John Chrysostom, Bishop and Teacher of the Faith, 407
Evening Prayer – Week C
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: Search me out, O God, and know my heart;*
try me and know my restless thoughts.
Opening (from Psalm 139.22)
1 You trace my journeys and my resting-places*
and are acquainted with all my ways.
2 Indeed there is not a word on my lips,*
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
3 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me,*
and the light around me turn to night’,
4 Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day;*
darkness and light to you are both alike.
Glory to the Father…
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 73
1 Truly, God is good to Israel,*
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped;*
I had almost tripped and fallen;
3 Because I envied the proud*
and saw the prosperity of the wicked:
4 For they suffer no pain,*
and their bodies are sleek and sound;
5 In the misfortunes of others they have no share;*
they are not afflicted as others are;
6 Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace*
and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.
7 Their iniquity comes from gross minds,*
and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.
8 They scoff and speak maliciously;*
out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens,*
and their evil speech runs through the world.
10 And so the people turn to them*
and find in them no fault.
11 They say, ‘How should God know?*
is there knowledge in the Most High?’
12 So then, these are the wicked;*
always at ease, they increase their wealth.
13 In vain have I kept my heart clean,*
and washed my hands in innocence.
14 I have been afflicted all day long,*
and punished every morning.
15 Had I gone on speaking this way,*
I should have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand these things,*
it was too hard for me;
17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God*
and discerned the end of the wicked.
18 Surely, you set them in slippery places;*
you cast them down in ruin.
19 Oh, how suddenly do they come to destruction,*
come to an end, and perish from terror!
20 Like a dream when one awakens, O Lord,*
when you arise you will make their image vanish.
21 When my mind became embittered,*
I was sorely wounded in my heart.
22 I was stupid and had no understanding;*
I was like a brute beast in your presence.
23 Yet I am always with you;*
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me by your counsel,*
and afterwards receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?*
and having you I desire nothing upon earth.
26 Though my flesh and my heart should waste away,*
God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Truly, those who forsake you will perish;*
you destroy all who are unfaithful.
28 But it is good for me to be near God;*
I have made the Lord God my refuge.
29 I will speak of all your works*
in the gates of the city of Zion.
Most High, you know our faithlessness, and our blindness to the rewards of goodness. Guide us with your counsel and be the strength of our hearts, that we may not fall but rejoice in the life of your eternal city; through Jesus Christ our Mediator.
Conclusion (from Sirach 51)
1 While I was still young, before I began my travels,*
I sought for wisdom openly in my prayers.
2 I asked for her outside the temple sanctuary,*
and I will seek her to the end.
3 She has been the delight of my heart.*
from first blossom to early fruit.
4 I have kept firmly to the true path;*
I have followed her steps since my youth.
5 I bowed my ear a little and received her;*
I found wisdom and was well instructed.
6 Glory to the One who gives me wisdom!*
I will live according to her way.
7 From the beginning I gained understanding from her;*
therefore I will never be deserted.
8 Because I longed to find her with all my heart,*
I have gained a good possession.
9 As my reward the Lord has given me a tongue*
with which I shall sing his praises.
Glory to the Father…
Antiphon: Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts.
READING(S)
John 5:19-29
Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Fatherdoes, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes.The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.
‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voiceand will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Response (Sirach 51.26)
Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you
Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
Let your souls receive instruction.
Take her yoke upon you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat Antiphon: God looks with favour* on his lowly servant.
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: God looks with favour* on his lowly servant.
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
Almighty and eternal God, behold us in our weakness: and stretch out your hands to protect us; through Jesus Christ, 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.
