Oremus for Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Cyril and Methodius
Cyril and his older brother Methodius were born in Thessalonica, both developing in their youth the ability to speak several languages, including Slavonic, a language not yet written down, at least in an alphabet understood by others. Cyril created the Slavonic alphabet and set about translating the Scriptures and other liturgical texts into the language. They established the church in Moravia, but in so doing entered into the controversy between indigenous and centralised religious practices and worship. Cyril died on this day in the year 869, whilst the brothers were in Rome, there to obtain papal approval for their evangelistic work. Methodius returned to Moravia as archbishop, where he completed the translation of the Bible and continued the missionary work. He died in the year 885. Today they are revered in both Christian East and West and, as such, are seen as patron saints of ecumenism between these two great branches of Christendom. ^EH

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/yh4xbha5

O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders;
in the sight of the nations
he has shown his deliverance, alleluia. Psalm 98

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: Jiří Tranovský; trans. Jaroslav Vajda ©
Tune:  PÁN BŮH

1 God, my Lord, my strength, my place of hiding
and confiding
in all needs by night and day;
though foes surround me,
and Satan mark his prey,
God shall have his way.

2 Christ in me, and I am freed for living
and forgiving,
heart of flesh for lifeless stone;
now bold to serve him,
now cheered his love to own,
nevermore alone.

3 Up, weak knees and spirit bowed in sorrow!
No tomorrow
shall arise to beat you down;
God goes before you
and angels all around;
on your head a crown!

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 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 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 (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: Sirach 1:1-20

Reading: James 1:12-18

Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward.

No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone. Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. He chose to give us birth by his true word, and here is the result: we are like the first crop from the harvest of everything he created.

HYMN: Henry Montagu Butler
Tune: Woodlands https://tinyurl.com/bwvhmxjr

1 ‘Lift up your hearts!’ We lift them, Lord, to thee;
here at thy feet none other may we see:
‘lift up your hearts!’ E’en so, with one accord,
we lift them up, we lift them to the Lord.

2 Above the level of the former years,
the mire of sin, the slough of guilty fears,
the mist of doubt, the blight of love’s decay,
O Lord of light, lift all our hearts to-day.

3 Above the swamps of subterfuge and shame,
the deeds, the thoughts, that honour may not name,
the halting tongue that dares not tell the whole,
O Lord of truth, lift every Christian soul.

4 Lift every gift that thou thyself hast given:
low lies the best till lifted up to heaven;
low lie the bounding heart, the teeming brain,
till, sent from God, they mount to God again.

5 Then, as the trumpet-call in after years,
‘Lift up your hearts!’ rings pealing in our ears,
still shall those hearts respond with full accord,
‘We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord!’

Reading: Luke 3:7-9

Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.”

CANTICLE Luke 1:68-79
(Steve Angrisano: https://tinyurl.com/y7w6y7qh)

Through his holy prophets,
he promised from of old
to save us from who would harm us.
His mercy he would show,
rememb’ring his holy word.
Refrain:
Blessed be the Lord,
for he has raised up for us a mighty savior.
Our God has set us free,
fulfilling the promise to save his people.

You, my child,
have been chosen a prophet of the Lord,
proclaiming his forgiveness,
salvation to make known,
preparing the way of God. Refrain

In his tender compassion,
the dawn now breaks on high
to shine on those in the darkness:
a light unto our feet
into the way of peace. Refrain

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

We rejoice in your generous goodness, O God, and celebrate your lavish gifts to
us this day, for you have shown your love in giving Jesus Christ for the salvation
of the world. Especially we give thanks for
the labors of those who have served us today . . .
friends with whom we have shared . . .
those whom we love and have loved us . . .
opportunities for our work to help others . . .
all beauty that delights us. . . .

Gracious God, we know you are close to all in need, and by our prayers for others
we come closer to you. We are bold to claim for others your promises of new
life in Jesus Christ, as we claim them for ourselves. Especially we pray for
those in dangerous occupations . . .
physicians and nurses . . .
those who are ill or confined to nursing homes . . .
those who mourn . . .
the Roman Catholic Church. . . .

(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.

Lord of all,
who gave your servants Cyril and Methodius
linguistic gifts to proclaim the gospel to the Slavs:
may all Christians east and west honour one another,
and acknowledge one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
through Jesus Christ your Son 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

The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

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 © 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.