Oremus for January 8

Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei was born on 15 February 1564 near Pisa, the son of a musician. He began to study medicine at the University of Pisa but changed to philosophy and mathematics. In 1589, he became professor of mathematics at Pisa. In 1592, he moved to become mathematics professor at the University of Padua, a position he held until 1610. During this time he worked on a variety of experiments, including the speed at which different objects fall, mechanics and pendulums.
In 1609, Galileo heard about the invention of the telescope in Holland. Without having seen an example, he constructed a superior version and made many astronomical discoveries. These included mountains and valleys on the surface of the moon, sunspots, the four largest moons of the planet Jupiter and the phases of the planet Venus. His work on astronomy made him famous and he was appointed court mathematician in Florence.
In 1614, Galileo was accused of heresy for his support of the Copernican theory that the sun was at the centre of the solar system. This was revolutionary at a time when most people believed the Earth was in this central position. In 1616, he was forbidden by the church from teaching or advocating these theories.
In 1632, he was again condemned for heresy after his book ‘Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems’ was published. This set out the arguments for and against the Copernican theory in the form of a discussion between two men. Galileo was summoned to appear before the Inquisition in Rome. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, later reduced to permanent house arrest at his villa in Arcetri, south of Florence. He was also forced to publicly withdraw his support for Copernican theory. Although he was now going blind he continued to write. In 1638, his ‘Discourses Concerning Two New Sciences’ was published with Galileo’s ideas on the laws of motion and the principles of mechanics. Galileo died in Arcetri on 8 January 1642. ¹

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/4a5jdna4

As for me, in justice I shall behold your face;
I shall be filled with the vision of your glory. Psalm 17

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: Thomas Troeger ©
Tune: Hyfrydol https://tinyurl.com/mryehrb6

1 Praise the source of faith and learning
that has sparked and stoked the mind
with a passion for discerning
how the world has been designed.
Let the sense of wonder flowing
from the wonders we survey
keep our faith forever growing
and renew our need to pray:

2 God of wisdom, we acknowledge
that our science and our art
and the breadth of human knowledge
only partial truth impart.
Far beyond our calculation
lies a depth we cannot sound
where your purpose for creation
and the pulse of life are found.

3 May our faith redeem the blunder
of believing that our thought
has displaced the grounds for wonder
which the ancient prophets taught.
May our learning curb the error
which unthinking faith can breed
lest we justify some terror
with an antiquated creed.

4 As two currents in a river fight
each other’s undertow
till converging they deliver
one coherent steady flow;
blend, O God, our faith and learning
till they carve a single course,
till they join as one, returning
praise and thanks to you, their Source.

PSALMS

Psalm 38 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8u2a6mz)
1  Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger *
 neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.
2  For thine arrows stick fast in me *
 and thy hand presseth me sore.
3  There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure *
 neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.
4  For my wickednesses are gone over my head *
 and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
5  My wounds stink, and are corrupt *
 through my foolishness.
6  I am brought into so great trouble and misery *
 that I go mourning all the day long.
7  For my loins are filled with a sore disease *
 and there is no whole part in my body.
8  I am feeble, and sore smitten *
 I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.
9  Lord, thou knowest all my desire *
 and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10  My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me *
 and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.
11  My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble *
 and my kinsmen stood afar off.
12  They also that sought after my life laid snares for me *
 and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness,
and imagined deceit all the day long.
13  As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not *
 and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.
14  I became even as a man that heareth not *
 and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15  For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust *
 thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.
16  I have required that they, even mine enemies,
should not triumph over me *
 for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.
17  And I, truly, am set in the plague *
 and my heaviness is ever in my sight.
18  For I will confess my wickedness *
 and be sorry for my sin.
19  But mine enemies live, and are mighty *
 and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.
20  They also that reward evil for good are against me *
 because I follow the thing that good is.
21  Forsake me not, O Lord my God *
 be not thou far from me.
22  Haste thee to help me *
 O Lord God of my salvation.
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 39 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y9dmgm3b)
1  I said, I will take heed to my ways *
 that I offend not in my tongue.
2  I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle *
 while the ungodly is in my sight.
3  I held my tongue, and spake nothing *
 I kept silence, yea, even from good words;
but it was pain and grief to me.
4  My heart was hot within me,
and while I was thus musing the fire kindled *
 and at the last I spake with my tongue;
5  Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days *
 that I may be certified how long I have to live.
6  Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long *
 and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee;
and verily every man living is altogether vanity.
7  For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain *
 he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
8  And now, Lord, what is my hope *
 truly my hope is even in thee.
9  Deliver me from all mine offences *
 and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.
10  I became dumb, and opened not my mouth *
 for it was thy doing.
11  Take thy plague away from me *
 I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.
12  When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin,
thou makest his beauty to consume away,
like as it were a moth fretting a garment *
 every man therefore is but vanity.
13  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling *
 hold not thy peace at my tears.
14  For I am a stranger with thee *
 and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
15  O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength *
 before I go hence, and be no more seen.
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 40 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybregq8q)
1  I waited patiently for the Lord *
 and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.
2  He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay *
 and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.
3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth *
 even a thanksgiving unto our God.
4  Many shall see it, and fear *
 and shall put their trust in the Lord.
5  Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord *
 and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.
6  O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done,
like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward *
 and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.
7  If I should declare them, and speak of them *
 they should be more than I am able to express.
8  Sacrifice, and meat-offering, thou wouldest not *
 but mine ears hast thou opened.
9  Burnt-offerings, and sacrifice for sin, hast thou not required *
 then said I, Lo, I come,
10  In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God *
 I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.
11  I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation *
 lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.
12  I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart *
 my talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation.
13  I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth *
 from the great congregation.
14  Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord *
 let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.
15  For innumerable troubles are come about me;
my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up *
 yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart hath failed me.
16  O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me *
 make haste, O Lord, to help me.
17  Let them be ashamed, and confounded together,
that seek after my soul to destroy it *
 let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.
18  Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame *
 that say unto me, Fie upon thee, fie upon thee.
19  Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee *
 and let such as love thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.
20  As for me, I am poor and needy *
 but the Lord careth for me.
21  Thou art my helper and redeemer *
 make no long tarrying, O my God.
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 38 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-38-MH.mp3)
2 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger;
do not punish me, Lord, in your rage.
3 Your arrows have sunk deep in me;
your hand has come down upon me.
4 Through your anger all my body is sick:
through my sin, there is no health in my limbs.
5 My guilt towers higher than my head;
it is a weight too heavy to bear.
6 My wounds are foul and festering,
the result of my own folly.
7 I am bowed and brought to my knees.
I go mourning all the day long.
8 All my frame burns with fever;
all my body is sick.
9 Spent and utterly crushed,
I cry aloud in anguish of heart.
10 O Lord, you know all my longing:
my groans are not hidden from you.
11 My heart throbs, my strength is spent;
the very light has gone from my eyes.
12 My friends avoid me like a leper;
those closest to me stand afar off.
13 Those who plot against my life lay snares;
those who seek my ruin speak of harm,
planning treachery all the day long.
14 But I am like the deaf who cannot hear,
like the dumb unable to speak.
15 I am like a man who hears nothing
in whose mouth is no defense.
16 I count on you, O Lord:
it is you, Lord God, who will answer.
17 I pray: “Do not let them mock me,
those who triumph if my foot should slip.”
18 For I am on the point of falling
and my pain is always before me.
19 I confess that I am guilty
and my sin fills me with dismay.
20 My wanton enemies are numberless
and my lying foes are many.
21 They repay me evil for good
and attack me for seeking what is right.
22 O Lord, do not forsake me!
My God, do not stay afar off!
23 Make haste and come to my help,
O Lord, my God, my savior!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Spiritt;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 39 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-39-MH.mp3)
2 I said: “I will be watchful of my ways
for fear I should sin with my tongue.
I will put a curb on my lips
when the wicked man stands before me.”
3 I was dumb, silent and still.
His prosperity stirred my grief.
4 My heart was burning within me.
At the thought of it, the fire blazed up
and my tongue burst into speech:
5 “O Lord, you have shown me my end,
how short is the length of my days.
Now I know how fleeting is my life.
6 You have given me a short span of days;
my life is as nothing in your sight.
A mere breath, the man who stood so firm,
7 a mere shadow, the man passing by;
a mere breath the riches he hoards,
not knowing who will have them.”
8 And now, Lord, what is there to wait for?
In you rests all my hope.
9 Set me free from all my sins,
do not make me the taunt of the fool.
10 I was silent, not opening my lips,
because this was all your doing.
11 Take away your scourge from me.
I am crushed by the blows of your hand.
12 You punish man’s sins and correct him;
like the moth you devour all he treasures.
Mortal man is no more than a breath;
13 O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, turn your ear to my cry.
Do not be deaf to my tears.
In your house I am a passing guest,
a pilgrim, like all my fathers.
14 Look away that I may breathe again
before I depart to be no more.
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 40 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-40.mp3)
1 I waited patiently upon the LORD; *
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Happy are they who trust in the LORD! *
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
5 Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
6 Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
but they are more than I can count.
7 In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
(you have given me ears to hear you);
8 Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
and so I said, “Behold, I come.
9 In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
‘I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.’”
10 I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O LORD, you know.
11 Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *
I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the
 great congregation.
12 You are the LORD;
do not withhold your compassion from me; *
let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,
13 For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *
they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.
14 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; *
O LORD, make haste to help me.
15 Let them be ashamed and altogether dismayed
who seek after my life to destroy it; *
let them draw back and be disgraced
who take pleasure in my misfortune.
16 Let those who say “Aha!” and gloat over me be confounded, *
because they are ashamed.
17 Let all who seek you rejoice in you and be glad; *
let those who love your salvation continually say,
Great is the LORD!”
18 Though I am poor and afflicted, *
the Lord will have regard for me.
19 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
do not tarry, O my God.

