Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 48 (49)
The uselessness of riches
All peoples, listen – all who live in the world, hear what I have to say: humble and great together, rich and poor alike! My mouth will speak wisdom, my inmost thoughts will bring good counsel. I will turn my ears to a mystery, I will expound a riddle on the lyre. Why should I be fearful in times of trouble, when the crimes of usurpers hem me in? They trust in their own strength and glory in their great riches. But, after all, man cannot redeem himself, he cannot ransom himself before God. The price of his soul’s redemption is too great, he cannot pay it – the price of eternal death avoided. He will see that even the wise die; the foolish and the stupid too will perish, and their riches will pass to others. Their tombs will be homes to them for ever, their dwelling-place for all generations, even if the lands they owned are named after them. Though he be full of honour, man will not endure: he is like the beasts of burden, that die; he is like the beasts that perish. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 48 (49)

The uselessness of riches

All peoples, listen –
all who live in the world, hear what I have to say:
humble and great together,
rich and poor alike!

My mouth will speak wisdom,
my inmost thoughts will bring good counsel.
I will turn my ears to a mystery,
I will expound a riddle on the lyre.

Why should I be fearful in times of trouble,
when the crimes of usurpers hem me in?
They trust in their own strength
and glory in their great riches.

But, after all, man cannot redeem himself,
he cannot ransom himself before God.
The price of his soul’s redemption is too great, he cannot pay it –
the price of eternal death avoided.
He will see that even the wise die;
the foolish and the stupid too will perish,
and their riches will pass to others.

Their tombs will be homes to them for ever,
their dwelling-place for all generations,
even if the lands they owned are named after them.
Though he be full of honour, man will not endure:
he is like the beasts of burden, that die;
he is like the beasts that perish.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 48 (49)
Those who trust in themselves – this is the road they take. This is the end of those who boast. Like sheep they go down into the underworld, and death is their shepherd. They will fall headlong into the grave: their faces will be eaten away, and the underworld will be their dwelling-place. But God will ransom my life; truly he will lift me from the grasp of the underworld. Do not fear, when a man becomes rich and the glory of his house increases. When he dies, he will not take it with him, his glory will not follow him down to the grave. Even if he calls himself blessed, says “see how they praise me for my success”, still he will join his fathers, cut off from light, for ever. Though he be full of honour, yet he does not understand. He is like the beasts of burden, that die; he is like the beasts that perish. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 48 (49)

Those who trust in themselves – this is the road they take.
This is the end of those who boast.
Like sheep they go down into the underworld,
and death is their shepherd.
They will fall headlong into the grave:
their faces will be eaten away,
and the underworld will be their dwelling-place.

But God will ransom my life;
truly he will lift me from the grasp of the underworld.
Do not fear, when a man becomes rich
and the glory of his house increases.
When he dies, he will not take it with him,
his glory will not follow him down to the grave.
Even if he calls himself blessed,
says “see how they praise me for my success”,
still he will join his fathers,
cut off from light, for ever.

Though he be full of honour, yet he does not understand.
He is like the beasts of burden, that die;
he is like the beasts that perish.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Canticle	Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power; for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created. You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals, for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation, and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth. The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Apocalypse 4,5

The song of the redeemed

You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power;
for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created.

You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals,
for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth.

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Short reading	Romans 3:23 - 25 ©
All have sinned and forfeited God’s glory, and all are justified through the free gift of his grace by being redeemed in Christ Jesus who was appointed by God to sacrifice his life so as to win reconciliation through faith.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ is the guardian and shepherd of our souls: he loves his people and keeps them safe. Let us give him praise and with hope and trust let us ask him: - Lord, protect your people.
Eternal Shepherd, protect our Bishop, N.,: and all the pastors of your church.
Look with kindness on those who suffer persecution:: swiftly free them from their tribulations.
Take pity, Lord, on the destitute: and give food to the hungry.
Give light to legislators,: so that they perceive what is wise and just.
Raise up the dead whom you redeemed with your blood:: make them worthy to join you at your feast in heaven.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Lord God, the day belongs to you and so does the night.
May the Sun of Justice shine always in our hearts
so that we may reach the eternal light where you dwell.

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.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

The Word Among Us

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Meditation
Luke 4:31-37

They were astonished at his teaching. (Luke 4:32)

When was the last time Jesus astonished you? When was the last time he showed you that he was not just another philosopher or religious figure? The people of Galilee were surprised because his word had authority. He didn’t just give suggestions for moral living, he said, “Rise and walk”! He didn’t just proclaim a favorable year of the Lord, he brought it about by casting out a demon from the man in the synagogue.

Jesus has power. The gospel is not weak or ineffective. Because we are Jesus’ witnesses in the world, he wants us to be convinced of his power to transform, heal, and bring life. How else can we bring the good news to those still in darkness? Jesus doesn’t want us to be resigned to mediocrity. He wants us to see him for who he is, the one who can transform any life by the power of his word. Why? Because he wants to do something astonishing in our lives, even today!

Have you felt deflated in your spiritual life? Maybe there’s a pattern of sin that just keeps tripping you up, and you feel stuck. Let Jesus speak his healing words and give you the power to rise and walk away from your failings. Do you struggle with negative thoughts? Maybe you can’t seem to avoid accusations or judgments against other people. Let Jesus silence the devil’s whisperings and fill your mind with his mercy and love instead. Is it sometimes hard to believe that Jesus will intervene in a difficult situation? Perhaps a loved one is ill; a family member can’t find work; or a coworker has a substance abuse problem. Let Jesus give you greater expectation that he really can bring healing, and go ahead and pray for healing, deliverance, and freedom!

Jesus is just as able to astonish us now as he was thousands of years ago. As we turn to him and ask him to show us his power, we will see not only our own lives changing. We will also become more powerful witnesses for him in our everyday lives!

“Heavenly Father, you sent Jesus as your Word made flesh. As he speaks his healing in my life, let my transformation bring his presence into the world around me!”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11; Psalm 27:1,4,13-14