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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Praise
Almighty God,
send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit,
and kindle in all who minister the gospel
your countless gifts of grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 10.1-5a, 12
Why stand so far off, O Lord?
Why hide yourself in time of trouble?
The wicked in their pride persecute the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
The wicked boast of their heart’s desire;
the covetous curse and revile the Lord.
The wicked in their arrogance say, ‘God will not avenge it’;
in all their scheming God counts for nothing.
They are stubborn in all their ways,
for your judgements are far above out of their sight;
Arise, O Lord God, and lift up your hand;
forget not the poor.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Reading
Matthew 12.14-21
The Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
‘Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’
This is the word of the Lord.
Reflection on Matthew 12:14-21
Prayers
Let us pray that the good news of salvation may inspire the Church and all the world.
As you have given the message of hope and comfort to your people in all ages, fill the Church with zeal to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. Make your people, sealed by baptism and the Holy Spirit, to be one in your Kingdom.
Make straight the crooked places of the world and lead the nations into the way of peace. Reveal your glory so that all people shall see it and become your own.
Bless us, our families and friends, that we may seek the good and avoid the evil. Save us from the judgement of having neglected your word.
Be close to those who do your work in obscurity and poverty. Give them the comfort of your presence and shield them from danger and persecution.
We pray for those who have come out of the wilderness into new life. Look upon them with the eyes of mercy, counting them righteous not for their merit but through the love of Christ.
We join our voices with all those which speak of the Gospel of Christ.
O Saviour of the world,
lifted up on the cross to draw people
of all races and nations to yourself:
bless the witness of your Church
in this and every place,
and help us to finish the work
you have given us to do
in the world for which you died.
We ask it in your name,
our living and victorious Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
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, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Conclusion
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.