Tag: jesus

4th Sunday in Advent: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Psa 89:2-5, 27-29; Rom 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 ~ King Jesus, enthroned forever

4th Sunday in Advent

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

Opening prayer:

image

Advent is drawing to a close; only four more days left to prepare for the birth of Christ. On this Sunday, we’re invited to follow Mary’s example and imitate her faith.
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Here in our midst, O God of mystery, You disclose the secret hidden for countless ages. For You we wait, for You we listen.

Upon hearing Your voice may we, like Mary, embrace Your will and become a dwelling fit for Your Word.

Grant this through Him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild; Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall; with the poor and meek and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

Jesus is our childhood’s pattern; day by day like us he grew; he was little, weak and helpless; tears and smiles like us he knew; and he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
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A Reading from the Old testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 (NLT)

When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”

Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But that same night the Lord said to Nathan,

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?
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“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you — a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.
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“I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.
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“Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 89:2-5, 27-29 (NLT)

Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant. I have sworn this oath to him: ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”

All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.
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I will make him my firstborn son, the mightiest king on earth. I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end. I will preserve an heir for him; his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.
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A Reading from the Letters: Romans 16:25-27 (NLT)

Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
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Intercessions:

Lord God: Your love for us endures forever. In humble confidence, we present our needs to You. Lord, hear us.

+ For all who profess their faith in Christ – that with open hearts we may welcome our Saviour…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the Jewish people, descendants of the great King David – that God’s promises to them may be fulfilled…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the members of all religions – that they may grow in tolerance and respect for each other…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people in our faith communities who lack courage – that they may be inspired by Mary’s trust in You…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our relatives and friends coming home for Christmas – that they may travel safely and find peace and rest…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people who suffered grief or illness this past year – that their friends may love and support them in times of loneliness…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have gone before us in faith, and for all those who have died through acts of violence since last Christmas – that they may receive a welcome in heaven…. Lord, hear us.

O God, Your love for Your people endures forever: hear our prayers and send us Your help, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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O Light Everlasting, O Love never failing. Illumine our darkness and draw us to Thee. May we from Thy spirit receive inspiration As children together Thy wisdom may see. Make known to all nations Thy peace and salvation, And help us O Father, Thy temple to be.
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Benediction:

We rejoice at the coming of the Saviour in our flesh, and we await His return again in glory. May God the almighty and merciful bless You by the light of Christ’s coming, and enrich Your lives with every grace.

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

Morning Prayer: 18 Dec – Matthew 1:18-25 ~ the birth of Jesus

Seventh Day Before Christmas

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

Opening sentences:

The Lord is close at hand: come let us worship him.

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

I look to you, Lord, for help: come and save me, Lord, for I seek refuge in you.

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)

Angel Appears to Joseph in a Dream Gaetano Gandolfi, c. 1790
Angel Appears to Joseph in a Dream
Gaetano Gandolfi, c. 1790

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

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Canticle

I look to you, Lord, for help: come and save me, Lord, for I seek refuge in you.

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.

Teach me, dear Lord, to number my days; that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Oh, satisfy me early with Thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days.

Blessing:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

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

Morning Prayer: 17 Dec – Matthew 1:1-17 ~ the Jesse tree

Eighth Day Before Christmas

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

Opening sentences:

The Lord is close at hand: come let us worship him.

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love; come to teach us the path of knowledge!

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 1:1-17 (NLT)

The genealogy in Matthew was traditionally illustrated by a "Tree of Jesse" showing the descent of Jesus from Jesse, father of King David
Bible des Capucins, l’arbre de Jessé The genealogy in Matthew was traditionally illustrated by a “Tree of Jesse” showing the descent of Jesus from Jesse, father of King David

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).

After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
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Canticle

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love; come to teach us the path of knowledge!

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.

Teach me, dear Lord, to number my days; that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Oh, satisfy me early with Thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days.

Blessing:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

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

Morning Prayer: 16 Dec – Matthew 21:28-32 ~ on obedience

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

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

Opening sentences:

Come, O Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.
Show us, LORD, Your love, and grant us Your salvation.
Let Your beauty be upon us.

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 21:28-32 (NLT)

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.

“Which of the two obeyed his father?”

They replied, “The first.”

Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
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The Lord hears the Cry of the Poor


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Canticle

Teach me, dear Lord, to number my days; that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Oh, satisfy me early with Thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days.

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.

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon me; and establish Thou the work of my hands.

Blessing:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

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

Morning Prayer: 17 July – Psalm 126; Jeremiah 31:21; Luke 23:26 ~ on godly leadership

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.

Pilgrimage

Psalm 126 NLT

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

St Oswald's Cross Heavenfield The inscription beneath reads "Heavenfield, where King Oswald, being about to engage in battle, erected the sign of the Holy Cross and on his knees, prayed to God and obtained the victory that his faith deserved."
St Oswald’s Cross
Heavenfield
The inscription beneath reads “Heavenfield, where King Oswald, being about to engage in battle, erected the sign of the Holy Cross and on his knees, prayed to God and obtained the victory that his faith deserved.”
Jeremiah 31:21 NLT

Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again, my virgin Israel; return to your towns here.

Luke 23:26 NLT

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Reflections

HEAVENFIELD

Many a commemorative cross stands by roadside or in field, but few as significantly as that which stands at Heavenfield. It reminds us of good King Oswald, returning from Iona to unite his land, and win its people to Christ. He did not shirk his responsibilities, but fulfilled them with honesty and faith, as a Christian first, and only secondly as a king. We can only imagine with what mixture of emotions he knelt before the cross that day.
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God has a place for you to fill,
but it will take all of you to fill it.
(Hugh Redwood)
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He walks with God who, as he onward moves,
follows the footsteps of the Lord he loves,
and keeping Him forever in his view,
his Saviour sees and His example too.
(Author unknown)
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I’m going where He goes –
out into the world
of lonely people.
(Ann Kiemel)
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If this is not a place
where tears are understood
then where can I go to cry?
(Ken Medema)

Aidan Readings – Aidan of Lindisfarne
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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: 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 July. 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.