Morning Prayer

A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore 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? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until 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. 14 We 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. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from 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.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

1 The pride of the higher realms is the clear vault of the sky,    as glorious to behold as the sight of the heavens. 2 The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises    what a marvellous instrument it is, the work of the Most High. 3 At noon it parches the land,    and who can withstand its burning heat? 4 A man tending a furnace works in burning heat,    but three times as hot is the sun scorching the mountains; it breathes out fiery vapours,    and its bright rays blind the eyes. 5 Great is the Lord who made it; at his orders it hurries on its course. 6 It is the moon that marks the changing seasons,    governing the times, their everlasting sign. 7 From the moon comes the sign for festal days,    a light that wanes when it completes its course. 8 The new moon, as its name suggests, renews itself; how marvellous it is in this change, a beacon to the hosts on high, shining in the vault of the heavens! 9 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven,    a glittering array in the heights of the Lord. 10 On the orders of the Holy One they stand in their appointed places;    they never relax in their watches. 11 Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it;    it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. 12 It encircles the sky with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out. 12 [ 27 We could say more but could never say enough;    let the final word be: ‘He is the all.’ 28 Where can we find the strength to praise him?    For he is greater than all his works. 29 Awesome is the Lord and very great,    and marvellous is his power. 30 Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can,    for he surpasses even that. When you exalt him, summon all your strength,    and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough. 31 Who has seen him and can describe him?    Or who can extol him as he is? 32 Many things greater than these lie hidden,    for I have seen but few of his works. 33 For the Lord has made all things, and to the godly he has given wisdom.]