PRAYER

O God,
none can compare with you,
for your wondrous deeds for our salvation are without number.
Make us bold witnesses to your faithfulness
that all the earth may rejoice in your love toward us
in Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Ezekiel 2:1–3:11

The voice said to me: Human one, stand on your feet, and I’ll speak to you. As he spoke to me, a wind came to me and stood me on my feet, and I heard someone addressing me. He said to me: Human one, I’m sending you to the Israelites, a traitorous and rebellious people. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. I’m sending you to their hardheaded and hard-hearted descendants, and you will say to them: The Lord God proclaims. Whether they listen or whether they refuse, since they are a household of rebels, they will know that a prophet has been among them.

And as for you, human one, don’t be afraid of them or their words. Don’t be afraid! You possess thistles and thorns that subdue scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or shrink from their presence, because they are a household of rebels. You’ll speak my words to them whether they listen or whether they refuse. They are just a household of rebels!

As for you, human one, listen to what I say to you. Don’t become rebellious like that household of rebels. Open your mouth and eat what I give you. Then I looked, and there in a hand stretched out to me was a scroll. He spread it open in front of me, and it was filled with writing on both sides, songs of mourning, lamentation, and doom.

Then he said to me: Human one, eat this thing that you’ve found. Eat this scroll and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. He said to me: Human one, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you. So I ate it, and in my mouth it became as sweet as honey.

Then he said to me: Human one, go! Go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You aren’t being sent to a people whose language and speech are difficult and obscure but to the house of Israel. No, not to many peoples who speak difficult and obscure languages, whose words you wouldn’t understand. If I did send you to them, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel—they will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to me. The whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hard-hearted too. I’ve now hardened your face so that you can meet them head-on. I’ve made your forehead like a diamond, harder than stone. Don’t be afraid of them or shrink away from them, because they are a household of rebels.

He said to me: Human one, listen closely, and take to heart every word I say to you. Then go to the exiles, to your people’s children. Whether they listen or not, speak to them and say: The Lord God proclaims!

HYMN: Thomas Troeger ©
Tune: Aberystwyth https://tinyurl.com/yc6s2yb6

1 Wind who makes all winds that blow—
gusts that bend the saplings low,
gales that heave the sea in waves,
stirrings in the mind’s deep caves—
aim your breath with steady pow’r
on your church, this day, this hour.
Raise, renew the life we’ve lost,
Spirit God of Pentecost.

