Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer – Week D
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
PSALMODY
Antiphon: As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God.
Opening (from Psalm 119)
1 Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another;*
you established the earth, and it abides.
2 By your decree these continue to this day,*
for all things are your servants.
3 I will never forget your commandments,*
because by them you give me life.
4 I see that all things come to an end,*
but your commandment has no bounds.
Glory to the Father…
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 62
1 For God alone my soul in silence waits;*
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,*
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assail me to crush me, all of you together,*
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
4 They seek only to bring me down from my place of honour;*
lies are their chief delight.
5 They bless with their lips,*
but in their hearts they curse.
6 For God alone my soul in silence waits;*
truly, my hope is in him.
7 He alone is my rock and my salvation,*
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
8 In God is my safety and my honour;*
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
9 Put your trust in him always, O people,*
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath,*
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath,*
all of them together.
12 Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride;*
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it,*
that power belongs to God.
14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord,*
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
Lord God, in a threatening world we look to you as our rock of hope. Hear us as we pour out our hearts to you, and give us your grace and protection, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion (from Revelation 5 and 15)
1 Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty;*
just and true are your ways, O King of the ages!
2 Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord?*
for you alone are holy.
3 All nations shall come and worship in your presence,*
for your just dealings have been revealed.
4 To God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb*
be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory to the Father…
Antiphon: As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God.
READING(S)
Matthew 13:10-17
Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
“You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.”
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
Response (Ps. 119.89)
Lord, your word is everlasting.
Lord, your word is everlasting.
It stands firm in the heavens
Your word is everlasting.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, your word is everlasting.
MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat Antiphon: Abide with us, Lord,* for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent.
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,*
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
2 for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;*
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
3 The Almighty has done great things for me*
and holy is his name.
4 He has mercy on those who fear him*
in every generation.
5 He has shown the strength of his arm;*
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
6 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones*
and has lifted up the lowly.
7 He has filled the hungry with good things,*
and the rich he has sent away empty.
8 He has come to the help of his servant Israel,*
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
9 the promise he made to our forebears,*
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father… (may be said by all)
Magnificat Antiphon: Abide with us, Lord,* for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent.
PRAYERS
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Collect of the Day
O God, through our human frailty, we cannot stand firm; give us strength and protection, that, with your help, we may overcome all difficulties; through Jesus Chris, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
