Proper 15
Week of the Sunday closest to August 17

Collect
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.
"Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment.
"Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."

Second Lesson: Ephesians 5:15-20
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm: 147

1. Hallelujah!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
   how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
   he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3. He heals the brokenhearted *
   and binds up their wounds.
4. He counts the number of the stars *
   and calls them all by their names.
5. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
   there is no limit to his wisdom.
6. The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
   but casts the wicked to the ground.
7. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
   make music to our God upon the harp.
8. He covers the heavens with clouds *
   and prepares rain for the earth;
9. He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
   and green plants to serve mankind.
10. He provides food for flocks and herds *
    and for the young ravens when they cry.
11. He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
    he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12. But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
    in those who await his gracious favor.
13. Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
    praise your God, O Zion;
14. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
    he has blessed your children within you.
15. He has established peace on your borders; *
    he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16. He sends out his command to the earth, *
    and his word runs very swiftly.
17. He gives snow like wool; *
    he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18. He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
    who can stand against his cold?
19. He sends forth his word and melts them; *
    he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20. He declares his word to Jacob, *
    his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21. He has not done so to any other nation; *
    to them he has not revealed his judgments.
    Hallelujah!

OR

Psalm 39:9-14

• Deliver me from all my transgressions *
  and do not make me the taunt of the fool.
• I fell silent and did not open my mouth, *
  for surely it was you that did it.
• Take your affliction from me; *
  I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
• With rebukes for sin you punish us;
  like a moth you eat away all that is dear to us; *
  truly, everyone is but a puff of wind.
• Hear my prayer, O LORD,
  and give ear to my cry; *
  hold not your peace at my tears.
• For I am but a sojourner with you, *
  a wayfarer, as all my forebears were.

Gospel: John 6:53-59
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore