1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 (JB)

A reading the first book of Samuel

The Lord has put you in my power, but I will not raise my hand against you.

Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

So in the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him.

Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.’ David answered Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?’ David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. David then called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 (NRSV)

A reading from the first book of Samuel

Having heard that David was hiding out in the desert,

Saul rose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph,

with three thousand chosen men of Israel,

to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.

David and Abishai went into Saul’s army by night;

there Saul lay sleeping within the encampment,

with his spear stuck in the ground at his head;

and Abner and the army lay around him.

Abishai said to David,

“God has given your enemy into your hand today;

now therefore let me pin him to the ground

with one stroke of the spear;

I will not strike him twice.”

But David said to Abishai,

“Do not destroy him;

for who can raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed,

and be guiltless?”

So David took the spear that was at Saul’s head and the water jar,

and they went away.

No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake;

for they were all asleep,

because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

Then David went over to the other side,

and stood on top of a hill far away,

with a great distance between them.

David called aloud to Saul,

“Here is the spear, O king!

Let one of the young men come over and get it.

The Lord rewards everyone for his righteousness

and his faithfulness;

for the Lord gave you into my hand today,

but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 102:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (JB)

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord,

all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

and never forget all his blessings. R.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,

who heals every one of your ills,

who redeems your life from the grave,

who crowns you with love and compassion. R.

The Lord is compassion and love,

slow to anger and rich in mercy.

He does not treat us according to our sins

nor repays us according to our faults. R.

As far as the east is from the west

so far does he remove our sins.

As a father has compassion on his sons,

the Lord has pity on those who fear him. R.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

Just as we have carried the earthly image, we must carry the heavenly image.

The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

It is written:

“The first man, Adam, became a living being”;

the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

But it is not the spiritual that is first,

but the physical, and then the spiritual.

The first was from the earth, made of dust;

the second is from heaven.

As was the one of dust, so are those who are of the dust;

and as is the one of heaven, so are those who are of heaven.

Just as we have borne the image of the one of dust,

we will also bear the image of the one of heaven.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 13:34 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I give you a new commandment;

love one another as I have loved you.

Alleluia!

John 13:34 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I give you a new commandment;

love one another as I have loved you.

Alleluia!

Luke 6:27-38 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Be merciful as your Father is merciful.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 6:27-38 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus addressed a great crowd of his disciples,

together with the multitude from Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon.

“I say to you that listen:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you,

pray for those who abuse you.

If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also;

and from anyone who takes away your coat

do not withhold even your shirt.

Give to everyone who begs from you;

and if anyone takes away your goods,

do not ask for them again.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

“If you love those who love you,

what credit is that to you?

For even sinners love those who love them.

If you do good to those who do good to you,

what credit is that to you?

For even sinners do the same.

If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love your enemies,

do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.

Your reward will be great, and you will be

children of the Most High;

for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged;

do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over;

will be put into your lap;

for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

8 ORDINARY

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.