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Wednesday, February 23, 2022 

Collect  Gracious God, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your help, so that all our prayers and works may begin in you and by you be happily ended.  Glory and praise to you, forever and ever. Amen.  Come, let us worship.   

The Proclamation of the Word

1st Reading:  Ruth 2:1-13 (NRSV)

Ruth Meets Boaz

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favour.’ She said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, ‘The Lord be with you.’ They answered, ‘The Lord bless you.’  Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’ The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, ‘She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.”  So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.’Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’  Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’  But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’ Then she said, ‘May I continue to find favour in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.’ 

Psalm 119:145-176 (Book of Alternative Services page 878):

Qoph

145.            I call with my whole heart; * answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes.

146.            I call to you; oh, that you would save me! * I will keep your decrees.

147.            Early in the morning I cry out to you, * for in your word is my trust.

148.            My eyes are open in the night watches, * that I may meditate upon your promise.

149.            ear my voice, O Lord, according to your loving-kindness; * according to your judgements, give me life.

150.            They draw near who in malice persecute me; * they are very far from your law.

151.            You, O Lord, are near at hand, * and all your commandments are true.

152.            Long have I known from your decrees * that you have established them for ever.     

Resh

153.        Behold my affliction and deliver me, * for I do not forget your law.

154.        Plead my cause and redeem me; * according to your promise, give me life.

155.        Deliverance is far from the wicked, * for they do not study your statutes.

156.        Great is your compassion, O Lord; * preserve my life, according to your judgements.

157.        There are many who persecute and oppress me, * yet I have not swerved from your decrees.

158.        I look with loathing at the faithless, * for they have not kept your word.

159.        See how I love your commandments! * O Lord, in your mercy, preserve me.

160.        The heart of your word is truth; * all your righteous judgements endure for evermore.     

Shin

161.        Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, * but my heart stands in awe of your word.

162.        I am as glad because of your promise * as one who finds great spoils.

163.        As for lies, I hate and abhor them, * but your law is my love.

164.        Seven times a day do I praise you, * because of your righteous judgements.

165.        Great peace have they who love your law; * for them there is no stumbling block.

166.        I have hoped for your salvation, O Lord, * and I have fulfilled your commandments.

167.        I have kept your decrees * and I have loved them deeply.

168.        I have kept your commandments and decrees, * for all my ways are before you.     

Taw

169.        Let my cry come before you, O Lord; * give me understanding, according to your word.

170.        Let my supplication come before you; * deliver me, according to your promise.

171.        My lips shall pour forth your praise, * when you teach me your statutes.

172.        My tongue shall sing of your promise, * for all your commandments are righteous.

173.        Let your hand be ready to help me, * for I have chosen your commandments.

174.        I long for your salvation, O Lord, * and your law is my delight.

175.        Let me live, and I will praise you, * and let your judgements help me.

176.        I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; * search for your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. 

Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal.  Teach us to love you with all our heart and to love our neighbour as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord.  Amen 

2nd Reading:  2 Corinthians 1:23 – 2:17 (NRSV)

But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.  I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith. So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.  For I wrote to you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgiveness for the Offender

But if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but to some extent—not to exaggerate it—to all of you. This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. I wrote for this reason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything.  Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ. And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Paul’s Anxiety in Troas

When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord; but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there.  So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 5:21-26 (NRSV)

Concerning Anger

‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.”  But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire.  So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.  Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 

The Lord’s PrayerOur 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 your joys be as bright as the morning, your happy times as numerous as the stars in the heavens, and your troubles but shadows that fade in the sunlight. 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.