Praying at Home Today: Wednesday 29 July 2020
A warm 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
With many such parables he spoke the word to them,
as they were able to hear it.Et talibus multis parabolis loquebatur eis verbum,
prout poterant audire.C’est par beaucoup de paraboles de ce genre qu’il leur annonçait la parole,
dans la mesure où ils étaient capables de l’entendre.
Mark 4:33
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
Matthew’s Gospel has a series of parables told by Jesus to put across his teaching in a simple way, whilst retaining an element of mystery.
(He only explained their meaning to the disciples.)
The parable of the mustard seed
The parable of the mustard seed reminds us of what we know from modern science, that a seed contains all the elements it needs for its fully grown life (as we saw yesterday, all it needs are water, sunlight and oxygen).
Jesus tells his audience (including us praying at home today) that even the smallest seed can become a shrub large enough to provide shelter for the birds of the air.
That same essence is within each one of us. God has planted a unique seed in our hearts that, with the right feeding, can grow into something immensely valuable, and that treasure can be used to help others to grow in their hidden lives in God.
Today the Church celebrates the life of Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.
Martha is often derided since she was busy with hospitality while Mary, who had sat listening to Jesus, had “chosen the better part”.
However, both action and contemplation are needed in our lives, the balance of which will depend on our way of life and our commitments (e.g. parents will probably have less time than single people).
Enjoy this present moment!
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Prayer Suggestions
We pray for members of religious orders,
both the contemplative and those more active in the world.
For all who dedicate their lives to the service of God and one another.
We pray for all who hear the Word,
that their ears and hearts may be opened to the life it offers.
a moment of silence
Pray for us all.
Music for reflection *
Blessed Jesus, we are here
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,
you showed great love to Martha and Mary
in raising their brother from the dead;
help us to share in the witness of these two sisters
in listening to your word
and in lives of action
to help further your Kingdom.
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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