Proper 5, Closest to June 8

Collect
O God, from whom all good doth come: Grant that by thy inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Kings 17:17-24
Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"

"Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!"

The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"

Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."

Second Lesson: Galatians 1:11-24
I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles--only James, the Lord's brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me.

Psalm: 30

1. I will exalt you, O LORD,
   because you have lifted me up *
   and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2. O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *
   and you restored me to health.
3. You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *
   you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4. Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *
   give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
5. For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
   his favor for a lifetime.
6. Weeping may spend the night, *
   but joy comes in the morning.
7. While I felt secure, I said,
   "I shall never be disturbed. *
   You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as
   
   the mountains."
8. Then you hid your face, *
   and I was filled with fear.
9. I cried to you, O LORD; *
   I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
10. "What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
    will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
11. Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; *
    O LORD, be my helper."
12. You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
    you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
13. Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
    O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Gospel: Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

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