22nd Ordinary Sunday: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 ~ on living sacrifices

22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

As we gather to praise God and to ask for His help and grace, we are mindful of the difficult road before us – the way of the cross.

O God, whose word burns like a fire within us, grant us a bold and faithful spirit, that in Your strength we may be unafraid to speak Your word and follow where You lead. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
__________

Holy One / Your name is power and might
We have gathered here to worship You
By Your blood / And precious sacrifice
We have gathered here to worship You

Praise His Name / In all the earth
Jesus, we praise Your name
Praise His Name / In all the earth
Jesus, we praise Your name

Holy One, You’re clothed in blinding light
The darkness flees as You draw near
Through Your death we know Your endless life
Let Your glory now appear

Holy One, When Heaven calls us home
All will gather ‘round Your throne
There we’ll sing to You most Holy One
To You our God, To You alone

Hallelujah, Holy One we worship You
Hallelujah, Holy One we worship You
__________

A Reading from the Old testament: Jeremiah 20:7-9 (NLT)

O Lord, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me. When I speak, the words burst out. “Violence and destruction!” I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke. But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (NLT)

I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
_____

Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
_____

You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
_____

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.
__________

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A Reading from the Letters: Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
__________

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 16:21-27 (NLT)

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
__________

I can’t earn your favour / There’s nothing I must do / To win your approval
I can’t make you love me / More than you already do / Your love has no conditions

So I lay down my striving / And I lay down – everything
Just to be with you / My soul rests in you
And I can hear you singing over me / I am loved

You sing / A song of rejoicing, A song of delight, A song that pursues me / In the day and in the night
__________

Intercessions:

O God, our ever-present help in times of trouble, hear our prayer:

+ For Christians around the world who suffer persecution for their faith – that they may hold firm in the face of every trial….
Lord, hear us.

+ For all those who endure criticism for doing what they believe is right – that they may have the courage to persevere….
Lord, hear us.

+ For teachers and students returning to school these autumn days – that they may have the grace to make a new start….
Lord, hear us.

+ For the grace to support our brothers and sisters in Christ in the hardships of life – that we may become more aware of each other’s sufferings….
Lord, hear us.

+ For all who struggle with illness, of mind or body – that their way of the cross may bring them to glory….
Lord, hear us.

+ For our own needs, for those we love, and for those who have asked for prayer….
Lord, hear us.

+ For those who have recently died, especially as martyrs for their faith in Christ – that sharing the cross of Christ they may also share his victory over death….
Lord, hear us.

O Lord our God, Your love is better than life: come to our help, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

__________

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 30 August – Psalm 102:13-22; Amos 9:14-15; Revelation 12:17 ~ on warfare

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Psalm 102:13-22

You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem — and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets. Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory. For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.

Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem, when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.

Amos 9:14-15

I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children — all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.

Reflection

IONA

COLUMBA’S PROPHECY
‘Vast throngs I see in realms far, far away –
with stubborn pride they challenge Christ’s appeal:
and thou, dear home,
though plunged in long decay,
shalt rise anew thine ancient fires to feel,
leading the last long war with holy zeal!
But oh! let none thy blessing dare to claim
who shirk the law of strife! Messiah’s heel
must feel the serpent’s bruise,
strong through Christ’s name
by vigil, fast, and prayer,
the serpent’s pride to tame.’
His utt’rance ceased,
but still his eye looked on
as if in distant skies his mind could read
the mysteries of the future.

R. M. Benson
__________

__________

Farewell, then to Iona. In old days, when they said goodbye in the Gaelic, they said something lovely, but so charged with meaning. When husband parted from wife, mother from child, lover from her who was ‘half his sight’, they remembered that days might be dreary, friends few, and life hard. But they looked into each other’s eyes, and the words always came – ‘The blessing of God go with you, and the blessing of Columba.’

