Tuesday Morning Prayer, 30 Jun 2020
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
All-powerful God, your incarnate Word commands our obedience and offers us true life. Make our ears attentive to the voice of your Son and our hearts generous in answering his call,that we may take up the cross with trust in his promises. 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.Amen.
Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]
Prepare to Pray:
Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 150 – The Lord Is Good to His People
Shout praises to the Lord! Praise God in his temple.
Praise him in heaven, his mighty fortress.
Praise our God! His deeds are wonderful, too marvelous to describe.
Praise God with trumpets and all kinds of harps.
Praise him with tambourines and dancing, with stringed instruments and woodwinds.
Praise God with cymbals, with clashing cymbals.
Let every living creature praise the Lord.
Shout praises to the Lord!
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Jeremiah Complains Again
You can see how I suffer insult after insult, all because of you, Lord. Don’t be so patient with my enemies; take revenge on them before they kill me.
When you spoke to me, I was glad to obey, because I belong to you, the Lord All-Powerful. I don’t go to parties and have a good time. Instead, I keep to myself, because you have filled me with your anger.
I am badly injured and in constant pain. Are you going to disappoint me, like a stream that goes dry in the heat of summer?
The Lord Replies
Then the Lord told me: Stop talking like a fool! If you turn back to me and speak my message, I will let you be my prophet once again.
I hope the people of Judah will accept what you say. But you can ignore their threats, because I am making you strong, like a bronze wall. They are evil and violent, but when they attack, I will be there to rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken.
Matthew 24:4-14
Jesus answered:
Don’t let anyone fool you. Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.
You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn’t the end. Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. But this is just the beginning of troubles.
You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations. Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people. Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come.
An Example*:
The Holy Fathers came together and spoke of what would happen in the last generation. One of them called Squirion said: ‘We now desire to fulfill the commandments of God.’
Then the Fathers asked him: ‘What about those who will come after us?’
He replied: ‘Perhaps half will desire to keep God’s commandments, and will seek the Eternal God.’
And the Fathers asked: ‘Those who come after these, what shall they do?’
He replied and said: ‘The men of that generation will not have the desire of God’s commandments. At that time wickedness will overflow and the charity of many will grow cold. And there shall come upon them a terrible testing. Those who shall be found worthy in this testing will be better than we are and better than our fathers.’
* Northumbria Community. Celtic Daily Prayer (Kindle Locations 11749-11751). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Prayer for Faithfulness:
Lord God: Refine us in the fire of trouble and persecution. Fill us with the Spirit of Christ Jesus, that we may have the courage and strength to face our present circumstances, and look to the future with eager expectation and hope. Deliver us from discouragement or failure that would dishonor God. Protect us from the enemy’s temptations, and from every evil feeling and thought. And enable us to speak boldly the Good News of Christ’s love, mercy and grace. It’s in his name and for your glory that we pray. Amen.
You Make Me Brave – Bethel Music
Closing
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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.