2 Fire who fuels all fires that burn—
suns around which planets turn,
beacons marking reefs and shoals,
shining truth to guide our souls—
come to us as once you came;
burst in tongues of sacred flame!
Light and Power, Might and Strength,
fill your church, its breadth and length.

3 Holy Spirit, Wind and Flame,
move within our mortal frame.
Make our hearts an altar pyre.
Kindle them with your own fire.
Breathe and blow upon that blaze
till our lives, our deeds, and ways
speak that tongue which ev’ry land
by your grace shall understand.

Reading: Romans 1:1-25

From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news. God promised this good news about his Son ahead of time through his prophets in the holy scriptures. His Son was descended from David. He was publicly identified as God’s Son with power through his resurrection from the dead, which was based on the Spirit of holiness. This Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received God’s grace and our appointment to be apostles. This was to bring all Gentiles to faithful obedience for his name’s sake. You who are called by Jesus Christ are also included among these Gentiles.

To those in Rome who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the news about your faithfulness is being spread throughout the whole world. I serve God in my spirit by preaching the good news about God’s Son, and God is my witness that I continually mention you in all my prayers. I’m always asking that somehow, by God’s will, I might succeed in visiting you at last. I really want to see you to pass along some spiritual gift to you so that you can be strengthened. What I mean is that we can mutually encourage each other while I am with you. We can be encouraged by the faithfulness we find in each other, both your faithfulness and mine.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I planned to visit you many times, although I have been prevented from coming until now. I want to harvest some fruit among you, just as I have done among the other Gentiles. I have a responsibility both to Greeks and to those who don’t speak Greek, both to the wise and to the foolish.

That’s why I’m ready to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. I’m not ashamed of the gospel: it is God’s own power for salvation to all who have faith in God, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness for faith, as it is written, The righteous person will live by faith.

God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodly behavior and the injustice of human beings who silence the truth with injustice. This is because what is known about God should be plain to them because God made it plain to them. Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—God’s eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through the things God has made. So humans are without excuse. Although they knew God, they didn’t honor God as God or thank him. Instead, their reasoning became pointless, and their foolish hearts were darkened. While they were claiming to be wise, they made fools of themselves. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that look like mortal humans: birds, animals, and reptiles. So God abandoned them to their hearts’ desires, which led to the moral corruption of degrading their own bodies with each other. They traded God’s truth for a lie, and they worshipped and served the creation instead of the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

HYMN: James Montgomery
Tune: Christus, der ist mein Leben https://tinyurl.com/2kap35u6

1 God is my strong Salvation:
What foe have I to fear?
In peril and temptation
My light, my help is near.

2 Though hosts encamp around me,
Firm to the fight I stand;
What terror can confound me,
With God at my right hand?

3 Place on the Lord reliance,
My soul, with courage wait;
God’s truth be thine affiance,
When faint and desolate.

4 God’s might thy heart shall strengthen,
God’s love thy joy increase;
Mercy thy days shall lengthen;
The Lord will give thee peace.

PRAYER ^BCW

Mighty God of mercy, we thank you for the resurrection dawn bringing the glory of our risen Lord who makes every day new. Especially we thank you for
the beauty of your creation . . .
the new creation in Christ and all gifts of healing and forgiveness . . .
the sustaining love of family and friends . . .
the fellowship of faith in your church. . . .

Merciful God of might, renew this weary world, heal the hurts of all your children, and bring about your peace for all in Christ Jesus, the living Lord. Especially we pray for
those who govern nations of the world . . .
the people in countries ravaged by strife or warfare . . .
all who work for peace and international harmony . . .
all who strive to save the earth from destruction . . .
the church of Jesus Christ in every land. . . .

(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)^DL

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.

God of grace and glory, you create and sustain the universe in majesty and beauty: We thank you for Galileo Galilei and all in whom you have planted the desire to know your creation and to explore your work and wisdom. Lead us, like them, to understand better the wonder and mystery of creation; through Christ your eternal Word, through whom all things were made. Amen. ^HWHM

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.

¹ https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/galilei_galileo.shtml

^HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.

The scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalm 38 and 39 are from The Grail Psalter and are from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured. Psalm 40 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel.

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 © 2023 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.