I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. From there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. And I will take you for my spouse forever; I will take you for my spouse in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my spouse in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.
This is the word of the Lord. Hosea 2. 14-15 & 19-20
R | For God alone my soul in silence waits; [from him comes my salvation]. |
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
In God is my safety and my honour;
God is my strong rock and my refuge. R
Put your trust in him always, O people,
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
God has spoken once, twice have I heard it,
that power belongs to God alone. R From Psalm 62
It is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
This is the word of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 4. 6-10
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.Jesus said to his disciples, "Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love."
This is the gospel of Christ. John 15. 4-10