Oremus for Friday, May 3, 2024

Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind, unknown

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/5xe373t5

If you love me,
keep my commandments, says the Lord,
and I will ask the Father
and he will send you another Paraclete,
to abide with you for ever, alleluia. John 14

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: Charles Wesley
Tune: Ratisbon https://tinyurl.com/2n3mtzt9

1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true and only Light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
triumph o’er the shade of night;
Day-spring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.

2 Dark and cheerless is the morn
unaccompanied by Thee;
joyless is the day’s return,
till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
till they inward light impart,
glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

3 Visit then this soul of mine,
pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, radiancy divine,
scatter all my unbelief;
more and more Thyself display,
shining to the perfect day.

PSALMS

Psalm 15 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y88d98g2)
1  Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle *
 or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?
2  Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life *
 and doeth the thing which is right,
and speaketh the truth from his heart.
3  He that hath used no deceit in his tongue,
nor done evil to his neighbour *
 and hath not slandered his neighbour.
4  He that setteth not by himself,
but is lowly in his own eyes *
 and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.
5  He that sweareth unto his neighbour,
and disappointeth him not *
 though it were to his own hindrance.
6  He that hath not given his money upon usury *
 nor taken reward against the innocent.
7  Whoso doeth these things *
 shall never fall.
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 16 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydhl4u74)
1  Preserve me, O God *
 for in thee have I put my trust.
2  O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord *
 Thou art my God, my goods are nothing unto thee.
3  All my delight is upon the saints, that are in the earth *
 and upon such as excel in virtue.
4  But they that run after another god *
 shall have great trouble.
5  Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer *
 neither make mention of their names within my lips.
6  The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup *
 thou shalt maintain my lot.
7  The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground *
 yea, I have a goodly heritage.
8  I will thank the Lord for giving me warning *
 my reins also chasten me in the night-season.
9  I have set God always before me *
 for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall.
10  Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced *
 my flesh also shall rest in hope.
11  For why? thou shalt not leave my soul in hell *
 neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
12  Thou shalt shew me the path of life;
in thy presence is the fulness of joy *
 and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.
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 17 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yahr8qsc)
1  Hear the right, O Lord, consider my complaint *
 and hearken unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence *
 and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal.
3  Thou hast proved and visited mine heart in the night-season;
thou hast tried me, and shalt find no wickedness in me *
 for I am utterly purposed that my mouth shall not offend.
4  Because of men’s works, that are done against the words of thy lips *
 I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer.
5  O hold thou up my goings in thy paths *
 that my footsteps slip not.
6  I have called upon thee, O God, for thou shalt hear me *
 incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.
7  Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness,
thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee *
 from such as resist thy right hand.
8  Keep me as the apple of an eye *
 hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9  From the ungodly that trouble me *
 mine enemies compass me round about to take away my soul.
10  They are inclosed in their own fat *
 and their mouth speaketh proud things.
11  They lie waiting in our way on every side *
 turning their eyes down to the ground;
12  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey *
 and as it were a lion’s whelp, lurking in secret places.
13  Up, Lord, disappoint him, and cast him down *
 deliver my soul from the ungodly, which is a sword of thine;
14  From the men of thy hand, O Lord,
from the men, I say, and from the evil world *
 which have their portion in this life,
whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasure.
15  They have children at their desire *
 and leave the rest of their substance for their babes.
16  But as for me, I will behold thy presence in righteousness *
 and when I awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it.
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 15 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-15-1.mp3)
1 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *
who may abide upon your holy hill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
who speaks the truth from his heart.
3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *
but he honors those who fear the LORD.
5 He has sworn to do no wrong *
and does not take back his word.
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7 Whoever does these things *
shall never be overthrown.

Psalm 16 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-16.mp3)
1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
I have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord,
my good above all other.”
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
upon those who are noble among the people.
3 But those who run after other gods *
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5 O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; *
it is you who uphold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; *
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8 I have set the LORD always before me; *
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 17 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-17-MH.mp3)
1 Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
2 From you may my judgment come forth.
Your eyes discern the truth.
3 You search my heart, you visit me by night.
You test me and you find in me no wrong.
4 My words are not sinful as are men’s words.
I kept from violence because of your word,
5 I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
6 I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Display your great love, you whose right hand saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.
8 Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the violent attack of the wicked.
My foes encircle me with deadly intent.
10 Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly.
11 They advance against me, and now they surround me.
Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground,
12 as though they were lions ready to claw
or like some young lion crouched in hiding.
13 Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down!
Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked;
14 let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men,
from men whose reward is in this present life.
You give them their fill of your treasures;
they rejoice in abundance of offspring
and leave their wealth to their children.
15 As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
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.

PRAYER

Gracious God,
in whom all hearts are glad
and all souls rejoice:
Show us the path of your presence,
that we may follow it in hope
and be filled with resurrection joy;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. Amen. BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Suffering one, storm-tossed, uncomforted,
    look, I am setting your gemstones in silvery metal
    and your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your towers of rubies,
    and your gates of beryl,
    and all your walls of precious jewels.
    All your children will be disciples of the Lord
    I will make peace abound for your children.
You will be firmly founded in righteousness.
    You will stay far from oppression because you won’t fear,
    far from terror because it won’t come near you.
If anyone attacks you, it’s none of my doing.
    Whoever attacks you will fall because of you.
Look, I myself created the metalworker who blows the fire of coal and who produces a tool for his work.
    And I myself created the looter to destroy.
No weapon fashioned against you will succeed,
    and you may condemn every tongue that disputes with you.
This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants,
    whose righteousness comes from me, says the Lord.

