Morning Prayer: 24 Jan – Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Mk 3:20-21 ~ Christ: the perfect sacrifice

Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening sentences:

Lord, we proclaim Your love in the morning and Your truth in the watches of the night. Grant, Lord, that in the service of others we may always reflect Your own gentleness and love.

A Reading from Letters: Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 (NLT)

There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place.
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So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood — not the blood of goats and calves — he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
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Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. (Acts 16:14)
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 3:20-21 (NLT)

One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.
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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 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 23 Jan – Heb 8:6-13; Mk 3:13-19 ~ a far better covenant

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening sentences:

Father, we praise You for your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; through the Holy Spirit He offered himself in sacrifice to You, that we might be delivered from death and selfishness, and be free to live in Your peace. We accept this new day as Your gift, Lord; grant that we may live in newness of life. Father, in Your will is our peace.

A Reading from Letters: Hebrews 8:6-13 (NLT)

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said:

“The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.
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God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 3:13-19 (NLT)

Christ’s Appearance on the Mountain Duccio Di Buoninsegna, 14th century — Christ’s Appearance on the Mountain
Duccio Di Buoninsegna, 14th century

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
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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.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

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

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children: 22 Jan – Is 49:1, 3, 5-6, 13-15; Ps 139: 1-3, 13-15; Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

January 22 marks the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal throughout the U.S. Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children’s lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that loss – often in silence. Join thousands of Christians across the country to pray for a “culture of life!”

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

Opening sentences:

O God, source of all life and goodness, You fashion human lives in Your image and likeness, and through Your love, give each human life dignity, sanctity and priceless worth; awaken in every heart new reverence for the least of Your children, and renew among Your people a readiness to nurture and sustain Your precious gift of human life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Is 49:1, 3, 5-6, 13-15 (NLT)

Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.
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He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.”
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And now the Lord speaks — the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
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Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.” “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
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A Reading from the Psalms: Ps 139:1-3, 13-15 (NLT)

Life matters http://hopeafterabortion.com/ — Life matters
http://hopeafterabortion.com/

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.
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You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 (NLT)

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
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Prayers of Intercession

God is the author of life. In Him we place our trust and hope as we pray:

+ For the mother who awakens each morning with the memory of abortion fresh in her mind … Lord, have mercy
+ For the father whose child died with his cooperation and consent … Lord, have mercy
+ For the parents who influenced their child’s choice to abort their grandchild … Lord, have mercy
+ For the doctors, nurses and counselors who work at abortion facilities … Lord, have mercy
+ For scientists and pharmaceutical employees who manufacture abortifacient drugs … Lord, have mercy
+ For those whose work involves promoting abortion and contraceptive use … Lord, have mercy
+ For elected leaders who oppose any restriction on the abortion license … Lord, have mercy
+ For an end to legal abortion in our nation and for the conversion of all hearts … Lord, have mercy
+ For repentance, healing and peace for those involved in abortion in any way … Lord, have mercy

God our Creator, Lord and Redeemer of mankind, we give thanks to You, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as You form each of us in our mother’s womb; You alone have the power to forgive sins against human life, and to heal the wounds caused by these sins; grant the prayers we have placed before You, and grant that we, Your children, will place all our trust in Your Divine Mercy so that the world and all its inhabitants may be saved. Through Christ our Lord.
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Benediction:

To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:5-6)

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

Morning Prayer: 21 Jan – Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Mk 3:1-6 ~ Jesus, our priest forever

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening sentences:

God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.

Almighty, ever-living God, You choose what is weak in the world to shame what is strong. Grant that we, in our weakness, may be steadfast in faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

A Reading from Letters: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 (NLT)

melchizadeck

This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors — no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.
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This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
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Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 3:1-6 (NLT)

Christ healing the man with a withered hand Byzantine mosaic (ca. 1180) in the Cathedral of Monreale, Italy — Christ healing the man with a withered hand
Byzantine mosaic (ca. 1180) in the Cathedral of Monreale, Italy

Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
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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.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

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

Morning Prayer: 20 Jan – Heb 6:10-20; Mk 2:23-28 ~ anchored in hope

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening sentences:

Lord Jesus, as this day begins we remember that You are risen, and therefore we look to the future with confidence. Take to Yourself our cares, our hopes, and our needs. Deepen in us our love for You today, so that in all things we may find our good, and the good of others. Lord Jesus, we pray that through our own troubles, we may learn to feel the sufferings of others; help us to show them Your compassion.

A Reading from Letters: Hebrews 6:10-20 (NLT)

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

hope-anchors-the-soul

For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
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May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 2:23-28 (NLT)

Jesus' disciples picking grain on the Sabbath — Jesus’ disciples picking grain on the Sabbath

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
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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.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

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

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