Daily Office - Aug 21

Psalm 110
The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.’
May the Lord stretch forth the sceptre of your power;
rule from Zion in the midst of your enemies.
‘Noble are you on this day of your birth;
on the holy mountain, from the womb of the dawn the dew of your new birth is upon you.’
The Lord has sworn and will not retract:
‘You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’
The king at your right hand, O Lord,
shall smite down kings in the day of his wrath.
In all his majesty, he shall judge among the nations,
smiting heads over all the wide earth.
He shall drink from the brook beside the way;
therefore shall he lift high his head.

Psalm 111
Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the faithful and in the congregation.
The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all who delight in them.
His work is full of majesty and honour and his righteousness endures for ever.
He appointed a memorial for his marvellous deeds;
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
He gave food to those who feared him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He showed his people the power of his works
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are truth and justice;
all his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever;
they are done in truth and equity.
He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever;
holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have those who live by it;
his praise endures for ever.

Psalm 112
Alleluia.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord
and have great delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land,
a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
Wealth and riches will be in their house,
and their righteousness endures for ever.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
It goes well with those who are generous in lending
and order their affairs with justice,
For they will never be shaken;
the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
They will not be afraid of any evil tidings;
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their heart is sustained and will not fear,
until they see the downfall of their foes.
They have given freely to the poor;
their righteousness stands fast for ever;
their head will be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it and be angry;
they shall gnash their teeth in despair;
the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 18.10-end
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
   the righteous run into it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
   in their imagination it is like a high wall.
Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
   but humility goes before honour.
If one gives answer before hearing,
   it is folly and shame.
The human spirit will endure sickness;
   but a broken spirit—who can bear?
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
   and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A gift opens doors;
   it gives access to the great.
The one who first states a case seems right,
   until the other comes and cross-examines.
Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
   and decides between powerful contenders.
An ally offended is stronger than a city;
   such quarrelling is like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;
   the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
   and those who love it will eat its fruits.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
   and obtains favour from the Lord.
The poor use entreaties,
   but the rich answer roughly.
Some friends play at friendship
   but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.

Mark 7.14-23
Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’

When he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, ‘Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, ‘It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’

The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.