Tag: You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.

Morning Prayer: Sat, 07 Jan – 1 John 3:22-4:6; Psalm 2:7-8,10-11; Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 ~ truth or deception?

Saturday of the Second Week of Christmas

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

Opening Sentence

O come, let us adore him!

The people that lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.
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Reading:1 John 3:22-4:6 (NLT)

And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

wolf_in_sheeps_clothing

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
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Reading: Psalm 2:7-8,10-11 (NLT)

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession….'”
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Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.
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Reading: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 (NLT)

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
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Prayer:

Glory to you, Christ the Lord! Through you God’s salvation reaches to the boundaries of the earth.

+ Christ, our Redeemer, you have drawn all men to yourself; break down the walls of prejudice that separate man from man.
+ Word, made flesh, you came to live among us: help us to recognize your presence in the Church and in the lives of the people around us.
+ Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed: conform our faith and our works to your teaching.
+ Immanuel, God with us, renew our lives completely; make us a people you can call your own.

Lord God, may the radiance of your glory light up our hearts and bring us through the shadows of this world until we reach our homeland of everlasting light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Light of the World” – Eden’s Bridge


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Blessing

You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory… because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

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

Sunday, 25 October: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 ~ healing and strength for the journey

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence and Prayer:

We come to God, who gives the blind new sight and strengths us to continue on our pilgrim journey to the Father’s house.
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Have compassion on us, God our Savior. Grant us grace and courage to cast off our sins and turn to You for healing. Show us in Christ the sure path of eternal life and strengthen us to follow gladly in the way of the cross. 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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Hymn: “The Joy of the Lord is my strength” – Fiji Military Forces singing in Israel


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A Reading from the Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-9 (NLT)
[A vision of a time when all God’s people are gathered together, with everyone sharing the gift of new sight.]

Now this is what the Lord says: “Sing with joy for Israel. Shout for the greatest of nations! Shout out with praise and joy: ‘Save your people, O Lord, the remnant of Israel!’

Jewish immigrant from Iran hugging a relative in Israel. At the airport, ecstatic Israelis hugged family members they hadn't seen for years.
Jewish immigrant from Iran hugging a relative in Israel.
At the airport, ecstatic Israelis hugged family members they hadn’t seen for years.

For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women in labor. A great company will return!

Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 126:1-6 (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.
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“Psalm 126” – Sojourn Music


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A Reading from the Letters: Hebrews 5:1-6 (NLT)
[Christ is our high priest, but he also knows our weakness.]

Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.

And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”

And in another passage God said to him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 10:46-52 (NLT)
[The blind beggar Bartimaeus is healed by Jesus.]

Christ Healing the Blind Man Andrey Mironov, 2009
Christ Healing the Blind Man
Andrey Mironov, 2009
Ryazan, Russia

Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”

So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
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Hymn: “Heal me O Lord” – Don Moen

Heal me Oh Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved. Heal me Oh Lord, and I will be healed. For You are the One I praise; You are the one I praise.
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Intercessions:

The Lord has worked marvels for us, so we can approach Him with confidence.

+ For the church throughout the world – that we may be united in Christ…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the world – that every evil may be defeated, especially trafficking, the modern form of slavery…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who suffer — mentally, physically or spiritually — that they may experience the healing power of Christ…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have problems with their sight – that help and understanding may be given them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the people who sit on our streets, begging – that they may experience kindness and compassion…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the victims of violence and war – especially those in the Middle East – that they may be delivered from evil and their souls restored…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have died – especially those martyred for their Christian faith – that they may have eternal rest in You…. Lord, hear us.

O Lord, we rejoice in your marvelous kindness and bring You all our needs: we entrust them to You with faith and confidence, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “Trust In You” – Lauren Daigle

Letting go of every single dream / I lay each one down at Your feet / Every moment of my wandering / Never changes what You see / I’ve tried to win this war I confess / My hands are weary I need Your rest / Mighty Warrior, King of the fight / No matter what I face, You’re by my side

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move / When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through / When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You / I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings / There’s not a day ahead You have not seen / So, in all things be my life and breath / I want what You want Lord and nothing less
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You are my strength and comfort / You are my steady hand / You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand / Your ways are always higher / Your plans are always good / There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood
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I will trust in You! I will trust in You! I will trust in You!
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Benediction:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

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