Beware, O Sleeper! [a Lamentation/Intercession]
~ Sabbath Day ~
Scripture Portion
Commentary: Usually for Sabbath, the Scripture portion is more robust than other days. Not today. Today, I have a simple message that is burning with me that I want to share. Today, is short, but oh how I wish it were sweet. However, before we dive into the verse, I want to be clear on something. We need to be care with Scripture! Furthermore, we must remember that Scripture is not open to private interpretation (2 Peter 1.20). Therefore, we must tread carefully when claiming Scripture as “our own” or that everything applies today as though there were not an original audience the Scriptures were written for. On the other hand, however, Scripture is alive and it does mean something for us today (Hebrews 4.12). With all of this in mind, there is a verse that I think does speak directly to our society in America today and many other societies as well. This verse was not written or proclaimed to us directly, but oh is it a witness to the true position of where we are!
Malachi 2.17
17 “You have wearied the Lord with your words, and you say, ‘How have we wearied Him?’ In your saying, ‘All evildoers are good in the eyes of the Lord, and them He desires,’ or, ‘Where is the God of justice?’”
Alter, Robert. The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary. N.p.: W. W. Norton & Company: New York, 2019 – Volume 2: Prophets, pg. 1,390
Sacrifice of Our Lips/Praise
Fruit of Our Lips
Liturgical Portion
The summary of the law
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all
the Law and the Prophets. [Matthew 22:37-40t]
The collect for purity
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our
hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may
perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
from Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Liturgy Press: Huntington Beach, 2019, pg. 106
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son among us to proclaim
the kingdom of God in cities, towns, villages, and lonely places.
Behold and visit, we pray, the community of ________.
Renew the bonds of charity that uphold our civic life.
Send us honest and able leaders. Deliver us from poverty, prejudice,
and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and
justice with mercy. And at the last, bring us to your Holy City,
the new Jerusalem, where we shall know perfect unity and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
from Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Liturgy Press: Huntington Beach, 2019, pgs. 658-659
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