8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
The People: Thanks be to God.
Deacon: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit.
Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Matthew's Gospel chapter 18, beginning at verse 12.
12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.'
Prayers of the People
Prayers of the People for: Proper 18
Brothers and sisters, God has promised that where two or three are gathered together in His name He will be in the midst of them. Therefore, let us bring our requests before Him.
That the Patriarch, all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons will continually speak the Word of the Lord with all boldness as watchmen over the house of God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That world leaders will model the mercy of God in governing their people.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That artists, authors, entertainers, and producers will use their talents to glorify God and foster righteousness in the hearts of their hearers.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That we will earnestly desire the Gifts of the Spirit and use them for the common good.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who have been devastated by war, famine, or natural disasters will, through the compassion of the Church, experience the mercies of God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who are near death will be comforted by the promises of God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For our own special intentions. (Pause)
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful and compassionate God, You have said that if we ask anything according to Your Will, You hear us. Hear us O Lord and answer our requests as they conform to Your Holy Will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN
