Tag: Daily Reading

30th Ordinary Sunday: Ex 22:20-26; Ps 18:1-4, 46-49; 1 Thes 1:5-10; Mt 22:34-40 ~ love God, love people

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

Opening prayer:

Your love, O God, is boundless.

We who were strangers have been made Your children. We who were defenceless have been brought into Your household. Keep us mindful of Your deeds of mercy, that we may love You with our whole heart and love our neighbour as 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: Exodus 22:20-26 (NLT)

“Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the lord must be destroyed.

“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

“You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.

“If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset.”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 18:1-4, 46-49 (NLT)

I love you, lord ; you are my strength.

The lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

I called on the lord , who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

The lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!

He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.

For this, O lord , I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
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A Reading from the Letters: I Thessalonians 1:5-10 (NLT)

And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece — throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven — Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 22:34-40 (NLT)

love-shoes

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
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Intercessions:

Lord God, our Refuge and Strength – hear our prayers.

+ For all who follow Christ – that our love for one another may shine for all to see…. Lord, hear us.

+ For those parts of the world most battered by war and violence – that the Lord may grant them peace…. Lord, hear us.

+ For the weak and oppressed – that they may enjoy the protection of the strong and powerful…. Lord, hear us.

+ For those suffering because of the Ebola Virus, particularly in West Africa – that God may protect and save them…. Lord, hear us.

+ For refugees and asylum-seekers – that Christians may show them
love and care as unto the Lord…. Lord, hear us.

+ For the widowed and orphaned – that those who are troubled may experience comfort, compassion and justice…. Lord, hear us.

+ For the faithful who have departed this life – that our God of love and compassion may embrace them in peace…. Lord, hear us.

O God, You are our strength, our fortress, our saviour: hear our prayers offered in faith, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

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

Morning Prayer: 24 Oct – Revelation 14:17-20 ~ grapes of wrath

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 14:17-20 (ESV) – to be read aloud

The Wine Press, 1864 John Roddam Spencer Stanhope Tate Britain
The Wine Press, 1864
John Roddam Spencer Stanhope
Tate Britain

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Reflection

THE SECOND VISION – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (8:2-14:20)

Interlude (12:1-14:20)

Vintage of the earth (14:17-20)

Verses 14-16 portrayed judgement under the general figure of the harvest. Now, by means of the more vivid figure of the vintage, John stresses the violent carnage of that judgement…. The harvest was reaped by Christ himself while the vintage is gathered by an angel from the temple in heaven. The two visions present the same judgement from slightly different perspectives. (Mounce, p. 279)

Radical judgement 14:19-20)

The harvest of grapes represents judgement, not salvation.

The metaphor suddenly changes from the treading of grapes to a military slaughter…. The entire land is pictured as being inundated in blood…. The thought is clear: a radical judgement that crushes every vestige of evil and hostility to the reign of God. (Ladd, p.201-2)
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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
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Peanut Gallery: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and  The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

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.) 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: 23 Oct – Revelation 14:14-16 ~ harvest time

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 14:14-16 (ESV) – to be read aloud

jesus-with-a-sharp-sickle-in-his-hand

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Reflection

THE SECOND VISION – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (8:2-14:20)

Interlude (12:1-14:20)

Harvest on earth (14:14-16)

Two visions of judgement bring the chapter to a close. Verses 14-16 picture the advent of divine judgement in the familiar figure of a grain harvest…. These visions serve to remind those who were suffering… that their faith in God and their reliance upon the saving efficacy of the sacrificial death of the Lamb will most certainly be vindicated…. The sharp sickle is the instrument of harvest and portrays the son of man prepared to reap the harvest of earth in righteous retribution…. The time to reap is the precise moment determined by God. (Mounce, p.277-8)
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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: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and  The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

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.) 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: 22 Oct – Revelation 14:9-13 ~ eternal torment and blessing

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 14:9-13 (ESV) – to be read aloud

hell_forever_and_ever

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Reflection

THE SECOND VISION – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (8:2-14:20)

Interlude (12:1-14:20)

Call to endurance (14:9-13)

The third angel pronounces a much worse fate for those who do worship the beast and bear his mark. They are to drink the wine of God’s fury and endure eternal torment in burning sulfur. This fierce warning is directed both to the pagan population and to those within the Christian community tempted to deny their faith in view of the coming persecution. That the warning is directed at apostate Christians as well, follows from John’s added comments in vv 12 and 13, which speak of the coming trial and promised blessedness for those who die in the Lord. (Mounce, p.272)

Eternal torment (14:9-11)

What will be the fate of those who persist in the worship of the beast?

Those who have set themselves in irreversible hostility to God must become the objects of divine wrath before Gods Kingdom is established. It is inconceivable that men who hate God’s Messiah and join in the persecution of God’s people should enter the Kingdom of God. The perfect reign of God and the establishment of his rule in the world includes the necessity of judgement of those who refuse to embrace his rule. (Ladd, p.194-5)

The intention of the torment described is to startle readers into the realization of the eternal consequences of denying their faith in Christ and worshiping the beast…. The punishment of the damned is not a temporary measure…. Without hope of acquittal, they pay the eternal price of having chosen evil over righteousness. (Mounce, p. 274)

Eternal blessing (14:12-13)

The saints are described in terms of their obedience to divine revelation and their continuing reliance on Jesus…. Faithfulness to Christ may issue in martyrdom, but the faithful dead are blessed in that they have entered victoriously into their rest.

The blessedness consists in the cessation of all the trials and sufferings… and their rest is from the troubles that have arisen from their steadfastness in faith. They are blessed because their deeds follow after them. God will not forget all that they ave endured in loyalty to the faith…. Their deeds follow after them in the sense that there can be no separation between what a person is and what a person does. (Mounce, p.275-7)
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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: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and  The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

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.) 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.