epiphany 3.7 [evening]
Psalm 55
Listen, O God, to my prayer!
Do not ignore my appeal for mercy!
Pay attention to me and answer me!
I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,
because of what the enemy says,
and because of how the wicked pressure me,
for they hurl trouble down upon me
and angrily attack me.
My heart beats violently within me;
the horrors of death overcome me.
Fear and panic overpower me,
terror overwhelms me.
I say, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and settle in a safe place!
Look, I will escape to a distant place;
I will stay in the wilderness. Selah
I will hurry off to a place that is safe
from the strong wind and the gale.”
Confuse them, O Lord!
Frustrate their plans!
For I see violence and conflict in the city.
Day and night they walk around on its walls,
while wickedness and destruction are within it.
Disaster is within it;
violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.
Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me,
or else I could bear it;
it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me,
or else I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man like me.
my close friend in whom I confided.
We would share personal thoughts with each other,
in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.
May death destroy them!
May they go down alive into Sheol!
For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.
As for me, I will call out to God,
and the LORD will deliver me.
During the evening, morning, and noontime
I will lament and moan,
and he will hear me.
He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me,
even though they greatly outnumber me.
God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago.
will hear and humiliate them. Selah
They refuse to change,
and do not fear god.
He attacks his friends;
he breaks his solemn promises to them.
His words are as smooth as butter,
but he harbors animosity in his heart.
His words seem softer than oil,
but they are really like sharp swords.
Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the godly to be upended.
But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit.
Violet and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan.
But as for me, I trust in you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.7 [noon]
meditation
A brother was restless in his community and he was often irritated. So he said, ‘I will go and live somewhere by myself. I will not be able to talk or listen to anyone and so I shall be at peace, and my passionate anger will cease.’ He went out and lived alone in a cave. But one day he filled his jug with water and put it on the ground. Suddenly it happened to fall over. he filled it again, and again it fell. This happened a third time. In a rage he snatched up the jug and smashed it. Coming to his senses, he knew that the demon of anger had mocked him, and he said, ‘Here am I by myself, and he has beaten me. I will return to the community. Wherever you live, you need effort and patience and above all God’s help.’ So he got up, and went back. || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.7 [morning]
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 6.16-27 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat and started to cross the lake to Capernaum. (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading.
This next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they go into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted. Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life—the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 3.6 [evening]
Psalm 40
I relied completely on the LORD,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
He lifted me out of the watery pit,
out of the slimy mud.
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing.
He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the LORD!
How blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD
and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!
O LORD, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.
No one can thwart you!
I want to declare them and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount!
Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.
You make that quite clear to me!
You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
Then I say:
“Look! I come!
What is written in the scroll pertains to me.
I want to do what please you, my God.
Your law dominates my thoughts.”
I have told the great assembly about your justice.
Look! I spare no words!
O LORD, you know this is true.
I have not failed to tell about your justice;
I spoke about your reliability and deliverance;
I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.
O LORD, you do not withhold your compassion from me.
May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!
For innumerable dangers surround me.
My sins overtake me so I am unable to see;
they outnumber the hairs of my head
so my strength fails me.
Please be willing, O LORD, to rescue me!
O LORD, hurry and help me!
May those who are trying to snatch away my life
be totally embarrassed and alarmed!
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be humiliated and disgraced!
May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May the LORD be praised!
I am oppressed and needy!
May the Lord pay attention to me!
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O my God, do not delay!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.6 [noon]
meditation
A hermit said, ‘We do not make progress because we do not realize how much we can do. We lose interest in the work we have begun, and we want to be good without even trying.’ || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.6 [morning]
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 6.1-15 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias). A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick. So Jesus went on up the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples. (Now the Jewish feast of the Passover was near.) Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?” (Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.) Philip replied, “Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.” One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.
Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 3.5 [evening]
Psalm 50
El, God, the LORD speaks,
and summons the earth to come from the east and west.
From Zion, the most beautiful of all places,
God comes in splendor.
Our God approaches and is not silent;
consuming fire goes ahead of him
and all around him a storm rages.
He summons the heavens above,
as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people.
He says:
“Assemble my covenant people before me,
those who ratified a covenant with me be sacrifice!”
The heavens declare his fairness,
for God is judge. Selah
He says:
“Listen my people! I am speaking!
Listen Israel! I am accusing you!
