Tag: John the Baptist

Morning Prayer for Saturday, 2nd Week in Advent: I Kings 16:30-33, 17:1-5, 18:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 80:2b-3, 15-19; Matthew 17:9-13 ~ rescue us

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentence

We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward. Without your grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay.

Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and make us rise to fall no more. O let your face upon us shine and fill the world with love divine.

Morning readings

I Kings 16:29-33, 17:1-5, 18:1-2, 17-18 NLT

Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. And as though it were not enough to follow the example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
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The Prophet Elijah in the Desert, Fed by a Raven Loretta Hoffmann
The Prophet Elijah in the
Desert, Fed by a Raven
Loretta Hoffmann

Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
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Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” So Elijah went to appear before Ahab.
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When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”

“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead….”

Psalm 80:2b-3, 14-19 NLT

Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us! Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
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Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Look down from heaven and see our plight. Take care of this grapevine that you yourself have planted, this son you have raised for yourself. For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. May they perish at the sight of your frown. Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice. Then we will never abandon you again. Revive us so we can call on your name once more.

Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.

Matthew 17:9-13 NLT:

As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”

Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

Reflection/Prayer:

Lord Jesus – As the world I have known collapses around me, You are the constant in my life… my soul finds its rest in You. God of Angel Armies – Rescue Your people who are suffering great distress during these perilous times. Come to us with power and strength and sustain us. Show us Your mercy… revive our spirits… and raise us up from the ashes of sin and death. Holy Spirit – Comfort Your people as we wait for that glorious day… no tears, no suffering, no heartache, no pain, no death. Give us beauty for ashes and a song of praise to sing forever in Your presence. And… come quickly. Amen.

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 Morning Prayer readings are from the USCCB Daily Readings and the format from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com. The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you.

Morning Reading: Luke 7.24-35 NLT – living proof

Reading: Luke 7.24-35 NLT

After John’s disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,

Chrisitian orthodox priests baptize a pilgrim in the waters of the Jordan River
Chrisitian orthodox priests baptize a pilgrim in the waters of the Jordan River

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”

When they heard this, all the people — even the tax collectors — agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.

“To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’

For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”

Baptismal Declarations:

    • I renounce Satan and turn away from all his evil works and empty promises.
    • I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins and welcome him as my Savior and Lord.
    • I put my whole trust in his grace and love and – with God’s help – will be his faithful follower.

Prayer: Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Creed” – Third Day

Morning Reading: Luke 7.18-23 NLT – power proofs

Reading: Luke 7.18-23 NLT

The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

Jesus_healing_blindJohn’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”

At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’”

Prayer: “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” Move among us, Lord Jesus, with mercy and healing graces today. Amen.

Hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – Robert Robinson (1758)

Morning Reading: Luke 3.10-14, 18 NLT – John the Baptist

Reading: Luke 3:10-14, 18 NLT

image

The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”

“What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Help me to receive John the Baptist’s warnings as “Good News” – as a way of aligning my life with Your Kingdom purposes. And help me sort through my response to genuinely impoverished people… as a rich Westerner. I ask it in Jesus’ name.

Change my heart Oh God…

“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” – Advent Carol Service 2012 – Trinity College Chapel (YouTube)

Advent Carol Service 2012 - Trinity College Chapel
Advent Carol Service 2012 – Trinity College Chapel

Peanut Gallery: “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” – by Charles Coffin (1676-1749)

The Hymn may be found in the middle of the Trinity College Chapel Advent Carol Service:

    • Beginning at 39.14 – Reading: Matthew 3.1-12 “John the Baptist Prepares the Way”
    • Beginning at 41.17 – Hymn: “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”

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“On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lord is nigh. Awake and harken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings!”


Please note: The words sung are slightly different from those printed here.

“Then cleansed be every life from sin: make straight the way for God within, and let us all our hearts prepare for Christ to come and enter there.

“We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward. Without your grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay.”

“Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and make us rise to fall no more. O let your face upon us shine and fill the world with love divine.”

“All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won, whom with the Father we adore, and Holy Spirit, evermore.”