Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

As Christians called to follow Christ in good times as well as bad, we praise our God who sustains us on that journey.

Opening Prayer:

O God, whose Son, our Messiah and Lord, did not turn aside from the path of suffering nor spare his disciples the prospect of rejection, pour out your Spirit upon us, that we may abandon the security of the easy way and follow in Christ’s footsteps toward the cross and true life. Grant 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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“Lift High The Cross” – BBC Songs of Praise from St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast

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A Reading from the Old Testament:Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1 (NLT)
[The death of Jesus is foretold: the citizens of Jerusalem are to “look on the one whom they have pierced”. These words are echoed in the prophecy Jesus makes in the Gospel.]

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died. The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem on that day will be like the great mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.
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On that day a fountain will be opened for the dynasty of David and for the people of Jerusalem, a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 63:2-6, 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.
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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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“Psalm 63” – Hebraic Worship | Deanne

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A Reading from the Letters: Galatians 3:26-29 (NLT)
[Baptism unites people, it strips away all divisions, it makes everyone equal in Christ.]

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 9:18-24 (NLT)
[Peter’s acknowledgement of Jesus as the Christ brings a prophecy of the death of the Son of Man, and a call to disciples to take up the cross of discipleship themselves.]

One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, 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.
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Hymn: “Take Up Your Cross” – Ray Boltz

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Intercessory Prayer:

Loving Father: you give good gifts to your children, hear our prayers:

+ That Christians who are being persecuted may not give up…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the entire human family may turn from prejudice and injustice…. Lord, hear us.
+ That lonely people may discover your friendship…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the sick and dying may experience your healing presence…. Lord, hear us.
+ That our fathers may be blessed on this Father’ Day…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who mourn may experience your comfort…. Lord, hear us.
+ That we may be reunited in eternal life with all the faithful we have loved…. Lord, hear us.

God of love and kindness, we rejoice in your protection and hold fast to your promise of eternal life. Give us the grace we need to live faithfully for you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“We Will Not Be Shaken” – Brian Johnson

Benediction:

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

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