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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Praise
Generous God,
you give us gifts and make them grow:
though our faith is small as mustard seed,
make it grow to your glory
and the flourishing of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Psalm 146.1-5
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, O my soul:
while I live will I praise the Lord;
as long as I have any being,
I will sing praises to my God.
Put not your trust in princes, nor in any human power,
for there is no help in them.
When their breath goes forth, they return to the earth;
on that day all their thoughts perish.
Happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their help,
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them;
who keeps his promise for ever;
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 13.47-53
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
Matthew 13.47-53
This is the word of the Lord.
Reflection on Matthew 13.47-53
Prayers
Let us pray to God, giver of all good gifts and our only defence against evil.
As we look for the full revelation of your glory, keep us faithful in work and worship. Defend the Church against the assaults of evil, to yield a good harvest from the planting of your holy word.
Root out all the evil things that mar the goodness of your world. Give the glorious liberty of the Spirit to those who live only for the demands of the flesh.
Shield our families from all assaults of evil. Bless our local community and keep it free from corruption. Guide with your Holy Spirit those who hold responsibility for health and environment.
Visit the afflicted with the assurance that their suffering will pass. Restore health to the damaged bodies and the troubled minds.
Grant that the faithful departed may as joint heirs with Christ share in his glory. Have mercy on all souls in the time of judgement when good and evil shall be revealed together.
May these our prayers, purified from fault and error, be heard through Jesus Christ, Son of Man and Lord of all.
Lord and heavenly Father,
make us mindful of your presence with us;
that we may draw near to you with holy and humble hearts,
and offer prayers and praises acceptable in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our 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.