25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – The Peanut Gallery

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening sentence and Prayer:

Remember the passion and death of Jesus, and rejoice in His resurrection. Jesus calls us to move beyond rivalries and conflicts, and to follow Him.
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O God, protector of the poor and defender of the just, in Your kingdom the last become first, the gentle are strong, and the lowly exalted. Give us wisdom from above, that we may find in Jesus the pattern of true discipleship and the grace to persevere in following Him, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Hymn: “I Sing The Mighty Power of God” – Fountainview Academy

I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
the moon shines full at his command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord that filled the earth with food;
he formed the creatures with his word and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eyes,
if I survey the ground I tread or gaze upon the skies.

There’s not a plant or flower below but makes your glories known,
and clouds arise and tempests blow by order from your throne;
while all that borrows life from you is ever in your care,
and everywhere that I can be, you, God, are present there.
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A Reading from the Apocrypha: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 (NRSVACE)
[Describes the trouble the good person can endure, the same anger that led to the death of Jesus.]

‘Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.
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Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.’
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 54:3-7 (NLT)

For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God.

But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them.

I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
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“Psalm 54”

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A Reading from the Letters: James 3:16-4:3 (NLT)
[James challenges people to conquer the wrong desires in themselves, as a means of bringing peace.]

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong — you want only what will give you pleasure.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 9:30-37 (NLT)
[Jesus tells his followers about his death and resurrection, and teaches them how to be true disciples.]

Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”
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“My Peace I Give You” (Taizé Chant)

My peace I leave you, my peace I give you / Trouble not your hearts
My peace I leave you, my peace I give you / Be not afraid
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Intercessions:

God is our ever-present helper in times of need: hear us now merciful Father as we come before Your throne of grace.

+ For Church Leaders as they discharge their duties around the world — that they may travel safely…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all Christians — that we may learn to put other people before ourselves…. Lord, hear us.
+ For migrants seeking safety and support – that they may receive the help they need…. Lord, hear us.
+ For peacemakers — that God may help them persevere, despite the obstacles they encounter…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the children in our communities — that they may grow in strength and wisdom…. Lord, hear us.
+ For children who have suffered from harm or abuse — that God may come to their aid and protect them from further danger…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have died, especially those who have died violently – that they rest in eternal peace…. Lord, hear us.

God of power and might, You uphold our lives and keep us in Your care: help us in our needs, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Beautiful Things” – Gungor

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Benediction:

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

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

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening prayer:

God’s ways are not our ways. God’s love and generosity are beyond our understanding. We acknowledge all God has done for us, and ask for the grace to grow into God’s likeness.
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God most high, Your ways are not our ways, for Your kindness is lavished equally upon all. Teach us to welcome Your mercy toward others, even as we hope to receive mercy ourselves. 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.
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A Reading from the Old testament: Isaiah 55:6-9 (NLT)

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 (NLT)

I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.
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The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
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The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
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A Reading from the Letters: Philippians 1:20-24, 27 (NLT)

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
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Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 20:1-16 (NLT)

Migrant farm worker Victor Diaz receives a check for back pay from farmer Ray Brands.

“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
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Intercessions:

Gracious God, You are close to all who call – hear our prayer:

+ For all who follow Christ – that they may rejoice in Your boundless generosity….
Lord, hear us.
+ For our Christian communities – that all may be welcome, especially those experiencing crisis and change…
Lord, hear us.
+ For workers and those who employ others – that the rights and responsibilities of all may be respected….
Lord, hear us.
+ For those who cannot find work – that their needs may not be forgotten….
Lord, hear us.
+ For family members who have moved away to pursue employment opportunities – that God may keep them in his care….
Lord, hear us.
+ For all who are sick, particularly those near death – that they may experience comfort on the journey to their Father’s house….
Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have gone before us in faith – that Your mercy and generosity may assure them of a place in the Kingdom….
Lord, hear us.

God of kindness and compassion, You are close to all who call upon You: hear our prayer, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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