Oremus for Friday, April 21, 2023

Anselm
Anselm was born in Aosta, northern Italy, in 1033. As a young man, he left home and travelled north, visiting many monasteries and other centres of learning. One such visit was to the abbey of Bec, where he met Lanfranc who advised him to embrace monastic life. Anselm had a powerful and original mind and, during his 34 years at Bec (as monk, prior and finally abbot), he taught many others and wrote theological, philosophical and devotional works. When Lanfranc died Anselm was made Archbishop of Canterbury and had to subordinate his scholarly work to the needs of the diocese and nation. Twice he endured exile for championing the rights of the Church against the authority of the king; but despite his stubbornness, intellectual rigour, and personal austerity he was admired by the Norman nobility as well as loved by his monks. He died in 1109. ^EH

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/yc2wmpsx

The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth;
by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. Psalm 33

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/mb6h9xfa

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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.
Alleluia, alleluia!

HYMN: Anselm of Canterbury; trans. Gerald Moultrie
Tune: Herstmonceaux https://tinyurl.com/26nk7vth

1 Come thou, oh, come:
Sweetest and kindliest,
Giver of tranquil rest
Unto the weary soul;
In all anxiety
With power from heaven on high.

2 Come thou, oh, come:
Help in the hour of need,
Strength of the broken reed,
Guide of each lonely one;
Orphans’ and widows’ stay,
Who tread in life’s hard way.

3 Come thou, oh, come:
Glorious and shadow-free,
Star of the stormy sea,
Light of the tempest-tost;
Harbor our souls to save
When hope upon the wave
Is lost.

4 Come thou, oh, come:
Joy in life’s narrow path,
Hope in the hour of death,
Come, Blessed Spirit, come;
Lead thou us tenderly,
Till we shall find with thee
Our home.

PSALMS

Psalm 106 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd2cn3x8)
1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Who can express the noble acts of the Lord *
 or shew forth all his praise?
3  Blessed are they that alway keep judgement *
 and do righteousness.
4  Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour
that thou bearest unto thy people *
 O visit me with thy salvation;
5  That I may see the felicity of thy chosen *
 and rejoice in the gladness of thy people,
and give thanks with thine inheritance.
6  We have sinned with our fathers *
 we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.
7  Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egypt,
neither kept they thy great goodness in remembrance *
 but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8  Nevertheless, he helped them for his Name’s sake *
 that he might make his power to be known.
9  He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up *
 so he led them through the deep, as through a wilderness.
10  And he saved them from the adversary’s hand *
 and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11  As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them *
 there was not one of them left.
12  Then believed they his words *
 and sang praise unto him.
13  But within a while they forgat his works *
 and would not abide his counsel.
14  But lust came upon them in the wilderness *
 and they tempted God in the desert.
15  And he gave them their desire *
 and sent leanness withal into their soul.
16  They angered Moses also in the tents *
 and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17  So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan *
 and covered the congregation of Abiram.
18  And the fire was kindled in their company *
 the flame burnt up the ungodly.
19  They made a calf in Horeb *
 and worshipped the molten image.
20  Thus they turned their glory *
 into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.
21  And they forgat God their Saviour *
 who had done so great things in Egypt;
22  Wondrous works in the land of Ham *
 and fearful things by the Red sea.
23  So he said, he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap *
 to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
24  Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land *
 and gave no credence unto his word;
25  But murmured in their tents *
 and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26  Then lift he up his hand against them *
 to overthrow them in the wilderness;
27  To cast out their seed among the nations *
 and to scatter them in the lands.
28  They joined themselves unto Baalpeor *
 and ate the offerings of the dead.
29  Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions *
 and the plague was great among them.
30  Then stood up Phinees and prayed *
 and so the plague ceased.
31  And that was counted unto him for righteousness *
 among all posterities for evermore.
32  They angered him also at the waters of strife *
 so that he punished Moses for their sakes;
33  Because they provoked his spirit *
 so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34  Neither destroyed they the heathen *
 as the Lord commanded them;
35  But were mingled among the heathen *
 and learned their works.
36  Insomuch that they worshipped their idols,
which turned to their own decay *
 yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils;
37  And shed innocent blood,
even the blood of their sons and of their daughters *
 whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan;
and the land was defiled with blood.
38  Thus were they stained with their own works *
 and went a whoring with their own inventions.
39  Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people *
 insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
40  And he gave them over into the hand of the heathen *
 and they that hated them were lords over them.
41  Their enemies oppressed them *
 and had them in subjection.
42  Many a time did he deliver them *
 but they rebelled against him with their own inventions,
and were brought down in their wickedness.
43  Nevertheless, when he saw their adversity *
 he heard their complaint.
44  He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them,
according unto the multitude of his mercies *
 yea, he made all those that led them away captive to pity them.
45  Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen *
 that we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, and make our boast of thy praise.
46  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and world without end *
 and let all the people say, Amen.
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 106 (Kohlhase: https://tinyurl.com/2nshc92b)
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love is everlasting.
Who’ll tell of the power of the LORD,
or show forth all of his praise?
How blessed are those who keep justice,
and righteousness at all times!
Remember me, LORD, in your favor;
and visit me with your salvation.
Let me see your chosen ones prosper,
and glory with your inheritance.
We’ve erred like our fathers, committing sin;
so poorly we have behaved.
In Egypt they misunderstood your signs;
your graces they scorned at the sea.
But for your name’s sake you saved them,
to make your power known.
Rebuking the Red Sea he dried it up,
led through the deep as a wilderness.
Saved them from the hand of hostile ones,
redeemed from the hand of their foe.
The waters returned to drown their foes;
not one among them was left.
Therefore they trusted his words;
and they sang out his praise.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

However, they quickly forgot his works;
they did not wait for his counsel,
their cravings were strong in the wilderness,
they tested their God in the desert.
He gave to them as they desired,
along with a wasting disease.
The camp envied Moses and Aaron,
the holy ones of the LORD.
Earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
engulfing the clan of Abiram.
A fire broke out in their company;
the flame consumed the wicked.
They then made a calf in Horeb,
and worshiped a molten image.
So they exchanged their glory,
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
Forgetting their God and Savior,
who did great things in Egypt;
his signs in the land of Ham,
and marvels at the Red Sea.
He said that he would destroy them,
had Moses not stood in the gap,
to turn away his anger, from destroying them.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Then they despised the pleasant land;
they did not trust in his word,
but grumbled there within their tents,
not heeding the voice of the LORD.
Therefore he swore unto them,
he’d cast them down in the desert,
and cast their seed among nations,
to scatter them throughout the lands.
They joined themselves to Baal-peor,
and ate what was offered the dead.
Provoking his anger by their deeds,
a plague broke out among them.
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
thereby the plague was stopped.
Reckoned to him as righteousness,
to all generations forever.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

At Meribah’s waters they angered him,
thus making it hard for Moses;
for when they rejected the Spirit,
he rashly spoke with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations,
as ordered by the LORD,
but with the nations they mingled,
and learned of all their ways.
They started to serve their idols,
becoming a snare unto them.
For even their sons they sacrificed,
and gave their daughters to demons.
They shed the innocent blood,
of their daughters and of their sons;
gave them to the idols of Canaan.
polluting the land with their blood.
Becoming unclean in their dealings,
in deed they played the harlot.
The LORD’s anger burned at his people,
detesting his own inheritance.
He gave them into the nations’ hands,
those hating them became their rulers.
Their enemies also oppressed them,
subduing them under their power.
He often would save and counsel them;
rebellious they sank in their sin;
but he still considered their troubles,
whenever he heard their cry;
for them he remembered his covenant,
he turned from the depths of his love.
He made them as objects of pity,
in the presence of their captors.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Save us, O LORD our God,
regather us from all the nations;
to give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
forever and forever;
let the people say, “Amen.”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

PRAYER

Merciful God,
remembering your covenant,
you graciously pardoned those who rebelled against you.
Grant that, where sin abounds,
grace may abound more;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Ezekiel 3:10-21

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!

Then a wind lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great quaking sound from his place. Blessed is the Lord’s glory! The sound was the creatures’ wings beating against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them; it was a great rumbling noise. Then the wind picked me up and took me away. With the Lord’s power pressing down against me I went away, bitter and deeply angry, and I came to the exiles who lived beside the Chebar River at Tel-abib. I stayed there among them for seven desolate days.

