Proper 24 (29)
October 22, 2023
Exodus 33:12-23 Psalm 99 or Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)
I Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
Eternal God, we thank you for this day. We are grateful for all that you have granted to us to make our lives full and meaningful.
We confess that we fall short of the Christian walk in so many ways. In our reflections we sometimes wonder if it can be said of us, as it was said of old, that the gospel came to us “not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;….” We confess that like the Pharisees we are often inwardly glad that we are not as other people. Whenever we confront one of your children from whom we recoil we demonstrate that we are glad we are not as other people. We need healing, O God.
We take pride in our righteousness, forgetting that it is you alone who make righteous.
We take pride in the good things we do, forgetting that our purpose is to glorify you and not ourselves.
We take pride in what we regard as our good motives and impugn to others the worst of motives.
We take pride in whatever performances we can give which display our piety but are remiss in developing a private, closet piety where we are alone with you.
Forgive us our sins and failings. 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 and restore us. Likewise give us grace-filled spirits. Cause us to be less condemning of others. Cause us to be less judgmental and to temper our rejecting behaviours.
Cause us to be less exclusive and to reach out to all of your children you set in our path. Cause us to be less inclined to build walls between ourselves and others. Cause us to deal with that within us which makes us want to reject any of your children. Cause us to love. Cause us to serve you with power. Amen
October 22, 2023
Exodus 33:12-23 Psalm 99 or Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)
I Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
Eternal God, we thank you for this day. We are grateful for all that you have granted to us to make our lives full and meaningful.
We confess that we fall short of the Christian walk in so many ways. In our reflections we sometimes wonder if it can be said of us, as it was said of old, that the gospel came to us “not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;….” We confess that like the Pharisees we are often inwardly glad that we are not as other people. Whenever we confront one of your children from whom we recoil we demonstrate that we are glad we are not as other people. We need healing, O God.
We take pride in our righteousness, forgetting that it is you alone who make righteous.
We take pride in the good things we do, forgetting that our purpose is to glorify you and not ourselves.
We take pride in what we regard as our good motives and impugn to others the worst of motives.
We take pride in whatever performances we can give which display our piety but are remiss in developing a private, closet piety where we are alone with you.
Forgive us our sins and failings. 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 and restore us. Likewise give us grace-filled spirits. Cause us to be less condemning of others. Cause us to be less judgmental and to temper our rejecting behaviours.
Cause us to be less exclusive and to reach out to all of your children you set in our path. Cause us to be less inclined to build walls between ourselves and others. Cause us to deal with that within us which makes us want to reject any of your children. Cause us to love. Cause us to serve you with power. Amen