Evening Prayer: Wednesday 27 January 2021

Wednesday 27 January 2021

John Chrysostom, Bishop and Teacher of the Faith, 407
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)

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.

Glory to the Father…

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


A song of Pilgrimage (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)

Mark 6.13-29

They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. King Herod heard of it, for Jesus" name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip"s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother"s wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John"s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Silence

Response Psalm 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 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.

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.