At the end of the seven days, the Lord’s word came to me: Human one, I’ve made you a lookout for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from me, deliver my warning. If I declare that the wicked will die but you don’t warn them, if you say nothing to warn them from their wicked ways so that they might live, they will die because of their guilt, but I will hold you accountable for their deaths. If you do warn the wicked and they don’t turn from their wickedness or their wicked ways, they will die because of their guilt, but you will save your life.

Or suppose righteous people turn away from doing the right thing. If they act dishonestly, and I make them stumble because of it, they will die because you didn’t warn them of their sin. Their righteous deeds won’t be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their deaths. But if you do warn the righteous not to sin, and they don’t sin, they will be declared righteous. Their lives will be preserved because they heeded the warning, and you will save your life.

Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-4:6

Who will harm you if you are zealous for good? But happy are you, even if you suffer because of righteousness! Don’t be terrified or upset by them. Instead, regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you. It is better to suffer for doing good (if this could possibly be God’s will) than for doing evil.

Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God. Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit. And it was by the Spirit that he went to preach to the spirits in prison. In the past, these spirits were disobedient—when God patiently waited during the time of Noah. Noah built an ark in which a few (that is, eight) lives were rescued through water. Baptism is like that. It saves you now—not because it removes dirt from your body but because it is the mark of a good conscience toward God. Your salvation comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at God’s right side. Now that he has gone into heaven, he rules over all angels, authorities, and powers.

Therefore, since Christ suffered as a human, you should also arm yourselves with his way of thinking. This is because whoever suffers is finished with sin. As a result, they don’t live the rest of their human lives in ways determined by human desires but in ways determined by God’s will. You have wasted enough time doing what unbelievers desire—living in their unrestrained immorality and lust, their drunkenness and excessive feasting and wild parties, and their forbidden worship of idols. They think it’s strange that you don’t join in these activities with the same flood of unrestrained wickedness. So they slander you. They will have to reckon with the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Indeed, this is the reason the good news was also preached to the dead. This happened so that, although they were judged as humans according to human standards, they could live by the Spirit according to divine standards.

HYMN: Josiah Conder
Tune: Church Triumphant 

1 The Lord is King! lift up thy voice,
O earth, and all ye heavens, rejoice;
from world to world the joy shall ring,
‘The Lord omnipotent is King!’

2 The Lord is King! who then shall dare
resist his will, distrust his care,
or murmur at his wise decrees,
or doubt his royal promises?

3 He reigns! ye saints, exalt your strains;
your God is King, your Father reigns;
and he is at the Father’s side,
the Man of love, the Crucified.

4 Alike pervaded by his eye
all parts of his dominion lie:
this world of ours and worlds unseen,
and thin the boundary between!

5 One Lord one empire all secures;
he reigns, and life and death are yours;
through earth and heaven one song shall ring,
‘The Lord omnipotent is King!’

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:

“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.

“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.

“Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

“Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.”

CANTICLE Exodus 15
(John Schiavone: https://tinyurl.com/ybknobsb)

Ant. I will sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
He is my God, I praise him;
the God of my father, I extol him. Ant.

The Lord is a warrior, LORD is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea;
the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea. Ant.

The flood waters covered them,
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power,
your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemy. Ant.

You brought in the people you redeemed
and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O Lord,
the sanctuary, Lord, which your hands established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever. Ant.

THE PRAYERS ^PWC

May we live as those who believe in the triumph of the cross.
Redeemer of Israel, hear our prayer.
May all people receive the good news of Christ’s victory.
Redeemer of Israel, hear our prayer.
May those born to new life in the waters of baptism
know the power of Christ’s resurrection.
Redeemer of Israel, hear our prayer.
May those who suffer pain and anguish
find healing and peace in the compassion of Christ.
Redeemer of Israel, hear our prayer.
May we be united in Christ’s undying love
with all who have passed through the gates of death.
Redeemer of Israel, hear our prayer.

(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.

Eternal God,
who gave great gifts to your servant Anselm
   as a pastor and teacher:
grant that we, like him, may desire you with our whole heart
and, so desiring, may seek you
and, seeking, may find you;
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

https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:20,21

---

^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.