Oremus for Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Aelred of Rievaulx
Aelred was born in 1109, of a family which had long been treasurers of the shrine of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne at Durham Cathedral. After intense disillusion and inner struggle, Aelred went to Yorkshire, where he became a Cistercian monk at the abbey of Rievaulx in 1133. Aelred soon became a major figure in English church life. Sent to Rome on diocesan affairs, he returned by way of Clairvaux where Saint Bernard encouraged the young monk to write his first work, Mirror of Charity, on Christian perfection. In 1147, Aelred was appointed abbot of Rievaulx. By the time of his death in 1167, the abbey had over 600 monks. During this period, Aelred wrote his best known work, Spiritual Friendship. Friendship, he teaches, is both a gift from God and a creation of human effort. While love is universal, freely given to all, friendship is a particular love between individuals, of which the example is Jesus and John the Beloved Disciple. As he wrote: “There are four qualities which characterize a friend: Loyalty, right intention, discretion, and patience. Right intention seeks for nothing other than God and natural good. Discretion brings understanding of what is done on a friend’s behalf, and ability to know when to correct faults. Patience enables one to be justly rebuked, or to bear adversity on another’s behalf. Loyalty guards and protects friendship, in good or bitter times.” ^{HWHM, alt.}

Antiphon¹

Ant. The love of God has been poured into our hearts, alleluia;
by his Spirit which dwells in us, alleluia, alleluia.
V. Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and never forget all his benefits. Ezekiel 36; Psalm 103

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires, known,
and from whom no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5

O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!

HYMN: Fred Kaan ©
Tune: Acceptance

1 Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe
We are ourselves accepted, and meant to love and live.

2 Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life
we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
to love them as we find them, or as they may become.

3 Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
to practice your acceptance until we know by heart
the table of forgiveness, and laughter’s healing art.

4 Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need,
who hunger for acceptance, for justice, and for bread,
we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on;
renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!

PSALMS
For psalms in contemporary language, https://tinyurl.com/y9tjh7rk

Psalm 62 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y9slywgl)

1  My soul truly waiteth still upon God *
 for of him cometh my salvation.
2  He verily is my strength and my salvation *
 he is my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall.
3  How long will ye imagine mischief against every man *
 ye shall be slain all the sort of you;
yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.
4  Their device is only how to put him out whom God will exalt *
 their delight is in lies; they give good words with their mouth,
but curse with their heart.
5  Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God *
 for my hope is in him.
6  He truly is my strength and my salvation *
 he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.
7  In God is my health, and my glory *
 the rock of my might, and in God is my trust.
8  O put your trust in him alway, ye people *
 pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope.
9  As for the children of men, they are but vanity *
 the children of men are deceitful upon the weights,
they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.
10  O trust not in wrong and robbery, give not yourselves unto vanity *
 if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11  God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same *
 that power belongeth unto God;
12  And that thou, Lord, art merciful *
 for thou rewardest every man according to his work.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 63 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7dmyzy2)

1  O God, thou art my God *
 early will I seek thee.
2  My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee *
 in a barren and dry land where no water is.
3  Thus have I looked for thee in holiness *
 that I might behold thy power and glory.
4  For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself *
 my lips shall praise thee.
5  As long as I live will I magnify thee on this manner *
 and lift up my hands in thy Name.
6  My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness *
 when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.
7  Have I not remembered thee in my bed *
 and thought upon thee when I was waking?
8  Because thou hast been my helper *
 therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
9  My soul hangeth upon thee *
 thy right hand hath upholden me.
10  These also that seek the hurt of my soul *
 they shall go under the earth.
11  Let them fall upon the edge of the sword *
 that they may be a portion for foxes.
12  But the King shall rejoice in God;
all they also that swear by him shall be commended *
 for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 64 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydc4zq6h)

