Advertisement
We are called to a new way of living by the God we are here to worship, and that means a new way of living in our family, in our community and in our wider environment.First Reading Jeremiah 23:23-29
Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Psalm 80, 9-16
R. Show the light of your countenance, Lord God of hosts, and we shall be saved.
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You made room around it,
and when it had taken root, it filled the land. R.
The hills were covered with its shadow
and the cedars of God by its boughs.
It stretched out its branches to the Sea
and its tendrils to the River. R.
Why then have you broken down its wall,
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
The wild boar out of the wood tears it off,
and all the insects of the field devour it. R.
Turn again, O God of hosts,
look down from heaven and behold;
Cherish this vine which your right hand has planted,
and the branch that you made so strong for yourself. R.
Second Reading Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[ the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Gospel acclamation:
Speak to us, Lord, your servant is listening:
you have the message of eternal life.
Gospel Luke 12:49-56
‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Intercessions
We pray for our political representatives, both locally and nationally; that they act with justice and mercy, truthfulness and humility.
We ask God to grant us the courage and faithfulness to act where we see violence, oppression and injustice towards those who are powerless or voiceless.
We pray for people and nations living with violence, or experiencing debt, homelessness, neglect, injustice and rejection.
We pray for those who act as prophetic voices from the God of mercy and justice in our midst, and who pay a high price for doing so.
We pray for those who are ill or in distress and for those who care for them. May they know the loving presence of Christ in their heart.
We pray for the departed, especially those we have known and loved. This week we remember Jack Pickering, Nancy Ovington, Jackie Driffill, Rose Whitton, Elizabeth Lyon, Alexander Cameron,
Grace Cameron.
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hall Rd, Hull, Kingston upon Hull, HU6 4 Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
