Monday, 11 November 2024
Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397 [Lesser Festival]
+++
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever.
Amen.
+++
Morning
Sirach 35, 26, 2 readers
The Law and Sacrifices
35
The one who keeps the law makes many offerings;
2
one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.
3
The one who returns a kindness offers choice flour,
4
and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
5
To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,
and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.
6
Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,
7
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the commandment.
8
The offering of the righteous enriches the altar,
and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.
9
The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable,
and it will never be forgotten.
10
Be generous when you worship the Lord,
and do not skimp the first fruits of your hands.
11
With every gift show a cheerful face
and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
12
Give to the Most High as he has given to you
and as generously as you can afford.
13
For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.
Second reader
Divine Justice
14
Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it,
15
and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice,
for the Lord is the judge,
and with him there is no partiality.
16
He will not show partiality to the poor,
but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
17
He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan
or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
18
Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek
19
as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?
20
Those whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted,
and their prayers will reach to the clouds.
21
The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds,
and it will not rest until it reaches its goal;
it will not desist until the Most High responds
22
and does justice for the righteous and executes judgment.
Indeed, the Lord will not delay,
and like a warrior[a] he will not be patient
until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful
23
and repays vengeance on the nations,
until he destroys the multitude of the insolent
and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous,
24
until he repays mortals according to their deeds
and the works of all according to their thoughts,
25
until he judges the case of his people
and makes them rejoice in his mercy.
26
His mercy is as welcome in time of distress
as clouds of rain in time of drought.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
+++
John 3, 36, 2 readers
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[c] must be born from above.’[d] 8 The wind[e] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h]
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”[i]
Second reader
Jesus and John the Baptist
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there, and people kept coming and were being baptized. 24 (John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.[j] 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,[k] but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[l]
The One Who Comes from Heaven
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified[m] this, that God is true. 34 He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
+++
Psalm 56, 13
Trust in God under Persecution
To the leader: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1
Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;
all day long foes oppress me;
2
my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many fight against me.
O Most High, 3 when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?
5
All day long they seek to injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6
They stir up strife; they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they hoped to take my life.
7
Do not deliver them for any reason;[a]
in wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8
You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
9
Then my enemies will retreat
in the day when I call.
This I know, that[b] God is for me.
10
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11
in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
12
My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13
For you have delivered my soul from death
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Psalm 57, 11
Praise and Assurance under Persecution
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1
Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
2
I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
4
I lie down among lions
that greedily devour[a] human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.
5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
6
They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7
My heart is steadfast, O God;
my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
8
Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
9
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10
For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the clouds.
11
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 58, 11
Prayer for Vengeance
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam.
1
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge people fairly?
2
No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.
3
The wicked go astray from the womb;
they err from their birth, speaking lies.
4
They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5
so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.
6
O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7
Let them vanish like water that runs away;
like grass let them be trodden down[a] and wither.
8
Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.
9
Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
10
The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done;
they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11
People will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges[b] on earth.”
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
+++
Let us pray.
God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
God the Son,
have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy upon us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
have mercy upon us.
Leader prays a short prayer
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The Collect of the day is said
God all powerful,
who called Martin from the armies of this world
to be a faithful soldier of Christ:
give us grace to follow him
in his love and compassion for the needy,
and enable your Church to claim for all people
their inheritance as children of God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
+++
The Lord’s Prayer is said
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
+++
The Conclusion
May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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Evening
Sirach 36, 31
A Prayer for God’s People
36
Have mercy upon us, O God[a] of all,
2
and put all the nations in fear of you.
3
Lift up your hand against foreign nations
and let them see your might.
4
As you have used us to show your holiness to them,
so use them to show your glory to us.
5
Then they will know,[b] as we have known,
that there is no God but you, O Lord.
6
Give new signs and work other wonders;
7
make your hand and right arm glorious.
8
Rouse your anger and pour out your wrath;
9
destroy the adversary and wipe out the enemy.
10
Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time,[c]
and let people recount your mighty deeds.
11
Let survivors be consumed in the fiery wrath,
and may those who harm your people meet destruction.
12
Crush the heads of hostile rulers
who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”
13
Gather all the tribes of Jacob,[d]
16
and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning.
17
Have mercy, O Lord, on the people called by your name,
on Israel, whom you have named[e] your firstborn.
18
Have pity on the city of your sanctuary,[f]
Jerusalem, the place of your dwelling.[g]
19
Fill Zion with your majesty[h]
and your temple[i] with your glory.
20
Bear witness to those whom you created in the beginning,
and fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name.
