Oremus for Tuesday, December 14, 2021

John of the Cross, attr. Francisco de Zurburán, 1656

John of the Cross
Born to an impoverished noble family near Avila in Spain in 1542, Juan de Yepes was brought up by his widowed mother and went to a charity school. He worked as a nurse and received further education from the Jesuits before entering the Carmelite order when he was twenty-one. Having distinguished himself at Salamanca university, he was ordained in 1567 and met Teresa of Avila soon afterwards. Small of stature, he made a great impression on her and she persuaded him to help with her reform of the Carmelite order. His labours brought him into conflict with the religious authorities, and he was even imprisoned for a period, yet these experiences prompted some of his finest poetry and mystical writing. In particular, he described the ‘dark night’ of the soul as it is purified in its approach towards God. After ten years as superior to several different houses, he again fell out of favour and was banished to Andalusia in southern Spain, where he died after a severe illness on this day in 1591. EH

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/4625tya3

With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light. Psalm 36

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: John of the Cross
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/yua3huvu

Qué bien sé yo la fonte que mane y corre,
aunque es de noche.

Aquella eterna fonte está escondida,
que bien sé yo do tiene su manida,
aunque es de noche.

Su origen no lo sé, pues no le tiene,
mas sé que todo origen de ella tiene,
aunque es de noche.

Sé que no puede ser cosa tan bella,
y que cielos y tierra beben de ella,
aunque es de noche.

Bien sé que suelo en ella no se halla,
y que ninguno puede vadealla,
aunque es de noche.

Su claridad nunca es oscurecida,
y sé que toda luz de ella es venida,
aunque es de noche.

Sé ser tan caudalosos sus corrientes.
que infiernos, cielos riegan y las gentes,
aunque es de noche.

El corriente que nace de esta fuente
bien sé que es tan capaz y omnipotente,
aunque es de noche.

El corriente que de estas dos procede
sé que ninguna de ellas le precede,
aunque es de noche.

Aquesta eterna fonte está escondida
en este vivo pan por darnos vida,
aunque es de noche.

Aquí se está llamando a las criaturas,
y de esta agua se hartan, aunque a oscuras
porque es de noche.

Aquesta viva fuente que deseo,
en este pan de vida yo la veo,
aunque es de noche.

How well I know that flowing spring
     in black of night.

The eternal fountain is unseen.
How well I know where she has been
     in black of night.

I do not know her origin.
None. Yet in her all things begin
     in black of night.

I know that nothing is so fair
and earth and firmament drink there
     in black of night.

I know that none can wade inside
to find her bright bottomless tide
     in black of night.

Her shining never has a blur;
I know that all light comes from her
     in black of night.

I know her streams converge and swell
and nourish people, skies and hell
     in black of night.

The stream whose birth is in this source
I know has a gigantic force
     in black of night.

The stream from but these two proceeds
yet neither one, I know, precedes
     in black of night.

The eternal fountain is unseen
in living bread that gives us being
     in black of night.

She calls on all mankind to start
to drink her water, though in dark,
     for black is night.

O living fountain that I crave,
in bread of life I see her flame
     in black of night.

PSALMS

Psalm 73 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vztsodf)
1  Truly God is loving unto Israel *
 even unto such as are of a clean heart.
2  Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone *
 my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
3  And why? I was grieved at the wicked *
 I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
4  For they are in no peril of death *
 but are lusty and strong.
5  They come in no misfortune like other folk *
 neither are they plagued like other men.
6  And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride *
 and overwhelmed with cruelty.
7  Their eyes swell with fatness *
 and they do even what they lust.
8  They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy *
 their talking is against the most High.
9  For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven *
 and their tongue goeth through the world.
10  Therefore fall the people unto them *
 and thereout suck they no small advantage.
11  Tush, say they, how should God perceive it *
 is there knowledge in the most High?
12  Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world,
and these have riches in possession *
 and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain,
and washed mine hands in innocency.
13  All the day long have I been punished *
 and chastened every morning.
14  Yea, and I had almost said even as they *
 but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
15  Then thought I to understand this *
 but it was too hard for me,
16  Until I went into the sanctuary of God *
 then understood I the end of these men;
17  Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places *
 and castest them down, and destroyest them.
18  O how suddenly do they consume *
 perish, and come to a fearful end!
19  Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh *
 so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
20  Thus my heart was grieved *
 and it went even through my reins.
21  So foolish was I, and ignorant *
 even as it were a beast before thee.
22  Nevertheless, I am alway by thee *
 for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
23  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel *
 and after that receive me with glory.
24  Whom have I in heaven but thee *
 and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
25  My flesh and my heart faileth *
 but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
26  For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish *
 thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against thee.
27  But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God *
 and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
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 73 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-73-KH.mp3)
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart!
But my feet came near to stumbling;
my steps had almost slipped.
I was envious of the arrogant,
when I saw the wicked prosper
In their death there are no pains,
and their bellies all are full.

They’re not burdened like the people,
nor struck like common men.
So pride becomes their necklace,
and violence is their garment.
Their eye is set on fatness,
and the fantasies of their heart.
They mock and threaten with cruelty;
and they speak as if on high.

But whom have I in heaven but you?
On earth I long for nothing else but you.
Though my heart and flesh may fail,
God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

They set their mouth in heaven,
their tongue parades on the earth.
So the people keep returning to drink their waters in full.
They are saying, “What does God know?
Is knowledge with the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked,
at ease and gaining wealth.

In vain I kept my heart pure,
in innocence washed my hands;
I’m stricken all day long
and chastened every morning.
If I said, “I’ll speak in this way,”
I’d betray your generations.
When I pondered to understand this,
it was troublesome in my sight

But whom have I in heaven but you?
On earth I long for nothing else but you.
Though my heart and flesh may fail,
God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

When I came into God’s sanctuary;
then I perceived their end.
you set them in smooth places,
then cast them down to slavery.
In a moment they are destroyed,
swept away by sudden terror!
Like a dream when awakened, Lord,
when aroused despise their form.

When my heart was thus embittered
I inwardly was pierced,
I was ignorant and senseless,
before you like a beast.
Yet I am always with you;
take hold of my right hand.
you will guide me with your counsel,
then will take me into glory.

For whom have I in heaven but you?
On earth I long for nothing else but you.
Though my heart and flesh may fail,
God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

See, how the distant perish,
the unfaithful are destroyed;
but the nearness of God is my good
The Lord GOD is my refuge,
so I will tell of your works.

Psalm 74 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9v5c9y)
1  O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long *
 why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
2  O think upon thy congregation *
 whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.
3  Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance *
 and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
4  Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy *
 which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
5  Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations *
 and set up their banners for tokens.
6  He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees *
 was known to bring it to an excellent work.
7  But now they break down all the carved work thereof *
 with axes and hammers.
8  They have set fire upon thy holy places *
 and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
9  Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether *
 thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
10  We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more *
 no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
11  O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour *
 how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?
12  Why withdrawest thou thy hand *
 why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom
to consume the enemy?
13  For God is my King of old *
 the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.
14  Thou didst divide the sea through thy power *
 thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
15  Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces *
 and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.
16  Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks *
 thou driedst up mighty waters.
17  The day is thine, and the night is thine *
 thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
18  Thou hast set all the borders of the earth *
 thou hast made summer and winter.
19  Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked *
 and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
20  O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies *
 and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
21  Look upon the covenant *
 for all the earth is full of darkness, and cruel habitations.
22  O let not the simple go away ashamed *
 but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
23  Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause *
 remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
24  Forget not the voice of thine enemies *
 the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.
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 74 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-74-KH.mp3)
O God, have you rejected us forever?
Will your anger burn against the sheep you pasture?
Remember your assembly, which of old you pledged,
you redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance;

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

And toward these everlasting ruins now turn your feet;
the foe has broken down the sanctuary.
your adversaries roared within your meeting place;
They set up their own signs and banners of disgrace.

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

See how an axe was lifted in a glade of trees.
Their hatchets and their hammers smash its artistry.
Unto the ground how they have burned your Holy Place;
Defiled the habitation of your glorious name.

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

They said in their heart, “Let us utterly subdue.”
They burned all God’s meeting places down.
We do not see our signs; there’s no prophet anymore,
not even one among us knows how long.

How long, O God, how long, will the enemy revile,
Will the foe forever ridicule your name?
Why now withdraw your hand, even your right hand?
From within your bosom, strike them down!

Yet God has been my king since when it all began,
performing all His saving works throughout the land.
For by your strength the great sea was divided;
and there within the waters broke the dragon’s heads.

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

Yes, of Leviathan you trampled on his heads;
gave him as food for people in the wilderness.
you opened up for them the fountains and the springs;
you shriveled up the strong and ever-flowing streams.

For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

Yours is the day, yours also is the night time;
you prepare the moonlight and the sunshine.
You have set the boundaries of all the earth;
both the summer and the winter you bring forth.

For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy reviled,
and how your name the foolish ones despised.
Deliver not the soul of your dove to wild beasts;
and do not long forget your poor ones’ lives.

Look towards the covenant, for the darkness of the land
is full of habitations for the mean.
O let not the oppressed all turn back and be ashamed;
and let the poor and needy praise your name.

Arise, O God, and plead for your own righteous case;
remember how the foolish have reproached all day.
Do not forget the voice of all your enemies,
the noise of their revolt ascends continually.

For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

PRAYER

God our strength,
you give honor to the pure in heart
and uphold all who trust in you.
Deliver us from chasing after this world’s illusions
that we may follow instead
the imperishable truth of your Word
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Isaiah 44:21-28

Remember these things, O Jacob,
   and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you, you are my servant;
   O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
   and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;
   shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
   O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
   and will be glorified in Israel.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
   who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, who made all things,
   who alone stretched out the heavens,
   who by myself spread out the earth;
who frustrates the omens of liars,
   and makes fools of diviners;
who turns back the wise,
   and makes their knowledge foolish;
who confirms the word of his servant,
   and fulfils the prediction of his messengers;
who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited’,
   and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,
   and I will raise up their ruins’;
who says to the deep, ‘Be dry—
   I will dry up your rivers’;
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
   and he shall carry out all my purpose’;
and who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be rebuilt’,
   and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’

HYMN: Psalm 98; para. Erik Routley ©
Tune: Genevan 98th (Rendez à Dieu) https://tinyurl.com/29s29a5s

1 New songs of celebration render
To God who has great wonders done;
Love sits enthroned in ageless splendor;
Come and adore the Mighty One.
God has made known the great salvation
Which all the saints with joy confess.
God has revealed to ev’ry nation
Truth and unending righteousness.

2 Joyfully, heartily resounding,
Let ev’ry instrument and voice
Peal out the praise of grace abounding,
Calling the whole world to rejoice.
Trumpets and organs, set in motion
Such sounds as make the heavens ring;
All things that live in earth and ocean,
Sound forth the song, your praises bring.

3 Rivers and seas and torrents roaring,
Honor the Lord with wild acclaim;
Mountains and stones, look up adoring,
And find a voice to praise God’s name.
Righteous, commanding, ever glorious,
Praises be sung that never cease;
Just is our God, whose truth victorious
Establishes the world in peace.

Reading: Revelation 15:1-4 

Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
‘Great and amazing are your deeds,
   Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
   King of the nations!
Lord, who will not fear
   and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
   All nations will come
   and worship before you,
for your judgements have been revealed.’

HYMN: Kōn-yong Yi; para. Marion Pope
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/yckm9cx6

1 Come now, O prince of peace:
make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus;
reconcile your people.

2 Come now, O God of love,
make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus;
reconcile your people.

3 Come now and set us free,
O God, our Savior.
Come, O Lord Jesus;
reconcile all nations.

4 Come, Hope of unity;
make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus;
reconcile all nations.

Reading: Luke 21:20-24

Jesus continued, ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfilment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.’

CANTICLE Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
(Andrew Rottner: https://tinyurl.com/ybqv7yxk)

He who is mighty, has shown great strength to me
And his mercy is for those who fear his holy name
And he has shown strength with his arm and his law
And he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He who is mighty has brought the wicked shame
And his anger is for those who curse his holy name
And he has shown rage with the mighty in their thrones
And he has lifted the low into his glorious home

O my soul magnifies the Lord,
Yes my soul magnifies the Lord.

He who is mighty has not forgotten me
And his helping is for those to serve his holy name
He has shown remembrance with his servant Israel
And he spoke the promise from which all my doubts dispel

O my soul magnifies the Lord,
Yes my soul magnifies the Lord.
O my soul magnifies the Lord,
Yes my soul magnifies the Lord.

THE PRAYERS CCP

Watchful at all times,
let us pray for strength to stand with confidence
before our Maker and Redeemer.

That God may bring in his kingdom with judgement and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That God may establish among the nations
his sceptre of righteousness, let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That the Church may seek him in the scriptures
and recognise him in the breaking of the bread,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That God may bind up the broken‑hearted,
restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That the light of God’s coming may dawn
on all who live in darkness and in the shadow of death,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That with all the saints in light,
we may shine forth as lights of the world,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

(Plainsong: https://tinyurl.com/ahnrtv59)ELW

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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

O God, the Judge of all,
who gave your servant John of the Cross
a warmth of nature, a strength of purpose
   and a mystical faith
that sustained him even in the dark night of the soul:
shed your light on all who love you
and union with your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. EH, alt.

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.

ELW The Lord’s Prayer is from Setting Five in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997

CCP Celebrating Common Prayer © 1993 Society of St Francis

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 traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language psalms are in the version sung by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html

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 © 2021 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.

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