Monday 21 December 2020
21 December
Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce)
Introduction (without Invitatory)
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, use the version with the Invitatory Psalm instead.
O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
________
Hymn
Come, Holy Spirit, live in us
With God the Father and the Son,
And grant us your abundant grace
To sanctify and make us one.
May mind and tongue made strong in love
Your praise throughout the world proclaim,
And may that love within our hearts
Set fire to others with its flame.
Most blessèd Trinity of love,
For whom the heart of man was made,
To you be praise in timeless song,
And everlasting homage paid.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
________
PSALMS OF THE DAY
The psalms of the day are shown here, because the complementary psalms cannot be used today at this hour.
________
Psalm 118(119): 129-136
Meditating the word of the Lord in the Law
“Love is the Law in all its fullness” (Rom 13:10).
The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.
Your will is wonderful indeed;
therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches the simple.
I open my mouth and I sigh
as I yearn for your commands.
Turn and show me your mercy;
show justice to your friends.
Let my steps be guided by your promise;
let no evil rule me.
Redeem me from man’s oppression
and I will keep your precepts.
Let your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Tears stream from my eyes
because your law is disobeyed.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
________
Psalm 81 (82)
Against unjust judges
“Let there be no premature passing of judgement; leave that until the Lord comes” (1 Cor 4:5).
God stands in the divine assembly.
In the midst of the gods he gives judgement.
‘How long will you judge unjustly
and favour the cause of the wicked?
Do justice for the weak and the orphan,
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor;
set them free from the hand of the wicked.
‘Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness
and the order of the world is shaken.
I have said to you: “You are gods
and all of you, sons of the Most High.”
And yet, you shall die like men,
you shall fall like any of the princes.’
Arise, O God, judge the earth,
for you rule all the nations.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
________
Psalm 119 (120)
Longing for peace
“Show patience in times of trouble; never cease praying” (Rom 12:12).
To the Lord in the hour of my distress
I call and he answers me.
‘O Lord, save my soul from lying lips,
from the tongue of the deceitful.’
What shall he pay you in return,
O treacherous tongue?
The warrior’s arrows sharpened
and coals, red-hot, blazing.
Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech,
dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Long enough have I been dwelling
with those who hate peace.
I am for peace, but when I speak,
they are for fighting.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.
Psalm-prayer
You declared peacemakers happy, Lord Jesus, since they will be called sons of God. Give us that peace which the world cannot give so that your Church may be freed from the schemes of arrogant men, and, devoted to works of peace, go forward joyfully to meet you, the King of Peace.
________
Short Reading
Isaiah 2:11
Human pride will lower its eyes, the arrogance of men will be humbled. The Lord alone will be exalted, on that day.
________
℣. The nations shall fear your name, O Lord.
℟. And all the kings of the earth your glory.
________
Let us pray.
In your goodness, Lord,
listen to your people’s prayer.
As we rejoice in the coming of your Son
in flesh and blood like ours,
grant that when he comes again in glory
we may receive the gift of eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
________
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Copyright © 1996-2020 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.