1  Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer *
 preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2  Hide me from the gathering together of the froward *
 and from the insurrection of wicked doers;
3  Who have whet their tongue like a sword *
 and shoot out their arrows, even bitter words;
4  That they may privily shoot at him that is perfect *
 suddenly do they hit him, and fear not.
5  They encourage themselves in mischief *
 and commune among themselves how they may lay snares,
and say, that no man shall see them.
6  They imagine wickedness, and practise it *
 that they keep secret among themselves,
every man in the deep of his heart.
7  But God shall suddenly shoot at them with a swift arrow *
 that they shall be wounded.
8  Yea, their own tongues shall make them fall *
 insomuch that whoso seeth them shall laugh them to scorn.
9  And all men that see it shall say, This hath God done *
 for they shall perceive that it is his work.
10  The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trust in him *
 and all they that are true of heart shall be glad.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

PRAYER

Lord God,
in a threatening world we look to you as our rock of hope.
Hear us as we pour out our hearts to you,
and give us your grace and protection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Isaiah 45:1-8

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
   whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him
   and strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him—
   and the gates shall not be closed:
I will go before you
   and level the mountains,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
   and cut through the bars of iron,
I will give you the treasures of darkness
   and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
   the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
   and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
   I surname you, though you do not know me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
   besides me there is no god.
   I arm you, though you do not know me,
so that they may know, from the rising of the sun
   and from the west, that there is no one besides me;
   I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness,
   I make weal and create woe;
   I the Lord do all these things.

Shower, O heavens, from above,
   and let the skies rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,
   and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also;
   I the Lord have created it.

HYMN: Christian Knorr von Rosenroth; trans. Richard Massie
Tune: Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit https://tinyurl.com/yyezl5lk

1 Come, Thou bright and Morning Star,
Light of Light without beginning;
Shine upon us from afar
That we may be kept from sinning.
Drive away by Thy clear light
Our dark night.

2 Let Thy grace, like morning dew
Falling soft on barren places,
Comfort, quicken, and renew
Our dry souls and dying graces;
Bless Thy flock from Thy rich store
Evermore.

3 May Thy fervent love destroy
Our cold works, in us awaking
Ardent zeal and holy joy
At the purple morn’s first breaking.
Let us truly rise ere yet
Life has set.

4 Ah! Thou Dayspring from on high,
Grant that at Thy next appearing 
We who in the graves do lie
May arise, Thy summons hearing,
And rejoice in our new life,
Far from strife.

5 Light us to those heav’nly spheres,
Sun of grace, in glory shrouded;
Lead us through this vale of tears
To the land where days unclouded,
Purest joy, and perfect peace
Never cease.

Reading: Romans 1:18-23

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

HYMN: Alcuin; trans. Christopher Idle ©
Music: Jacob https://tinyurl.com/y38z7evj

1 Eternal light, shine in my heart;
eternal hope, lift up my eyes:
eternal power, be my support;
eternal wisdom, make me wise.

2 Eternal life, raise me from death;
eternal brightness, make me see:
eternal Spirit, give me breath;
eternal Saviour, come to me:

3 Until by your most costly grace,
invited by your holy word,
at last I come before your face
to know you, my eternal God.

Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you”,
   and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

CANTICLE Colossians 1:12-20
(Chant by John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya95yzto)

Ant. He is the first born of all creation,
in every way the primacy is his.

Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church!
He who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

Eternal God, we rejoice today in the gift of life, which we have received
by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
the love of our families . . .
the affection of our friends . . .
strength and abilities to serve your purpose today . . .
this community in which we live . . .
opportunities to give as we have received. . . .

God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves
to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ. Especially we pray for
those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors . . .
refugees and homeless men, women and children . . .
the outcast and persecuted . . .
those from whom we are estranged . . .
the church in Africa. . . .

(Karin Simmons: https://tinyurl.com/y7vwp7dd)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Pour into our hearts, O God,
the Holy Spirit’s gift of love,
that we, clasping each the other’s hand,
may share the joy of friendship,
human and divine,
and with your servant Aelred
draw many to your community of love;
through Jesus Christ the Righteous,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ^LFF

Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © Church Publishing, Inc.

^LFF Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006 © Church Publishing, Inc.

^RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

¹ Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©

The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662).

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2020 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.