Proper 14
Week of the Sunday closest to August 10

Collect
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 8:1-10
Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land--a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Second Lesson: Ephesians 4:(25-29)30--5:2
[Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.]

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Psalm: 34

  1. I will bless the LORD at all times; *
    his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
  2. I will glory in the LORD; *
    let the humble hear and rejoice.
  3. Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
    let us exalt his Name together.
  4. I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
    and delivered me out of all my terror.
  5. Look upon him and be radiant, *
    and let not your faces be ashamed.
  6. I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
    and saved me from all my troubles.
  7. The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
    and he will deliver them.
  8. Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
    happy are they who trust in him!
  9. Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, *
    for those who fear him lack nothing.
  10. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
    but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
  11. Come, children, and listen to me; *
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
  12. Who among you loves life *
    and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
  13. Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
    and your lips from lying words.
  14. Turn from evil and do good; *
    seek peace and pursue it.
  15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, *
    and his ears are open to their cry.
  16. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, *
    to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
  17. The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them *
    and delivers them from all their troubles.
  18. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted *
    and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
  19. Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
    but the LORD will deliver him out of them all.
  20. He will keep safe all his bones; *
    not one of them shall be broken.
  21. Evil shall slay the wicked, *
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
  22. The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *
    and none will be punished who trust in him.

Gospel: John 6:37-51
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore