Praying at Home Today: Wednesday 15 July 2020
Welcome to PrayingAtHome.com, where you can find some worship resources for praying at home today or wherever you are.
We hope these readings, prayers, music and the short reflection will help you stay in touch with the Church and to sustain you on your journey through life.
If this is your first visit to this website, then you might like to read about the common elements and the suggested structure for each day’s prayer.
Please note that with effect from 29 June 2020, we have reverted to the Track 1 “semi-continuous” Old Testament readings (this also affects the psalm or equivalent response); the New Testament and Gospel readings remain unchanged.
Opening to the Word
You can spend a few moments in silence,
focussing on your breathing
to become more mindful of the present moment
and to open yourself more fully
to God’s presence within you.
In the name of the living God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Short reading
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head.Sicut fecisti, fiet tibi;
retributionem tuam convertet in caput tuum.Il te sera fait comme tu as fait,
tes oeuvres retomberont sur ta tête.
Obadiah 1:15b
The Liturgy of the Word *
Here are today’s Bible readings.
You can read just one, or all of them if you have time.
Short Reflection
Obadiah
Obadiah is one of the shortest books in the Bible, comprising just one chapter of 21 verses.
Possibly written some time in the 5th century BC, this short book is in two sections; the first concerns the downfall of Edom, the land of Esau, after it had failed to stand up for the people of Israel (i.e. Jacob); the second is about the Day of the Lord, when Israel receives salvation on Mount Zion.
You will remember that the twin sons of Rebekah and Isaac were at enmity even within her womb, and that Jacob defrauded Esau out of both is birthright and his father’s blessing.
Thus Jacob is destined to become the greater of the two sons.
Fundamentalist readings of the Bible
Some people treat the Bible as a history book and take every word literally; for them, this text would confirm their bias that the modern State of Israel can take away land belonging to another people, despite international condemnation.
Many others would say that even if this text was true for its time, then it is not a blueprint for the present day.
What is the meaning of this text for us praying at home today?
Our short reading, from the beginning of the Old Testament reading, reminds us that we will be repaid for our actions; it’s insufficient to mean well, we have also to do well.
The Apostle James has serious words for his audience. Speaking of the royal law, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”, he says that faith by itself without works is dead. (James 2)
Now this, together with Paul’s sola fides, “faith alone [is sufficient for salvation]” has been an arguing point amongst theologians for centuries.
The point is, however, that true faith will naturally bring about a change of heart, a conversion, a recognition that we are all members of one Body, Christ, and that we will obey (not just comply with) the royal law to love our neighbour as ourselves.
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Prayer Suggestions
For our broken world.
That we may be mindful of our children and grandchildren, and generations yet to come.
That we may respect our planet and help its healing.
We pray for a just solution to the two-state problem in Palestine and Israel;
we pray for peace in those two countries
and in the wider Middle East.
We pray that the Spirit of God, which blows where she wills,
will bring about reconciliation and healing;
that enemies will begin to speak to one another.
For political leaders,
tempted to pursue aggresive policies
or driven by an overwhelming desire for vengeance.
For those who have no work, little self-respect and who despair of life.
We pray for those working to find a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2,
for those who care for the sick
and for staff in our care homes.
We pray that we will bring healing to others this day by the lives we lead.
Pray for us all.
Music for reflection *
The Lord’s Prayer
We can say the Lord’s Prayer in any language or version we choose.
Here it is, in English, Latin and French.
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.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis;
sanctificatur nomen tuum:
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:
et ne nos inducas in tentationem:
sed libera nos a malo.
Quia tuum est regnum,
et potestas, et gloria, in saecula.
Amen.
Notre Père qui es aux cieux,
que ton nom soit sanctifié.
Que ton règne vienne.
Que ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel.
Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain de ce jour.
Pardonne-nous nos offences
comme nous pardonnons aussi
à ceux qui nous ont offensés.
Et ne nous soumets pas à la tentation,
mais délivre-nous du mal.
Car c’est à toi qu’appartiennent le règne,
la puissance et la gloire
pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.
Concluding prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
through your Apostle James
you teach us that faith without works is dead;
help us to live our lives in your service and for the good of your family
for whom you gave your life that we might live in your presence for ever.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Benedicamus Domino.
Deo gratias.
Thank you for joining us in praying at home.
Oremus pro invicem.
* You can find more organ music from Holy Trinity Church, Stirling
on Alistair Warwick‘s website and on SoundCloud
There are several books by Brother Roger of the Taizé Community from many booksellers
In these strange times, we are called to trust
Other worship resources
Praying at Home Today: Acknowledgements
* Beginning with the week after Pentecost, the lectionary for weekdays is taken from the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Currently, we’re following the semi-continuous readings (Track 1).
In that lectionary, the readings are in the following order: Old Testament reading, Psalm, New Testament reading; we have changed the order to the more usual OT, Psalm and NT.
English Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Latin Bible texts are from Biblia Sacra Vulgata, and are in the Public Domain.
French Bible texts are from Version Segond 21, copyright © 2007 Société Biblique de Genève by Société Biblique de Genève.
Images, unless otherwise stated, are from lockdown in Scotland, by Alistair Warwick.
Music engraved by The Art of Music.
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