Vespers (Evening Prayer)

(These are the First Vespers of tomorrow, 29th Sunday of the year)

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 140 (141)
Prayer in time of danger
O Lord, I call on you, hurry to my help: listen to my voice when I call. When I make my prayer, let it rise like incense before you; when I raise my hands, let it be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard on my mouth, Lord, a watch upon my lips. Do not let my heart turn to evil thoughts, to the planning of wicked deeds, to alliance with wrongdoers. Let me not share in their delights. Let the just man strike and rebuke me out of kindness; but sinners shall never anoint me with oil, or I would be an ally in their plans. When they fall into the hands of harsh judges, they will see how kind my words were. Like fragments of spoil after digging, their bones will lie scattered round the mouth of the underworld. To you, Lord, to you my eyes are turned. I take refuge in you – preserve my life. Protect me from the trap they have laid for me, save me from the snares of the wicked. Let them be caught in their own nets, all of them, while I pass by in safety. 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 140 (141)

Prayer in time of danger

O Lord, I call on you, hurry to my help: listen to my voice when I call.
When I make my prayer, let it rise like incense before you; when I raise my hands, let it be like the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard on my mouth, Lord, a watch upon my lips.
Do not let my heart turn to evil thoughts, to the planning of wicked deeds,
to alliance with wrongdoers. Let me not share in their delights.
Let the just man strike and rebuke me out of kindness; but sinners shall never anoint me with oil, or I would be an ally in their plans.

When they fall into the hands of harsh judges, they will see how kind my words were.
Like fragments of spoil after digging, their bones will lie scattered round the mouth of the underworld.

To you, Lord, to you my eyes are turned. I take refuge in you – preserve my life.
Protect me from the trap they have laid for me, save me from the snares of the wicked.
Let them be caught in their own nets, all of them, while I pass by in safety.

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 141 (142)
You are my refuge
My voice cries out to the Lord; my voice cries out its entreaty. I pour out lamentation in his sight, I proclaim my troubles before him. When my spirit is failing within me, still, Lord, you know my paths. On the road I was travelling, they set up a trap for me. I looked about me and saw there was no-one beside me to help. I have nowhere to flee; and no-one will miss me. I have cried to you Lord, I have said: “you are my refuge, my share in the land of the living. Listen to my call for help, for I am crushed down”. “Lead my spirit from prison, so that I may praise your name. The upright will gather around me, because you have restored 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.

Psalm 141 (142)

You are my refuge

My voice cries out to the Lord; my voice cries out its entreaty.
I pour out lamentation in his sight, I proclaim my troubles before him.

When my spirit is failing within me, still, Lord, you know my paths.
On the road I was travelling, they set up a trap for me.
I looked about me and saw there was no-one beside me to help.
I have nowhere to flee; and no-one will miss me.

I have cried to you Lord, I have said: “you are my refuge, my share in the land of the living.
Listen to my call for help, for I am crushed down”.

“Lead my spirit from prison, so that I may praise your name.
The upright will gather around me, because you have restored 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.

Canticle	Philippians 2
Christ, God's servant
Jesus Christ, although he shared God’s nature, did not try to seize equality with God for himself; but emptied himself, took on the form of a slave, and became like a man – not in appearance only, for he humbled himself by accepting death – even death on a cross. For this, God has raised him high, and given him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue will proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord”, to the glory of God the Father. 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

Philippians 2

Christ, God's servant

Jesus Christ, although he shared God’s nature, did not try to seize equality with God for himself; but emptied himself, took on the form of a slave, and became like a man – not in appearance only, for he humbled himself by accepting death – even death on a cross.
For this, God has raised him high, and given him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth,
and every tongue will proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord”, to the glory of God the Father.

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 11:33 - 36 ©
How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything? All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever! 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.

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

Let us give glory to the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and humbly offer him our prayers: - Lord, be with your people.
Holy Lord, almighty Father, let justice grow across the Earth: and may your people live in peace.
Let all nations enter your kingdom:: bring salvation to all mankind.
May married couples live in peace according to your will,: living together in mutual love.
Lord, reward all who do good to us: and bring them to eternal life.
Take pity on those who die through war and hatred:: in your kindness, give them rest 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.

Almighty and ever-living God,
make us devoted to doing your will
and serving you in your majesty with sincere hearts.

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

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Meditation
Romans 4:13,16-18

When he wanted to give the believers in Rome an example of faith, Paul turned, as if by instinct, to Abraham. This revered figure from Israel’s history listened when God spoke and, despite his doubts, did what God asked of him. When God told him to uproot his family and go to a strange land, Abraham did it. He was even willing to sacrifice his long-awaited son at God’s request.

God responded to Abraham’s persevering faith by showering grace on him. Did Abraham earn this reward? Not at all. The truth is that even Abraham’s faith was a work of grace. It was the result of his encounter with the God who called him and revealed himself to him. Abraham’s whole life points to the fact that it is by grace that we receive God’s redemption, and it is by grace that the Holy Spirit enters our hearts and empowers us to live a life pleasing to God. How easy it is to believe that Christianity is a life of giving—of striving to be good enough and selfless enough to merit God’s favor. But just the opposite is true! The grace that God wants to shower on us each day comes as we learn to receive. Only then, with the help of grace, can we give in return by being good or laying down our lives for those around us.

Will you be facing some difficult situation today? A trying incident at work, maybe, or a harried time at home? If you do, try to pause in the midst of it to invite the Lord into that situation. Surrender to him and ask for a fresh outpouring of grace. Then watch as he makes you into an overcomer—loving the unlovable, denying selfish desires, saying “no” to the world’s allurements, and receiving the guidance and strength you need.

God once told St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The same is true for us. We can draw near to God and pursue a journey of hope and victory through the promise which is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Father of all grace and favor, I praise and thank you for letting me come into your presence each day. You have given me what prophets and kings longed to know and could only glimpse from afar. How good and generous and merciful you are!”

Psalm 105:6-9,42-43; Luke 12:8-12