21
Reward those who wait for you,
and let your prophets be found trustworthy.
22
Hear, O Lord, the prayer of your servants, according to your goodwill toward[j] your people,
and all who are on the earth will know
that you are the Lord, the God of the ages.
Concerning Discrimination
23
The stomach will take any food,
yet one food is better than another.
24
As the palate tastes the kinds of game,
so an intelligent mind detects false words.
25
A perverse mind will cause grief,
but a person with experience will pay him back.
26
A woman will accept any man as a husband,
but one daughter is preferable to another.
27
A woman’s beauty lights up a man’s face,
and there is nothing he desires more.
28
If kindness and humility mark her speech,
her husband is more fortunate than other men.
29
He who acquires a wife gets his best possession,[k]
a helper fit for him and a pillar of support.[l]
30
Where there is no fence, the property will be plundered,
and where there is no wife, a man will become a fugitive and a wanderer.[m]
31
For who will trust a nimble robber
who skips from city to city?
So who will trust a man who has no nest
but lodges wherever nighttime finds him?
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2 Thessalonians 2, 17
The Man of Lawlessness
2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one[a] is revealed, the one destined for destruction.[b] 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus[c] will destroy[d] with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10 and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
Chosen for Salvation
13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits[e] for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
+++
Psalm 59, 17
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.
1
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.
2
Deliver me from those who work evil;
from the bloodthirsty, save me.
3
Even now they lie in wait for my life;
the mighty stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,
4
for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!
5
You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6
Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
7
There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
with sharp words[a] on their lips,
for “Who,” they think,[b] “will hear us?”
8
But you laugh at them, O Lord;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9
O my strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10
My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11
Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.
12
For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13
consume them in wrath;
consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob. Selah
14
Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
15
They roam about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.
16
But I will sing of your might;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress for me
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17
O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
Psalm 60,12
Prayer for National Victory after Defeat
To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1
O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; now restore us!
2
You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
3
You have made your people suffer hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.
4
You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.[a] Selah
5
Give victory with your right hand and answer us,[b]
so that those whom you love may be rescued.
6
God has promised in his sanctuary,[c]
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8
Moab is my washbasin;
on Edom I hurl my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
11
O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.
12
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
Psalm 61, 8
Assurance of God’s Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2
From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3
for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4
Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
5
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6
Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7
May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8
So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.
Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397 [Lesser Festival]
+++
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever.
Amen.
+++
Morning
Sirach 35, 26, 2 readers
The Law and Sacrifices
35
The one who keeps the law makes many offerings;
2
one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.
3
The one who returns a kindness offers choice flour,
4
and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
5
To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,
and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.
6
Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,
7
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the commandment.
8
The offering of the righteous enriches the altar,
and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.
9
The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable,
and it will never be forgotten.
10
Be generous when you worship the Lord,
and do not skimp the first fruits of your hands.
11
With every gift show a cheerful face
and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
12
Give to the Most High as he has given to you
and as generously as you can afford.
13
For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.
Second reader
Divine Justice
14
Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it,
15
and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice,
for the Lord is the judge,
and with him there is no partiality.
16
He will not show partiality to the poor,
but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
17
He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan
or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
18
Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek
19
as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?
20
Those whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted,
and their prayers will reach to the clouds.
21
The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds,
and it will not rest until it reaches its goal;
it will not desist until the Most High responds
22
and does justice for the righteous and executes judgment.
Indeed, the Lord will not delay,
and like a warrior[a] he will not be patient
until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful
23
and repays vengeance on the nations,
until he destroys the multitude of the insolent
and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous,
24
until he repays mortals according to their deeds
and the works of all according to their thoughts,
25
until he judges the case of his people
and makes them rejoice in his mercy.
26
His mercy is as welcome in time of distress
as clouds of rain in time of drought.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
+++
John 3, 36, 2 readers
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[c] must be born from above.’[d] 8 The wind[e] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h]
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”[i]
Second reader
Jesus and John the Baptist
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there, and people kept coming and were being baptized. 24 (John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.[j] 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,[k] but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[l]
The One Who Comes from Heaven
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified[m] this, that God is true. 34 He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
+++
Psalm 56, 13
Trust in God under Persecution
To the leader: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1
Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;
all day long foes oppress me;
2
my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many fight against me.
O Most High, 3 when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?
5
All day long they seek to injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6
They stir up strife; they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they hoped to take my life.
7
Do not deliver them for any reason;[a]
in wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8
You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
9
Then my enemies will retreat
in the day when I call.
This I know, that[b] God is for me.
