Morning Prayer - February 28, 2024

Today's Readings

Psalm 119:1-24

Proverbs 17:1-20

2 Timothy 3:1-17

John 13:1-20

Confession of Sin
Most merciful God,
I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen

The Invitatory and Psalter
Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen Alleluia

Venite

ⓘ 'Venite' is Latin for 'O Come,' the opening word of Psalm 95: Venite exultemus Domino ('O Come, let us sing to the LORD').

Psalm 95:1 to 7
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
   let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
   and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God,
   and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth,
   and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
   and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee,
   and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
    Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Antiphon:

ⓘ A short, reflective sentence recited alongside a psalm to deepen our understanding of the readings.

The Lessons

Psalm 119

⁽¹⁾ Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!⁽²⁾ Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!⁽³⁾ They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.⁽⁴⁾ You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.

⁽⁵⁾ Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes!⁽⁶⁾ Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.⁽⁷⁾ I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.⁽⁸⁾ I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

⁽⁹⁾ How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.⁽¹⁰⁾ With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!⁽¹¹⁾ Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!⁽¹²⁾ Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!

⁽¹³⁾ With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.⁽¹⁴⁾ I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.⁽¹⁵⁾ I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.⁽¹⁶⁾ I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

⁽¹⁷⁾ Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.⁽¹⁸⁾ Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.⁽¹⁹⁾ I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.⁽²⁰⁾ My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times.

⁽²¹⁾ You rebuke the proud -- the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.⁽²²⁾ Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies.⁽²³⁾ Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.⁽²⁴⁾ Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Proverbs Chapter 17

⁽¹⁾ Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.⁽²⁾ A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.⁽³⁾ The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.⁽⁴⁾ An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

⁽⁵⁾ He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.⁽⁶⁾ Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.⁽⁷⁾ Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.⁽⁸⁾ A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

⁽⁹⁾ He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.⁽¹⁰⁾ Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.⁽¹¹⁾ An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.⁽¹²⁾ Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

⁽¹³⁾ Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.⁽¹⁴⁾ The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.⁽¹⁵⁾ He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.⁽¹⁶⁾ Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

⁽¹⁷⁾ A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.⁽¹⁸⁾ A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.⁽¹⁹⁾ He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.⁽²⁰⁾ He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

2 Timothy Chapter 3

⁽¹⁾ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:⁽²⁾ For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,⁽³⁾ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,⁽⁴⁾ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

⁽⁵⁾ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!⁽⁶⁾ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,⁽⁷⁾ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.⁽⁸⁾ Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;

⁽⁹⁾ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.⁽¹⁰⁾ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,⁽¹¹⁾ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.⁽¹²⁾ Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

⁽¹³⁾ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.⁽¹⁴⁾ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,⁽¹⁵⁾ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.⁽¹⁶⁾ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

⁽¹⁷⁾ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

John Chapter 13

⁽¹⁾ Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.⁽²⁾ And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him,⁽³⁾ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,⁽⁴⁾ rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

⁽⁵⁾ After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.⁽⁶⁾ Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, 'Lord, are You washing my feet?'⁽⁷⁾ Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'⁽⁸⁾ Peter said to Him, 'You shall never wash my feet!' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.'

⁽⁹⁾ Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!'⁽¹⁰⁾ Jesus said to him, 'He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'⁽¹¹⁾ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, 'You are not all clean.'⁽¹²⁾ So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you?

⁽¹³⁾ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.⁽¹⁴⁾ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.⁽¹⁵⁾ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.⁽¹⁶⁾ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

⁽¹⁷⁾ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.⁽¹⁸⁾ I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'⁽¹⁹⁾ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.⁽²⁰⁾ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.'

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages

ⓘ A simple prayer to God for help, mercy, or intercession, rooted in the Latin word for support.

Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.

Seasonal Collect: Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

Personal Prayers and Reflection

This is a time to pause, consider and listen. Pray for yourself and others.

Closing Prayers

Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory, and, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Conclude with the following
Let Us Bless the Lord, Thanks be to God

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21