Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

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 35 (36)
The sinner's wickedness; God's goodness
Evil whispers to the sinner in the depths of his heart: the fear of God does not stand before his eyes. Evil’s flattering light disguises his wickedness, so that he does not hate it. His words are false and deceitful, he no longer considers how to do good. Even when in bed he plots mischief; he follows the wrong path; he does not hate malice. Lord, your mercy fills the heavens, your faithfulness rises to the sky. Your justice is like the mountains of God, your judgements are like the deeps of the sea. Lord, you protect both men and beasts. How precious is your kindness, O God! The sons of men will take shelter under your wings; they will eat their fill from the riches of your house, drink all they want from the stream of your joy. For with you is the spring of life-giving water, in your light we see true light. Hold out your mercy to those who know you, offer your justice to the upright in heart. Let me not be crushed under the heels of the proud, nor dispossessed by the hands of sinners. The doers of evil have fallen where they stood, they are cast down and cannot rise. 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 35 (36)

The sinner's wickedness; God's goodness

Evil whispers to the sinner in the depths of his heart: the fear of God does not stand before his eyes.

Evil’s flattering light disguises his wickedness, so that he does not hate it.
His words are false and deceitful, he no longer considers how to do good.
Even when in bed he plots mischief; he follows the wrong path; he does not hate malice.

Lord, your mercy fills the heavens, your faithfulness rises to the sky.
Your justice is like the mountains of God, your judgements are like the deeps of the sea.
Lord, you protect both men and beasts.

How precious is your kindness, O God! The sons of men will take shelter under your wings;
they will eat their fill from the riches of your house, drink all they want from the stream of your joy.
For with you is the spring of life-giving water, in your light we see true light.

Hold out your mercy to those who know you, offer your justice to the upright in heart.
Let me not be crushed under the heels of the proud, nor dispossessed by the hands of sinners.
The doers of evil have fallen where they stood, they are cast down and cannot rise.

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	Judith 16
The Lord, creator of the world, protects his people
Make music to my God with drums, sing to my Lord with cymbals. Begin a new song to him, extol and call upon his name. You are the God who crushes battle-lines, you set up your camp among your people, you save me from the grip of my persecutors. I will sing a new song to God: Lord, you are great and glorious, wonderful in your unconquerable power. Let all your creatures serve you, for you spoke and they were made, you sent forth your spirit, and they were created: there is no-one who can resist your command. For the mountains will be shaken to their roots, the seas will be stirred up, at your sight the rocks will melt like wax – but to those who fear you, you will show your loving kindness. 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

Judith 16

The Lord, creator of the world, protects his people

Make music to my God with drums, sing to my Lord with cymbals.
Begin a new song to him, extol and call upon his name.
You are the God who crushes battle-lines, you set up your camp among your people, you save me from the grip of my persecutors.

I will sing a new song to God: Lord, you are great and glorious, wonderful in your unconquerable power.
Let all your creatures serve you, for you spoke and they were made,
you sent forth your spirit, and they were created: there is no-one who can resist your command.

For the mountains will be shaken to their roots, the seas will be stirred up, at your sight the rocks will melt like wax –
but to those who fear you, you will show your loving kindness.

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 46 (47)
The Lord is King
All nations, clap your hands; cry out to God in exultation, for the Lord, the Most High, is greatly to be feared, and King over all the earth. He has made whole peoples our subjects, put nations beneath our feet. He has chosen our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God ascends amid rejoicing, the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing to God, sing praise. Sing to our king, sing praise. God is king over the whole earth: sing to him with all your skill. God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The nobles of the peoples join together with the people of the God of Abraham, for to God belong the armies of the earth; he is high above all things. 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 46 (47)

The Lord is King

All nations, clap your hands; cry out to God in exultation,
for the Lord, the Most High, is greatly to be feared, and King over all the earth.

He has made whole peoples our subjects, put nations beneath our feet.
He has chosen our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
God ascends amid rejoicing, the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

Sing to God, sing praise. Sing to our king, sing praise.
God is king over the whole earth: sing to him with all your skill.

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The nobles of the peoples join together with the people of the God of Abraham,
for to God belong the armies of the earth; he is high above all things.

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.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. 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

Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death;
to lead our feet in the path of peace.

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.

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

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.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

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

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Meditation
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10,16-18

Keep away from believers who are living in idleness. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

Idleness is a constant temptation to our human nature. Hitting the snooze button one more time, skipping or shortening our prayer, sitting back and letting others wait on us, not noticing what needs to be done, being content with a shoddy job, finishing what we prefer to do rather than being on time for a commitment, saying no to another’s pressing need—we all face temptations like this every day.

When we examine our consciences at the end of the day, it is easy to congratulate ourselves for avoiding overt sins. Perhaps I haven’t lied, stolen, cheated, or insulted anyone. But what have I “failed to do,” in the words of the Penitential Rite? On what commitments have I slacked off? What opportunities did the Lord offer me to advance his kingdom? In what distressing disguises did he make me aware of his needs? How did his Spirit nudge me to speak a word of correction or encouragement, to go out of my way to perform a random act of kindness and love?

We sometimes feel overwhelmed by all God gives us to do. We lose sight of the fact that he is at work within us to accomplish his will (Philippians 2:13). When all is said and done, it is his Holy Spirit who inspires us, energizes us, and makes our labors fruitful. And that’s good news, because the Spirit is not a slave driver but a yokefellow and friend. Sometimes he enables us to discern when to say no, and other times he impels us to undertake the impossible. But whatever he does in us, he never leaves us.

“Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:1-2). It’s not the most spectacular promise, but it is quite encouraging. When we take up the calling God has given us—however mundane it may seem—we find satisfaction. And what’s more, if we make this the pattern of our lives, we will find joy as well.

“Lord, you know my weaknesses, but you have called me to be your disciple, sharing the work of your kingdom. By your Spirit, energize me to say yes to your call.”

Psalm 128:1-2,4-5; Matthew 23:27-32