Thursday February 17, 2022
St. Thomas Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/St.Thomas.the.Apostle.Cambridge<https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSt.Thomas.the.Apostle.Cambridge%2F%3Fref%3Dbookmarks&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfcf3c0410aae4fa6641208d7fe4bf935%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637257474561193014&sdata=AmFV8IYvZZxoh2U%2Fe0mbdlV5XShIvcFTwUZqXJJzjeU%3D&reserved=0>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/969531309814142 (this is St. Luke's page)
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Collect
Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love fulfils the law. May we love you with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength and may we love our neighbour as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Come, let us worship.
The Proclamation of the Word-
1st Reading: Isaiah 65:1-12 (NRSV)
The Righteousness of God's Judgement
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am', to a nation that did not call on my name. I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine's flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.' These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, says the Lord; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions. Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it', so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there. Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me. But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my sight, and chose what I did not delight in.
Psalm 105:1-22 (Book of Alternative Services page 845):
1. Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; * make known his deeds among the peoples.
2. Sing to him, sing praises to him, * and speak of all his marvellous works.
3. Glory in his holy name; * let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4. Search for the Lord and his strength; * continually seek his face.
5. Remember the marvels he has done, * his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
6. O offspring of Abraham his servant, * O children of Jacob his chosen.
7. He is the Lord our God; * his judgements prevail in all the world.
8. He has always been mindful of his covenant, * the promise he made for a thousand generations:
9. The covenant he made with Abraham, * the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10. Which he established as a statute for Jacob, * an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11. Saying, "To you will I give the land of Canaan * to be your allotted inheritance."
12. When they were few in number, * of little account, and sojourners in the land,
13. Wandering from nation to nation * and from one kingdom to another,
14. He let no one oppress them * and rebuked kings for their sake,
15. Saying, "Do not touch my anointed * and do my prophets no harm."
16. Then he called for a famine in the land * and destroyed the supply of bread.
17. He sent a man before them, * Joseph, who was sold as a slave
18. They bruised his feet in fetters; * his neck they put in an iron collar.
19. Until his prediction came to pass, * the word of the Lord tested him.
20. The king sent and released him; * the ruler of the peoples set him free.
21. He set him as master over his household, * as a ruler over all his possessions,
22. To instruct his princes according to his will * And to teach his elders wisdom.
Giver of life, save us from the desert of faithlessness and nourish us with the living water of your word, that we may bring forth fruit that will last, in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 4:1-16 (NRSV)
False Asceticism
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God's word and by prayer.
A Good Minister of Jesus Christ
If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives' tales. Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.
These are the things you must insist on and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:13-27 (NRSV)
The Question about Paying Taxes
Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?' But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, 'Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.' And they brought one. Then he said to them, 'Whose head is this, and whose title?' They answered, 'The emperor's.' Jesus said to them, 'Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they were utterly amazed at him.
The Question about the Resurrection
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 'Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.'
Jesus said to them, 'Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.'
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
Holy God, be our strength and our salvation, that we may never be ashamed to praise you for your mighty acts. We ask this through Jesus Christ.
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.
God bless and keep us through this season of our lives -