I am God, your God!
I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices,
or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.
I do not need to take a bull from your household
or goats from your sheepfolds.
For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me,
as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.
I keep track of every bird in the hills,
and the insects of the field are mine.
Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and all it contains belong to me.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls?
Do I drink the blood of goats?
Present to God a thank-offering!
Repay your vows to the sovereign One!
Pray to me when you are in trouble!
I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”
God says this to the evildoer:
“How can you declare my commands,
and talk about my covenant?
For you hate instruction
and reject my words.
When you see a thief, you join him;
you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.
You do damage with words,
and use your tongue to deceive.
You plot against your brother,
you slander your own brother.
When you did these things, I was silent,
so you thought I was exactly like you.
But now I will condemn you
and state my case against you!
Carefully consider this, you who reject God!
Other wise I will rip you to shreds
and no one will be able to rescue you.
Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me.
To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.5 [noon]
meditation
Hyperichius said, ‘Keep praising God with hymns, and meditating continually, and so lighten the burden of the temptations that attack you. A traveler carrying a heavy burden stops from time to time to take deep breaths, and so makes the journey easier and the burden light.’ || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.5 [morning]
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 5.30-47 I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.
“But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete – the deeds I am now doing – testify about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
“I do not accept praise from people, but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?
“Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 3.4 [evening]
Psalm 119.49-72
Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
This is what comforts me in my trouble,
for your promise revives me.
Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me.
Yet I do not turn aside from your law.
I remember your ancient regulations,
O LORD, and console myself.
Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked,
those who reject your law.
Your statutes have been my songs
in the house where I live.
I remember your name during the night, O LORD,
and I will keep your law.
This has been my practice,
for I observe your precepts.
The LORD is my source of security.
I have determined to follow your instructions.
I seek your favor with all my heart.
Have mercy on me as you promised!
I consider my actions
and follow your rules.
I keep your commands
eagerly and without delay.
The ropes of the wicked tighten around me,
but I do not forget your law.
In the middle of the night I arise to thank you
for your just regulations.
I am a friend to all your loyal followers,
and to those who keep your precepts.
O LORD, you loyal love fills the earth.
Teach me your statutes!
You are good to your servant,
O LORD, just as you promised.
Teach me proper discernment and understanding!
For I consider your commands to be reliaible.
Before I was afflicted I used to stay off,
but now I keep your instructions.
You are good and you do good.
Teach me your statutes!
Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies,
but I observe your precepts with all my heart.
Their hearts are calloused,
but I find delight in your law.
It was good for me to suffer,
so that I might learn your statutes.
The law you have revealed is more important to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.4 [noon]
meditation
Poemen said about John the Short that he asked the Lord to take away his passions. So his heart was at rest, and he went to a hermit and said, ‘I find that I am at peace, with no war between flesh and spirit.’ The hermit said to him, ‘Go and ask the Lord to stir up a new war in you. Fighting is good for the soul.’ When the conflict revived in him, he no longer prayed for it to be taken away, but said, ‘Lord, grant me strength to endure this fight.’ || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.4 [morning]
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 5.19-29 So Jesus answered [the Jewish leaders], “I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raised the dead and give them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Go, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
“Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out—the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation.”
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 3.3 [evening]
Psalm 47
All you nations, clap your hands!
Shout out to God in celebration!
For the sovereign LORD is awe-inspiring,
he is the great king who rules the whole earth!
He subdued nations beneath us
and countries under our feet.
He picked out for us a special land
to be a source of pride for Jacob, whom he loves. Selah
God has ascended his throne amid loud shouts,
the LORD has ascended his throne amid the blaring of ram’s horns.
Sing to God! Sing!
Sing to our king! Sing!
For God is king of the whole earth!
Sing a well-written song!
God reigns over the nations!
God sits on his holy throne!
The nobles of the nations assemble,
along with the people of the God of Abraham,
for God has authority over the rules of the earth.
He is highly exalted!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.3 [noon]
meditation
One of the monks told this story about John the Persian, how because of his many virtues he attained a deep simplicity and innocence. He lived in the part of Arabia that is near to Egypt. Once he borrowed a shilling from another monk and bought linen with which to make things. A brother came and asked him, ‘Abba, give me a little linen, and I will make myself a shirt to wear.’ John gave it to him gladly. Then another came and asked him for a little linen, so that he could make himself a coat and he gave it him. Many others came and he gave simply and cheerfully. Later the owner of the borrowed shilling arrived and asked for his money back. John said to him, ‘I will get it for you.’ When he could not find anything with which to pay, he went to Jacob the steward to ask him for a shilling. On the way he found a shilling lying on the ground. He did not touch it, but said a prayer, and went back to his cell. Again the owner of the shilling he had borrowed came and began to speak harshly to him asking for his money. John said, ‘I will give it back to you.’ John went away again and found the shilling still lying on the ground; again he prayed, and went back to his cell. Then the owner began demanding and he said, ‘Wait for me just once more, and I will bring you your shilling.’ He went to that place where he had found the shilling on the ground. He said a prayer, and picked it up, and went to Jacob and said, ‘Abba, on my way here I found this shilling on the ground. Of your kindness, tell all the neighbours, to see if anyone has lost it.’ Then Jacob summoned everyone and announced the find, but they could discover no one who had lost it. Then John said to Jacob, ‘If no one has lost it, give it to that monk there, because I owe him a shilling.’ Jacob was astonished that when John was being pressed to pay his debt he had not picked the shilling up at once when he found it and used it in payment.
There was another remarkable thing about John. If anyone came to borrow something from him, he did not take it in his own hands and lend it, but said, ‘Come in, take what you need.’ When a borrower brought anything back, John used to say, ‘Put it back where you found it.’ If a man borrowed something and did not bring it back, John said nothing to him about it. || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.3 [morning]
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 5.1-18 After this there was a Jewish feast, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool called Bethzatha in Aramaic, which has five covered walkways. A great number of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people were lying in these walkways. Now a man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, “Do you want to become well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)
So the Jewish leader said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat.” But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk?’” But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place.
After this Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “Look, you have become well. Don’t sin any more, lest anything worse happen to you.” The man went away and informed the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him. So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.” For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 3.2 [evening]
Psalm 41
How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly!
When trouble comes, the LORD delivers him.
May the LORD protect him and save his life!
May he be blessed in the land!
Do not turn him over to his enemies!
The LORD supports him on his sickbed;
you completely heal him from his illness.
As for me, I said:
“O LORD, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!
My enemies ask this cruel question about me,
‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’
When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly;
he thinks of ways to defame me,
and when he leaves he slanders me.
All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another,
then plan ways to harm me.
They say,
‘An awful disease overwhelms him,
and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’
Even my close friend whom I trusted,
he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.
As for you, O LORD, have mercy on me and raise me up,
so I can pay them back!”
By this I know that you are pleased with me.
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity,
you allow me permanent access to your presence.
The LORD God of Israel deserves praise
in the future and forevermore!
We agree! We agree!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.2 [noon]
meditation
Two brothers went to a town to sell what they had made. In the town they separated, and one of them fell into fornication. Afterwards the other brother said, ‘Let us go back to our cell, brother.’ But he replied, ‘I’m not coming.’ The other asked him, ‘Why, brother?’ He replied, ‘Because when you left me, I was tempted, and was guilty of fornication. The other, wanting to help him, said, ‘The same thing happened to me; after I left you, I also fell into fornication. Let us go together, and do penance with all our might, and God will pardon us sinners.’ When they returned to their cell, they told the brothers what had happened to them, and were told what penance they should do. But the one did penance not for himself, but for the other, as though he himself had sinned. God, seeing his earnestness and his charity, revealed to one of the elders, a few days later, that he had forgiven the fornicator because of the charity of the brother who had not sinned. Truly, this was to lay down his soul for his brother. || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.2 [morning]
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 4.43-54 After the two days he departed from there to Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had gone to the feast).
Now he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. When he heard that Jess had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son. “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!” “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” Jesus told him, “Go home, your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.
While he was on his way down, his slaves met him and told him that his son was going to live. so he asked them the time when his condition began to improve, and they told him, “Yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon the fever left him.” Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household. Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 3.1 [evening]
3rd Sunday in Epiphany: The Conversion of St. Paul
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God! I long for you!
My soul thirsts for you,
my flesh yearns for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you,
and witnessed your power and splendor.
Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself,
my lips will praise you.
For this reason I will praise you while I live,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
As if with choice meat you satisfy my soul.
My mouth joyfully praises you,
whenever I remember you on my bed,
and think about you during the nighttime hours.
For you are my deliverer,
under your wings I rejoice.
My soul pursues you,
your right hand upholds me.
Enemies seek to destroy my life,
but they will descend into the depths of the earth.
Each one will be handed over to the sword,
their corpses will be eaten by jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God,
everyone who takes oaths in his name will boast,
for the mouths of those who speak lies will be shut up.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
epiphany 3.1 [noon]
3rd Sunday in Epiphany: The Conversion of St. Paul
meditation
At a meeting of the brothers in Scetis, they were eating dates. One of them, who was ill from excessive fasting, brought up some phlegm in a fit of coughing, and unintentionally it fell on another of the brothers. The brother was tempted by an evil thought and felt driven to say, ‘Be quiet, and do not spit on me.’ So to tame himself and restrain his own angry thought he picked up what had been spat and put it in his mouth and swallowed it. Then he began to say to himself, ‘If you say to your brother what will sadden him, you will have to eat what nauseates you.’ || The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
epiphany 3.1 [morning]
3rd Sunday of Epiphany: The Conversion of St. Paul
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60.3
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
scripture reading
Isaiah 61.1-9 The spirit of the sovereign LORD is upon me,
because the LORD has chosen me.
He has commissioned me to encourage the poor,
to help the brokenhearted,
to decree the release of captives,
and the freeing of prisoners,
to announce the year when the LORD will show his favor,
the day when our God will seek vengeance,
to console all who mourn,
to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,
by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,
oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning,
a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
trees planted by the LORD to reveal his splendor.
They will rebuild the perpetual ruins
and restore the places that were desolate;
they will reestablish the ruined cities,
the places that have been desolate since ancient times.
“Foreigners will take care of your sheep;
foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards.
You will be called, ‘the LORD’s priests,
servants of God.’
You will enjoy the wealth of nations
and boast about the riches you receive from them.
Instead of shame, you will get a double portion;
instead of humiliation, they will rejoice over the land they receive.
Yes, they will possess a double portion in their land
and experience lasting joy.
For I, the LORD, love justice
and hate robbery and sin.
I will repay them because of my faithfulness;
I will make a permanent covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations,
their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will recognize that the LORD has blessed them.”
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the words of the prophet penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13.14
epiphany 2.7 [evening]
Psalm 30
I will praise you, O LORD, for you lifted me up,
and did not allow my enemies to gloat over me.
O LORD my God,
I cried out to you and you healed me.
O LORD, you pulled me up from Sheol;
you rescued me from among those descending into the grave.
Sing to the LORD, you faithful followers of his;
give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a brief moment,
and his good favor restores one’s life.
One may experience sorrow during the night,
but joy arrives in the morning.
In my self-confidence I said,
“I will never be upended.”
O LORD, in your good favor you made me secure.
Then you rejected me and I was terrified.
To you, O LORD, I cried out;
I begged the Lord for mercy”
“What profit is there in taking my life,
in my descending into the Pit?
Can the dust of the grave praise you?
Can it declare your loyalty?
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me!
O LORD, deliver me!”
Then you turned my lament into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and covered me with joy.
So now my heart will sing to you and not be silent;
O LORD my God, I will always give thanks to you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Take a deep breath and allow the Psalm to remain with you for the evening.
the prayers
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
epiphany 2.7 [noon]
meditation
Keep your eyes on yourself and avoid judging the actions of others. In judging others we accomplish nothing, are often in error, and readily fall into sin; but we always gain by self-examination and self-criticism. Our judgments frequently depend on our likes and dislikes and thus are far from true because we make them conform to our personal prejudices. If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance. || Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
epiphany 2.7 [morning]
From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my Name, and a pure offering; for my Name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1.11
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
the gospel
John 4.27-42 Now at that very moment his disciples came back. They were shocked because he was speaking with a woman. However, no said, “What do you want?” or “Why are you speaking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Messiah, can he? So they left the town and began coming to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” So the disciples began to say to one another, “Now one brought him anything to eat, did they?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work. Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest! The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. for in this instance the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you did not work for, others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”
Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with the. He stayed there two days, and because of his word many more believed. They said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.”
Take a deep breath and remain in silence letting the gospel penetrate your soul.
the prayers
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Spend time with God praying in your own words or with no words at all.
Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
blessing
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3.20-21