10
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11
in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
12
My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13
For you have delivered my soul from death
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Psalm 57, 11
Praise and Assurance under Persecution
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1
Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
2
I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
4
I lie down among lions
that greedily devour[a] human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.
5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
6
They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7
My heart is steadfast, O God;
my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
8
Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
9
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10
For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the clouds.
11
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 58, 11
Prayer for Vengeance
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam.
1
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge people fairly?
2
No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.
3
The wicked go astray from the womb;
they err from their birth, speaking lies.
4
They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5
so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.
6
O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7
Let them vanish like water that runs away;
like grass let them be trodden down[a] and wither.
8
Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.
9
Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
10
The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done;
they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11
People will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges[b] on earth.”
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
+++
Let us pray.
God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
God the Son,
have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy upon us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
have mercy upon us.
Leader prays a short prayer
+++
The Collect of the day is said
God all powerful,
who called Martin from the armies of this world
to be a faithful soldier of Christ:
give us grace to follow him
in his love and compassion for the needy,
and enable your Church to claim for all people
their inheritance as children of God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
+++
The Lord’s Prayer is said
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
+++
The Conclusion
May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
+++
Evening
Sirach 36, 31
A Prayer for God’s People
36
Have mercy upon us, O God[a] of all,
2
and put all the nations in fear of you.
3
Lift up your hand against foreign nations
and let them see your might.
4
As you have used us to show your holiness to them,
so use them to show your glory to us.
5
Then they will know,[b] as we have known,
that there is no God but you, O Lord.
6
Give new signs and work other wonders;
7
make your hand and right arm glorious.
8
Rouse your anger and pour out your wrath;
9
destroy the adversary and wipe out the enemy.
10
Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time,[c]
and let people recount your mighty deeds.
11
Let survivors be consumed in the fiery wrath,
and may those who harm your people meet destruction.
12
Crush the heads of hostile rulers
who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”
13
Gather all the tribes of Jacob,[d]
16
and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning.
17
Have mercy, O Lord, on the people called by your name,
on Israel, whom you have named[e] your firstborn.
18
Have pity on the city of your sanctuary,[f]
Jerusalem, the place of your dwelling.[g]
19
Fill Zion with your majesty[h]
and your temple[i] with your glory.
20
Bear witness to those whom you created in the beginning,
and fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name.
21
Reward those who wait for you,
and let your prophets be found trustworthy.
22
Hear, O Lord, the prayer of your servants, according to your goodwill toward[j] your people,
and all who are on the earth will know
that you are the Lord, the God of the ages.
Concerning Discrimination
23
The stomach will take any food,
yet one food is better than another.
24
As the palate tastes the kinds of game,
so an intelligent mind detects false words.
25
A perverse mind will cause grief,
but a person with experience will pay him back.
26
A woman will accept any man as a husband,
but one daughter is preferable to another.
27
A woman’s beauty lights up a man’s face,
and there is nothing he desires more.
28
If kindness and humility mark her speech,
her husband is more fortunate than other men.
29
He who acquires a wife gets his best possession,[k]
a helper fit for him and a pillar of support.[l]
30
Where there is no fence, the property will be plundered,
and where there is no wife, a man will become a fugitive and a wanderer.[m]
31
For who will trust a nimble robber
who skips from city to city?
So who will trust a man who has no nest
but lodges wherever nighttime finds him?
+++
2 Thessalonians 2, 17
The Man of Lawlessness
2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one[a] is revealed, the one destined for destruction.[b] 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus[c] will destroy[d] with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10 and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
Chosen for Salvation
13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits[e] for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
+++
Psalm 59, 17
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.
1
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.
2
Deliver me from those who work evil;
from the bloodthirsty, save me.
3
Even now they lie in wait for my life;
the mighty stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,
4
for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!
5
You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6
Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
7
There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
with sharp words[a] on their lips,
for “Who,” they think,[b] “will hear us?”
8
But you laugh at them, O Lord;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9
O my strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10
My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11
Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.
12
For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13
consume them in wrath;
consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob. Selah
14
Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
15
They roam about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.
16
But I will sing of your might;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress for me
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17
O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
Psalm 60,12
Prayer for National Victory after Defeat
To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1
O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; now restore us!
2
You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
3
You have made your people suffer hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.
4
You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.[a] Selah
5
Give victory with your right hand and answer us,[b]
so that those whom you love may be rescued.
6
God has promised in his sanctuary,[c]
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8
Moab is my washbasin;
on Edom I hurl my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
11
O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.
12
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
Psalm 61, 8
Assurance of God’s Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2
From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3
for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4
Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
5
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6
Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7
May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8
So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.