[Salvation]

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

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.

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A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 62 (63)

Thirsting for God

He underwent the holy cross; he broke down the gates of the underworld; he was wrapped in power; he rose on the third day.

O God, you are my God, I watch for you from the dawn.

My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.

I came to your sanctuary,

  as one in a parched and waterless land,

  so that I could see your might and your glory.

My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,

  and raise my hands in prayer to your name;

my soul will be filled as if by rich food,

  and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.

I will remember you as I lie in bed,

  I will think of you in the morning,

for you have been my helper,

  and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

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.

He underwent the holy cross; he broke down the gates of the underworld; he was wrapped in power; he rose on the third day.

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Canticle	Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
The blessed cross shines bright, on which the Lord hung in the body, washing our wounds clean with his blood.
Bless the Lord, all his works,   praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens;   all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens;   all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon;   all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew;   all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat;   cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost;   ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow;   day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness;   lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth,   praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;   all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;   springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish;   birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame;   sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel,   praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests;   all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the just;   all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord,   praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit,   praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven,   praise and glorify him for ever.
The blessed cross shines bright, on which the Lord hung in the body, washing our wounds clean with his blood.

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Psalm 149

The saints rejoice

The holy cross shines bright. Through it the world was restored to health: the cross is victorious, the cross reigns, the cross overcomes all wrongdoing. Alleluia.

Sing a new song to the Lord,

  his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in its maker,

  and the sons of Zion delight in their king.

Let them praise his name with dancing,

  sing to him with timbrel and lyre,

for the Lord’s favour is upon his people,

  and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory,

  rejoice even in their beds,

the praise of God in their throats;

  and swords ready in their hands,

to exact vengeance upon the nations,

  impose punishment on the peoples,

to bind their kings in fetters

  and their nobles in manacles of iron,

to carry out the sentence that has been passed:

  this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

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.

The holy cross shines bright. Through it the world was restored to health: the cross is victorious, the cross reigns, the cross overcomes all wrongdoing. Alleluia.

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Short reading	Hebrews 2:9-10 ©
We have seen Jesus crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for all mankind. As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate that God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, should make perfect, through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation.

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Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
We worship your cross, Lord, and praise and glorify your resurrection; for through this wood joy came to the whole world.
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.
We worship your cross, Lord, and praise and glorify your resurrection; for through this wood joy came to the whole world.

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Prayers and Intercessions

?

Christ has redeemed us by his cross, and so with faith we pray: – Lord, save us by your cross. Son of God, by the image of the brazen serpent you healed the people of Israel of snakebite:   protect us today from the poisonous bite of sin. – Lord, save us by your cross. Son of man, you were raised up on the cross as the serpent was raised up by Moses in the desert:   raise us to the joys of your kingdom. – Lord, save us by your cross. Only-begotten Son of the Father, he has given you to the world so that no-one who believes in you should perish:   grant eternal life to those who seek your face. – Lord, save us by your cross. Beloved Son of the Father, you were not sent into the world to judge it but so that it would be saved by you:   give faith to those close to us so that they may not perish but live. – Lord, save us by your cross. Eternal Son of the Father, you came to bring fire to the earth and it was your will that it should be lit:   grant that we may do what is true and come to your light. – Lord, save us by your cross.

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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 who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

  but deliver us from evil.

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O God, you willed that your only-begotten Son should suffer the cross to bring salvation to the human race.

Grant us, we pray you,

  that just as we have come to know his mystery on earth,

  so we may deserve to receive in heaven the fruits of his redemption.

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.

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

A M E N

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Philippians 2:6-11

The Triumph of the Cross

Today is a day that testifies to the power of God’s infinite love for us. It is a day to celebrate the awesome fact that God spared nothing to save us, not even his only Son, to rescue us. So let’s lift up our hearts with songs of praise and gratitude as we ponder all that he has won for us.

When Jesus gave his life on the cross two thousand years ago, he ushered in a whole new life for all who would believe in him. His victory over sin and death was complete and definitive. He bore every sin—past, present, and future—and took every evil inclination of our hearts and nailed them to his cross. By his death, he defeated the power of Satan and destroyed death forever. He triumphed over the ways of the world that are opposed to God. He opened up heaven and poured out unlimited grace and mercy.

That’s all fine and good, as far as theology is concerned. But there is more to this day than bold statements of spiritual victory. This is a day to celebrate Jesus’ touch upon every person who believes in him. Let’s imagine what Jesus might say to each of us right now as we gaze upon his cross:

“My beloved child, heaven has been opened up for you. Because of my cross, you have been forgiven and cleansed of all sin. You are justified and made righteous. You are protected from Satan’s evil schemes. You have been rescued from darkness and the ungodly ways of the world, and you now have power to live a holy life on earth. Do you believe this, my child? Place your faith in me, and you will see my victory.”

Jesus’ triumph really is our triumph. So let’s tell him that we are sinners. Let’s tell him that we are grateful for his sacrifice for us. Let’s look to his cross and receive the life that he offers to us. May we surrender our hearts to Jesus, who loves us so deeply!

“Jesus, I rejoice in the power of your cross. You who are pure and holy took my sin upon yourself. Thank you, Lord! Today, I want to receive the life and power that flow from your cross. Come, Lord, and make me new!”

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38; John 3:13-17