G. E. Troup
__________

Canticle:

Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) Our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer) during the month of August. On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer: 29 August – Psalm 45:1; Ecclesiastes 3:1-3; Mark 4:30-33 ~ on small things

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Psalm 45:1

Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

"Kirkridge is a Retreat and Study Center rooted in Christ, close to the earth, where people from diverse backgrounds find community and experience the transforming power of the Spirit for personal wholeness, reconciliation and justice in the world." — “Kirkridge is a Retreat and Study Center rooted in Christ, close to the earth, where people from diverse backgrounds find community and experience the transforming power of the Spirit for personal wholeness, reconciliation and justice in the world.”

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.

Mark 4:30-33

Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.

Reflection

IONA

If you have a good map of Scotland you will find it among the Inner Hebrides off the southwest tip of Mull, a comma of land separated by a straight the width of an exclamation point.

But from today’s Iona there are still offshoots, including one formed by John Oliver Nelson, Kirkridge, which is in Bangor, Pennsylvania, for, Nelson once spent a summer laying the slate tiles on the roof of the Iona abbey refectory. ‘This place was the start of my life,’ he says of Iona. ‘This is home.’

It is home for many. Still Iona Community remains small. As big in the eye of the world as is the island itself on a world map. Small as a mustard seed, you might say. Small, but potent and marvellous.

St Columba must be glad with the sight of it, but little surprised. He had a gift for seeing the future and knew one day there would be nothing left of his foundation, but he saw beyond that time to its restoration. Poet as well as prophet, he left his prophecy as poem:

Iona of my heart,
Iona of my love,
instead of monk’s voices
shall be lowing of cattle.
But ere the world comes to an end,
Iona shall be as it was.

James H. Forest
__________

__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Morning Prayer: 28 August – Psalm 148:9-14; Daniel 3:19-25; Luke 19:37-40 ~ more on praising God

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Psalm 148:9-14

… mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones — the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

Daniel 3:19-25

An illustration of an Archangel protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900). — An illustration of an Archangel protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews University).

Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Luke 19:37-40

When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Reflection

IONA

AN IONA BENEDICITE

O ye larks that carol in the heavens,
O ye blackbirds that pipe at the dawning,
O ye warblers and wrens that make
the glens joyful with song,
O ye bees that love the heather,
bless ye the Lord.
O ye primroses and bluebells,
O ye flowerets that gem the marsh with colour,
O ye golden flags that deck Columba’s
Bay with glory, bless ye the Lord.
O ye piled rocks fashioned by Nature’s
might through myriad ages,
O ye majestic Bens of Mull,
O ye white sands and emerald shallows,
O ye blue and purple deeps of ocean,
O ye winds and clouds, bless ye the Lord.
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the
Lord, praise and magnify Him
for ever.

– E.D.Sedding SSJE (Anglican monk) 1947
__________

__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Morning Prayer: 27 August – Psalm 148:1-8; Daniel 3:9-18; Acts 28:2 ~ on praising God

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Psalm 148:1-8

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His decree will never be revoked.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him….

Daniel 3:9-18

They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Acts 28:2

The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.

Reflection

IONA

AN IONA BENEDICITE

O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,
praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O ye Saints of the Isles, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Servants of Christ who here sang
God’s praises and hence went forth
to preach, bless ye the Lord.
O ye souls of the faithful, who rest in Jesus,
O ye kindly folk of the Island,
O ye pilgrims who seek joy and health
in this beloved Isle, bless ye the Lord.
O ye sheep and horned cattle,
O ye lambs that gambol on the sward,
O ye seals that glisten in the waters,
bless ye the Lord.
O ye ravens and hoodies,
O ye rooks that caw from the sycamores,
O ye buzzards that float on the wind-currents,
bless ye the Lord.
O ye gulls that fill the beaches with your clamour,
O ye terns and gannets that dive headlong for
your prey,
O ye curlews and landrails,
O ye pied shelduck and Bride’s ghillies,
O ye dunlins that wheel in unison over the waves,
bless ye the Lord.

– E.D.Sedding SSJE (Anglican monk) 1947
__________

__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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