Tuesday 23 November 2021
Tuesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time
Afternoon Prayer (None)
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
Eternal Father, loving God,
Who made us from the dust of earth,
Transform us by the Spirit’s grace,
Give value to our little worth.
Prepare us for that day of days
When Christ from heaven will come with might
To call us out of dust again,
Our bodies glorified in light.
O Godhead, here untouched, unseen,
All things created bear your trace;
The seed of glory sown in man
Will flower when we see your face.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
________
PSALMS OF THE DAY
________
Psalm 118(119): 49-56
Meditating the word of the Lord in the Law
“Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life” (John 6:68)
I have kept your precepts in the land of my exile.
Remember your word to your servant
by which you gave me hope.
This is my comfort in sorrow:
that your promise gives me life.
Though the proud may utterly deride me
I keep to your law.
I remember your decrees of old
and these, Lord, console me.
I am seized with indignation at the wicked
who forsake your law.
Your command has become my song
in the land of exile.
I think of your name in the night-time
and I keep your law.
This has been my blessing,
the keeping of your precepts.
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.
I have kept your precepts in the land of my exile.
Psalm-prayer
Lord you raise us up from our lowliness by giving us the hope of eternal life. May we always serve you in this our pilgrimage and come to enjoy the happiness of our home with you.
________
Psalm 52 (53)
The folly of the lawless
“All have sinned and forfeited the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).
The Lord will deliver his people from bondage and we will rejoice.
The fool has said in his heart:
‘There is no God above.’
Their deeds are corrupt, depraved;
not a good man is left.
God looks down from heaven
on the sons of men
to see if any are wise,
if any seek God.
All have left the right path;
depraved, every one;
There is not a good man left,
no, not even one.
Will the evil-doers not understand?
They eat up my people
as though they were eating bread;
they never pray to God.
See how they tremble with fear
without cause for fear:
for God scatters the bones of the wicked.
They are shamed, God rejects them.
O that Israel’s salvation might come from Sion!
When God delivers his people from bondage,
then Jacob will be glad and Israel rejoice.
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 Lord will deliver his people from bondage and we will rejoice.
Psalm-prayer
You are always true to your word, Father. Look down from heaven and put an end to our foolishness. Save us from groundless fears and help us to please you with undivided heart.
Or:
Almighty Father, apart from you there is nothing true, nothing holy on earth. Dismiss our sins, and give us strength in our weakness so that all who believe in your Son may rejoice in his glory.
________
Psalm 53 (54)
A plea for help
“The prophet prays in the name of the Lord to be freed from the evil of those who persecute him” (Cassiodorus).
I have God for my help. The Lord upholds my life.
O God, save me by your name;
by your power, uphold my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.
For proud men have risen against me,
ruthless men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.
But I have God for my help.
The Lord upholds my life.
I will sacrifice to you with willing heart
and praise your name for it is good:
for you have rescued me from all my distress
and my eyes have seen the downfall of my foes.
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.
I have God for my help. The Lord upholds my life.
Psalm-prayer
We humbly ask you, Father, to save us from every evil and trial on earth, that we may seek with our hearts and deeds our Lord and helper, Jesus Christ, whom we look to in the heavens.
Or:
Father, hear our prayer and come to the aid of your Church. Mercifully deliver her from evil so that she may fearlessly praise your good and holy name and offer you a pure sacrifice from the rising of the sun to its setting.
________
Short Reading
1 Corinthians 12:24,25-26
God has arranged the body and that there may not be disagreements inside the body, but that each part may be equally concerned for all the others. If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it.
________
℣. Lord, our God, gather us from among the nations.
℟. That we may give praise to your holy name.
________
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
we recall how you sent your angel to the centurion Cornelius
to show him the way of salvation.
Open our hearts to work more zealously for the salvation of the world,
so that your Church may bring us and all men into your presence.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
________
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Copyright © 1996-2021 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.