Tuesday 7 December 2021
Tuesday of the 2nd week of Advent
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)
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
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.
________
Psalm 52 (53)
The folly of the lawless
“All have sinned and forfeited the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).
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.
________
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).
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.
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
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
(Ezekiel 34:15-16)
I will pasture my sheep, I will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall be a true shepherd to them.
________
℣. Come, Lord, and make no delay.
℟. Release your people from their sin.
________
Let us pray.
Lord God,
all the ends of the earth have seen your salvation.
Give us the grace to await with joy
the glorious day of our Saviour’s birth.
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.