Monday February 21, 2022
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Monday, February 21, 2022
Collect Holy Lord, everything we need is found in you. For those of us who come here feeling broken, bring restoration. For those of us who come here feeling weak, bring strength. For those who come here weeping, bring joy. For those of us who come here with doubts, bring faith. For those who come here feeling shame, bring freedom. For those of us who come here feeling burdened, bring rest. For those of us who come here feeling anxious, bring peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Come, let us worship.
The Proclamation of the Word
1st Reading: Ruth 1:1-14 (NRSV)
Elimelech’s Family Goes to Moab
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or her husband.
Naomi and Her Moabite Daughters-in-Law
Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had had consideration for his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.’ Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, ‘No, we will return with you to your people.’ But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.’ Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
Psalm 106:1-18 (Book of Alternative Services page 849):
1. Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, * for his mercy endures for ever.
2. Who can declare the mighty acts of the Lord * or show forth all his praise?
3. Happy are those who act with justice * and always do what is right!
4. Remember me, O Lord, with the favour you have for your people, * and visit me with your saving help;
5. That I may see the prosperity of your elect and be glad with the gladness of your people, * that I may glory with your inheritance.
6. We have sinned as our forebears did; * we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.
7. In Egypt they did not consider your marvellous works, nor remember the abundance of your love; * they defied the Most High at the Red Sea.
8. But he saved them for his name’s sake, * to make his power known.
9. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up, * and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
10. He saved them from the hand of those who hated them * and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11. The waters covered their oppressors; * not one of them was left.
12. Then they believed his words * and sang him songs of praise.
13. But they soon forgot his deeds * and did not wait for his counsel.
14. A craving seized them in the wilderness, * and they put God to the test in the desert.
15. He gave them what they asked, * but sent leanness into their soul.
16. They envied Moses in the camp, * and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
17. The earth opened and swallowed Dathan * and covered the company of Abiram.
18. Fire blazed up against their company, * and flames devoured the wicked.
God our Father, remembering your covenant you graciously pardoned those who rebelled against you. Grant that where sin abounds, grace may abound more, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
The Proclamation of the Word
2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (NRSV)
THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL TO THE
Corinthians
Salutation
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Thanksgiving after Affliction
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
The Beatitudes
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer May the touch of Christ bring you healing; may the love of Christ bring you hope; may the life of Christ bring you insight as you go forth with new vision. May the grace of God uphold you, the peace of God surround you, the love of God flow from you and the strength of God protect and bring you safely through this day. Amen.