All of you who are thirsty, come to the water!
Whoever has no money, come, buy food and eat!
Without money, at no cost, buy wine and milk!
Why spend money for what isn’t food,
    and your earnings for what doesn’t satisfy?
Listen carefully to me and eat what is good;
    enjoy the richest of feasts.
Listen and come to me;
    listen, and you will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
    my faithful loyalty to David.
Look, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a prince and commander of peoples.

HYMN: Robert Robinson, alt. Martin Madan
Tune: Nettleton https://tinyurl.com/y4b6x4uz

1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!

2 Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.

3 O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.

READING: Ephesians 3:1-13 

This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ for you Gentiles. You’ve heard, of course, about the responsibility to distribute God’s grace, which God gave to me for you, right? God showed me his secret plan in a revelation, as I mentioned briefly before (when you read this, you’ll understand my insight into the secret plan about Christ). Earlier generations didn’t know this hidden plan that God has now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets through the Spirit. This plan is that the Gentiles would be coheirs and parts of the same body, and that they would share with the Jews in the promises of God in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I became a servant of the gospel because of the grace that God showed me through the exercise of his power.

God gave his grace to me, the least of all God’s people, to preach the good news about the immeasurable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. God sent me to reveal the secret plan that had been hidden since the beginning of time by God, who created everything. God’s purpose is now to show the rulers and powers in the heavens the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church. This was consistent with the plan he had from the beginning of time that he accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ we have bold and confident access to God through faith in him. So then, I ask you not to become discouraged by what I’m suffering for you, which is your glory.

HYMN: Marnie Barrell ©
Tune: Lux Tremenda

1 Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose,
hidden now in mystery;
nature bursts with joyful promise,
ripe with what is yet to be.
In a wealth of rich invention,
still the work of art unfolds –
barely have we seen, and faintly,
what God’s great salvation holds.

2 Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose
making Jesus seen and heard.
Every age of God’s creation
grasps new meanings from the Word.
Show us, Holy Spirit, show us
your new work begun today;
eyes and ears and hearts are open,
teach us what to do and say.

3 Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose
all God’s children brought to birth,
freed from hunger, fear and evil
every corner of the earth;
and a million million voices
speak with joy the Saviour’s name;
every face reflects his image,
never any two the same.

4 Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose
nothing shall be left to chance;
all that lives will be united
in the everlasting dance;
all fulfilled and all perfected,
each uniquely loved and known,
Christ in glory unimagined
once for all receives his own.

READING: John 9:17-41

Some of the Pharisees questioned the man who had been born blind again: “What do you have to say about him, since he healed your eyes?” He replied, “He’s a prophet.”

The Jewish leaders didn’t believe the man had been blind and received his sight until they called for his parents. The Jewish leaders asked them, “Is this your son? Are you saying he was born blind? How can he now see?” His parents answered, “We know he is our son. We know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who healed his eyes. Ask him. He’s old enough to speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jewish authorities. This is because the Jewish authorities had already decided that whoever confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be expelled from the synagogue. That’s why his parents said, “He’s old enough. Ask him.”

Therefore, they called a second time for the man who had been born blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know this man is a sinner.” The man answered, “I don’t know whether he’s a sinner. Here’s what I do know: I was blind and now I see.” 

They questioned him: “What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?” He replied, “I already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

They insulted him: “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man is from.” The man answered, “This is incredible! You don’t know where he is from, yet he healed my eyes! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. God listens to anyone who is devout and does God’s will. No one has ever heard of a healing of the eyes of someone born blind. If this man wasn’t from God, he couldn’t do this.” They responded, “You were born completely in sin! How is it that you dare to teach us?” Then they expelled him. 

Jesus heard they had expelled the man born blind. Finding him, Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Human One?” He answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have seen him. In fact, he is the one speaking with you.” The man said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Jesus.

Jesus said, “I have come into the world to exercise judgment so that those who don’t see can see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard what he said and asked, “Surely we aren’t blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

CANTICLE Revelation 4:11, 5:9-10, 13
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/y499lmmp)

Ant. Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for evermore. Ant.

THE PRAYERS CW:TS

In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.
That our risen Saviour may fill us [and …] with the joy of his
glorious and life-giving resurrection …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That isolated and persecuted churches
may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That God may grant us humility
to be subject to one another in Christian love …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That by his power war and famine may cease through all the world …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick,
the weak and the dying,
to comfort and strengthen them …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That, according to his promises,
all who have died in the faith of the resurrection
may be raised on the last day …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may send the fire of the
Holy Spirit upon his people,
so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection,
Lord, hear our prayer.

(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 it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
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.

Discerner of hearts,
you look beneath our outward appearance
and see your image in each of us.
Banish in us the blindness
that prevents us from recognizing truth,
so we may see the world through your eyes
and with the compassion of Jesus Christ who redeems us. Amen. RCLP

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


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

DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

CW:TS Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing.

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

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

The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalm 15 and 16 are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 17 is from The Grail Psalter and is from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured

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 © 2024 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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