The Seventh Sunday
after Trinity.
Psalm 119.97-112
xiii. Quomodo dilexi!
LORD,
what love have I unto thy law! * all the day long is my study in it.
98
Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies; * for
they are ever with me.
99
I have more understanding than my teachers; * for thy testimonies are my study.
100
I am wiser than the aged; * because I keep thy commandments.
101
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, * that I may keep thy word.
102
I have not shrunk from thy judgments; * for thou teachest me.
103
O how sweet are thy words unto my throat; * yea, sweeter than honey unto my
mouth!
104
Through thy commandments I get understanding: * therefore I hate all evil ways.
xiv. Lucerna pedibus meis.
THY
word is a lantern unto my feet, * and a light unto my paths.
106
I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed, * to keep thy righteous judgments.
107
I am troubled above measure: * quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.
108
Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord; * and teach me thy
judgments.
109
My soul is alway in my hand; * yet do I not forget thy law.
110
The ungodly have laid a snare for me; * but yet I swerved not from thy
commandments.
111
Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever; * and why? they are
the very joy of my heart.
112
I have applied my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway, * even unto the end.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son * and to the
Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be * world without end. Amen.
The Collect.
LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old
Testament Reading: Hosea 14.1-9
Psalter:
Psalm 32, 36 | 33, 34
Epistle
Reading: Romans 6.19-23
Gospel Reading: St. Mark 8.1-9
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From my letter to my congregation this week.
(As you read this, I am in
the Washington D.C. area with Anna, our oldest daughter, and our grandkids. We
will be flying back this Saturday afternoon.)
Someone recently asked me if I have a prayer for situations
of domestic abuse. This person helps to counsel abused persons, and explained
they were needing a hand as they pray with and for them. I thought about it and
couldn’t recollect one, though it is on my mind often, and it arises often in
my private prayers. So, I pointed this individual to Psalm 146 and gave some
pointers. That short discussion has stayed with me, and so I have decided to
present one possible prayer. The biblical text is Psalm 146.
Oh LORD God of Jacob,
in whom alone we can trust. It is you who are our help and our hope. It is you
who made heaven, earth, sea, and all that is in them. It is you who keeps faith
forever, who executes justice for those oppressed, and gives food to the
hungry. It is you who sets prisoners free, opens the eyes of the blind, lifts
up those bowed down, loves the righteous, watches over sojourners, and upholds
widows and orphans. And it is you who will bring ruin to the wicked. Dear God,
here is oppression! Here is wickedness! Here is great need for genuine justice!
We cry out and place our prayers between the violated and violator, between the
oppressed and oppressor, between the abused and the abuser (…). Rise up on
behalf of the bowed down and bowled over. Rise up and bring down the one who
uses dominance to push down the defenseless. Rise up and raise up the one who
is crushed under the weight of such tyranny. Rise up, O LORD, and we will ever
sing and shout, “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise
the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my
being. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!”
This prayer is to be used with specific people or situations
in mind. Where you see the ellipsis points, you may add those names.
Pastor Mike
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