Tag: the Lord our maker

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28 ~ undivided attention

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Come and listen to God’s word and share life together. Praise the One who has rescued us from sin and darkness, and brought us the hope of heaven.

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

Opening prayer:

Faithful God, Your Holy One, Jesus of Nazareth, spoke the truth with authority, and You confirmed His teaching by wondrous deeds. Through His healing presence, drive far from us all that is unholy, so that by word and deed we may proclaim Him Messiah and Lord and bear witness to Your power to heal and save. 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.
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A Reading from the Old testament: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (NLT)

Jesus in the synagogue (1)

Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right. I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf. But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9 (NLT)

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
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Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
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…for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (NLT)

asleep

I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 1:21-28 (NLT)

Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority — quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!”

Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.

Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
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Intercessions:

As the people belonging to God’s pasture, let us bring our prayers before the Lord who saves us.

+ For all who teach in God’s name – that they may help many find the Kingdom…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who are church leaders – that God may guide their words and actions…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have answered God’s call to full time Christian service – that their lives may show Christ to the world…. Lord, hear us.
+ For Christians suffering persecution for their faith – that Christ may be close to them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the prophets of today who challenge all of humanity – that the Spirit of God may guide them in spreading the message of justice and truth…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all adults, married or single – that God may have our undivided attention and first loyalty…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have died – that they may dwell in the Lord’s house forever…. Lord, hear us.

God our shepherd, You gently lead Your people: hear our prayers and graciously answer them, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:16-17)

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

23rd Ordinary Sunday: Ezekial 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 ~ on heeding the watchmen

23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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

Opening prayer:

We gather as God’s family, concerned for each other, supporting one another in sadness and joy.

Confirm, O God, in unity and truth the church You gather in Christ. Encourage the fervent, enlighten the doubtful, and bring back the wayward. Bind us together in mutual love, that our worship in Christ’s name may be pleasing to You. 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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A Reading from the Old testament: Ezekial 33:7-9 (NLT)

watchman

“Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (NLT)

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
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Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.

If only you would listen to his voice today!
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The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.
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A Reading from the Letters: Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)

Owe nothing to anyone — except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 18:15-20 (NLT)

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
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Intercessions:

Good Shepherd, we number ourselves among Your flock – hear our prayers:

+ For the prophets called to challenge God’s people — that they may never be afraid to speak the truth….
Lord, hear us.

+ For all the members of every church — that we may courageously help each other to become more like Christ….
Lord, hear us.

+ For all church members who have gone astray – that we might receive correction graciously and be reconciled to one another….
Lord, hear us.

+ For Christians suffering persecution in Syria, Iraq and throughout the Middle East — that their courage may not fail….
Lord, hear us

+ For people who are mentally or physically disabled — that may receive the love and help they need for a dignified life….
Lord, hear us.

+ For those beginning a new school year, students and teachers alike — that they may have gifts of wisdom and understanding….
Lord, hear us.

+ For all who have died recently — that their families may be comforted and that the Good Shepherd may include them in the heavenly flock…. Lord, hear us.

O God our creator, you are the rock who saves us: listen to our voices and help us in our needs, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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