Posted on 02/24/2005 6:22:04 AM PST by lightman
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Almighty God, you chose your faithful servant Mattias to be numbered among the twelve. Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
FIRST LESSON • Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus says the LORD: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool what is the house that you would build for me; and what is my resting place? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite is spirit, who trembles at my word.
PSALM 56
SECOND LESSON • Acts 1:15-26 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold concerning Judas,who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus--for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseer.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
GOSPEL • Luke 6:12-16 Now during these days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day dame, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Phillip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
INTERCESSIONS BASED ON THE TE DEUM
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all persons according to their needs.
We praise you, O God, Holy Lord of power and might. Sustain your Church in the confession of faith proclaimed by the glorious company of apostles, the noble fellowship of prophets, and the white-robed army of martyrs. Lord, in your mercy...
All creation worships you, eternal God. Teach your people to sing endless praise to you with all angels and powers of heaven, and to care for the earth you have made for our home. Lord, in your mercy...
The whole Church acclaims you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father of majesty unbounded, empower those baptized in the triune name to reflect the love expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of your true and only Son, who is worthy of all praise. Lord, in your mercy...
We sing to you, Holy Spirit, advocate, and guide. Lead us to seek peace and justice for all people. Lord, in your mercy...
You, Christ, are the king of glory. You overcame the sting of death. Through us, your servants, come to all who are hungry or thirsty or naked or sick or in prison. Lord, in your mercy...
You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Help those who do not know your grace, bring them to faith. Lord, in your mercy...
We believe that you will come and be our judge. Save us in that time of trial and deliver us from the evil one. Lord, in your mercy...
Come, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting where you live and reign now and for ever.
Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar this was the feast of St. Matthias, apostle. His feast has been transferred to May 14.
Ironic that in some Calendar matters Lutherans and Episcopalians are the "traditional catholics"! Another example is that both still observe St. Thomas the Apostle on December 21 instead of July 3.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.