[Propertalk] READINGS for the SEVENTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany 
(Third Sunday before Lent), Feb. 20, according to the Revised Common (RCL), 
Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England 
(Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised 
Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless otherwise noted, the ECUSA, 
Canadian and C of E readings are identical to the RCL this Sunday.


OLD TESTAMENT: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18   (RCL)
                                   Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18   (Roman 
Catholic)

19:1 (NRSV) The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
  2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: 
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very 
edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10You shall 
not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; 
you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.
  11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie 
to one another. 12And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the 
name of your God: I am the Lord.
  13 You shall not defraud your neighbour; you shall not steal; and you 
shall not keep for yourself the wages of a labourer until morning. 14You 
shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you 
shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
  15 You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to 
the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbour. 
16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall 
not profit by the blood of your neighbour: I am the Lord.
  17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove 
your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18You shall not take 
vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love 
your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.


PSALM 119:33-40   (RCL)

119:33 (NRSV) Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe 
it to the end.
  34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my 
whole heart.
  35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
  36 Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.
  37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.
  38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.
  39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.
  40 See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me 
life.


Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13   (Roman Catholic)

103:1 (NRSV) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and do not forget all his benefits
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
   who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
   who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
   nor repay us according to our iniquities.

12 as far as the east is from the west,
   so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,
   so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.


NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23   (RCL)
                                    1 Corinthians 3:16-23   (Roman Catholic)

3:10 (NRSV) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master 
builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each 
builder must choose with care how to build on it. 11For no one can lay any 
foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus 
Christ.
  16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells 
in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For 
God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
  18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, 
you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19For the wisdom of 
this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,
  'He catches the wise in their craftiness',
20and again,
  'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
   that they are futile.'
21So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 
22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the 
present or the future - all belong to you, 23and you belong to Christ, and 
Christ belongs to God.


GOSPEL: Matthew 5:38-48   (all)

5:38 (NRSV) "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth 
for a tooth.' 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone 
strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants 
to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone 
forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who 
begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
  43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and 
hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those 
who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; 
for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the 
righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what 
reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? 47And if you 
greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? 
Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your 
heavenly Father is perfect."


Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass.   USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu