelle
  or a young stag.
 Look, there he stands
  behind our wall,
 gazing in at the windows,
  looking through the lattice.
 10My beloved speaks and says to me:
 “Arise, my love, my fair one,
  and come away;
 11for now the winter is past,
  the rain is over and gone.
 12The flowers appear on the earth;
  the time of singing has come,
 and the voice of the turtledove
  is heard in our land.
 13The fig tree puts forth its figs,
  and the vines are in blossom;
  they give forth fragrance.
 Arise, my love, my fair one,
  and come away.”


Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
 
 1My heart is stirring with a noble song; let me recite what I have fashioned for the king;
  my tongue shall be the pen of a skillful writer.
 2You are the noblest among the people;
  grace flows from your lips, because God has blessed you forever. 
 6Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,
  a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.
 7You love righteousness and hate iniquity;
  therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.
 8All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia,
  and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
 9Kings’ daughters stand among the ladies of the court;
  on your right hand is the queen, adorned with the gold of Ophir.