Book of Common Prayer
Grace, hope and holiness
11 God’s saving grace, you see, appeared for all people. 12 It teaches us that we should turn our backs on ungodliness and the passions of the world, and should live sober, just and devout lives in the present age, 13 while we wait eagerly for the blessed hope and royal appearing of the glory of our great God and savior, Jesus the Messiah. 14 He gave himself for us so that he could ransom us from all lawless actions and purify for himself a people as his very own who would be eager for good works.
15 This is what you must say. Exhort people and rebuke them. Use full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.
God’s kindness and generosity—and ours
3 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. 2 They are not to speak evil of anyone, nor to be quarrelsome, but to be kindly. They must be completely gentle with everyone.
3 We ourselves, you see, used at one time to be foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved to various kinds of passions and pleasures. We spent our time in wickedness and jealousy. We were despicable in ourselves, and we hated one another. 4 But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not by works that we did in righteousness, but in accordance with his own mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewal of the holy spirit, 6 which was poured out richly upon us through Jesus the Messiah, our savior, 7 so that we might be justified by his grace and be made his heirs, in accordance with the hope of the life of the age to come. 8 The saying is sure.
Watch out for disputes and divisions
I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may take care to be energetic in good works. Such things are good and profitable for people.
The Magnificat: Mary’s song of praise
39 Mary got up then and there, and went in excitement to the hill country of Judaea. 40 She went into Zechariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby gave a leap in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit, 42 and shouted at the top of her voice: “Of all women, you’re the blessed one! And the fruit of your womb—he’s blessed, too! 43 Why should this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 Look—when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb gave a great leap for joy! 45 A blessing on you, for believing that what the Lord said to you would come true!”
46 Mary said,
“My soul declares that the Lord is great,
47 my spirit exults in my savior, my God.
48 He saw his servant-girl in her humility;
from now, I’ll be blessed by all peoples to come.
48 He saw his servant-girl in her humility;
from now, I’ll be blessed by all peoples to come.
49 The Powerful One, whose name is Holy,
has done great things for me, for me.
50 His mercy extends from father to son,
from mother to daughter for those who fear him.
51 Powerful things he has done with his arm:
he routed the arrogant through their own cunning.
52 Down from their thrones he hurled the rulers,
up from the earth he raised the humble.
53 The hungry he filled with the fat of the land,
but the rich he sent off with nothing to eat.
54 He has rescued his servant, Israel his child,
because he remembered his mercy of old,
55 just as he said to our long-ago ancestors—
Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, and then returned home.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.