Evening Prayer

A Reading from the Gospel According to John.

41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They 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’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It 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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

3 Those who honour their father atone for sins, 4    and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure. 5 Those who honour their father will have joy in their own children,    and when they pray they will be heard. 6 Those who respect their father will have long life,    and those who honour their mother obey the Lord; 7    they will serve their parents as their masters. 8 Honour your father by word and deed,    that his blessing may come upon you. 9 For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children,    but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations. 14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,    and will be credited to you against your sins; 15 in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favour;    like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away. 16 Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer, and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord. 17 My child, perform your tasks with humility; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.