Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
February 2, 2025
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
1 Cor. 15:12-20
Luke 6:17-26
O God, almighty and eternal, who crafted our universe, the suns, the earth, the moon and the stars, and all of the beautiful topography of our magnificent planet, we are in awe of your power and majesty. We find it astounding that in your greatness and majesty you have made yourself known in the gentle image of a gracious parent. We bow before you in gratitude and humble adoration and we offer you our praise and thanksgiving.
We confess that we often find ourselves living in darkness and in the shadows of life. Fearful of our own shadow we nonetheless find it comfortable to live in life’s shadows. We too often forget that we are the cause of Jesus’ journey. We nitpick like the Scribes who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. We too often are glad we are not as other people. We take pride in our righteousness and accomplishments forgetting that it is you alone who make righteous. We take pride in the good things we do. We take pride in what we regard as our good motives and impugn the worst of motives to others. We hear the beatitudes but often have little enthusiasm for practicing them.
O LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD, HAVE MERCY UPON US.
Save us from the foolishness of our hearts which would move toward the shadows. Give us the courage to own the sin which so easily besets us and to know once again the power of your grace to embrace us and to save and transform.
Likewise, give us grace-filled spirits and cause us to be less condemning of others, less judgmental and rejecting, less exclusive, and less inclined to build walls between ourselves and others.
We ask your care and comfort for the suffering: those whose lives are interrupted by illness, those whose family fabric has been torn by grief, those whose diminishing health is causing change or transition. Amen
February 2, 2025
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
1 Cor. 15:12-20
Luke 6:17-26
O God, almighty and eternal, who crafted our universe, the suns, the earth, the moon and the stars, and all of the beautiful topography of our magnificent planet, we are in awe of your power and majesty. We find it astounding that in your greatness and majesty you have made yourself known in the gentle image of a gracious parent. We bow before you in gratitude and humble adoration and we offer you our praise and thanksgiving.
We confess that we often find ourselves living in darkness and in the shadows of life. Fearful of our own shadow we nonetheless find it comfortable to live in life’s shadows. We too often forget that we are the cause of Jesus’ journey. We nitpick like the Scribes who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. We too often are glad we are not as other people. We take pride in our righteousness and accomplishments forgetting that it is you alone who make righteous. We take pride in the good things we do. We take pride in what we regard as our good motives and impugn the worst of motives to others. We hear the beatitudes but often have little enthusiasm for practicing them.
O LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD, HAVE MERCY UPON US.
Save us from the foolishness of our hearts which would move toward the shadows. Give us the courage to own the sin which so easily besets us and to know once again the power of your grace to embrace us and to save and transform.
Likewise, give us grace-filled spirits and cause us to be less condemning of others, less judgmental and rejecting, less exclusive, and less inclined to build walls between ourselves and others.
We ask your care and comfort for the suffering: those whose lives are interrupted by illness, those whose family fabric has been torn by grief, those whose diminishing health is causing change or transition. Amen