Asbury Reader

Wednesday, September 24

Matthew 9:1-17
Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.  Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son!  Your sins are forgiven."
"Blasphemy!  This man talks like he is God!" some of the teachers of religious law said among themselves.
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why are you thinking such evil thoughts?  Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'?  I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins."  Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!"  And the man jumped up and went home!
Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen right before their eyes. They praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth.  "Come, be my disciple," Jesus said to him.  So Matthew got up and followed him. 
That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners.  The Pharisees were indignant. "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" they asked his disciples.
         When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do."  Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.'  For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."
One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"
Jesus responded, "Should the wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom?  Someday he will be taken from them, and then they will fast.
"And who would patch an old garment with unshrunk cloth?  For the patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger hole than before. 
"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins.  The old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.  New wine must be stored in new wineskins.  That way both the wine and the wineskins are preserved."
NLT

“Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” the Pharisees asked.  They couldn’t contemplate how one could love these “notorious sinners.”  Tax collectors weren’t useful people to love; they were too dirty, too unholy, too incriminating.  The Pharisees needed other friends—friends who helped their holiness, helped them look good, helped them earn heavenly brownie points.  That’s how they loved God, too; for what he did for them.  “I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices,” Jesus reminds them.  Love is never about some other gain; love is its own gain.  Friendship is its own reward.
-BR

Now, the reason you have a friend, or love someone, is not for them to do something for you.  If that’s the reason you love them, so that they’ll give you some money, or some other worldly good, then it is not your friend you love, but the things you get out of it.  Friends are to be loved freely, for their own sake, not for the sake of something else.  And if you are encouraged, by this rule of friendship, to love human beings freely, for their own sakes, then how much more gratuitously should you love God?
—St. Augustine (354-430)
   Sermon 385

Prayer of Confession
Too often, Lord, our relationships are means to an end.  Too often, we find ourselves using people.  Too often, even, we’re more concerned about our own holiness, our own image, our own accountability.  Too often we even use you this way.  But you, Lord God, invite us to freely enjoy people for who they are, and to freely enjoy you for who you are.  Transform us to be like you, to love like you do—freely, without strings, without reserve.  We pray this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and our example of exuberantly generous love.  Amen.

Saturday, October 18

Isaiah 55:1-13

"Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;

hear me, that your soul may live. 

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.

See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,

because of the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor."

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way

and the evil man his thoughts. 

Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: 

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the LORD's renown,

for an everlasting sign,

which will not be destroyed."

NIV

The water of a river that rises in one land flows through many different territories before it returns to the sea from which it was originally drawn.  It passes within the borders of many chiefs and rajahs and princes.  Yet no one can stop it within his territories, for it is not his possession.  It is the common property of all, and wherever it goes it quenches the thirst of all.  So, too, the stream of the water of life comes forth from the infinite ocean of God, and flowing through the divine channels of prophets and apostles irrigates the whole world, quenching the thirst of all and enriching and making fruitful the lives of all peoples and nations.  “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

—Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929)

Prayers of Intercession:

We intercede, Lord God, for those we know who need to receive your invitation.  We pray for those who are hungry, thirsty, crying out for more.  Let them hear your call and know your fullness.

(Name your requests before God, concluding with:)

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We intercede, Lord God, for all your Church; let your people earnestly offer your invitation to the world.  Let there be no shirking from your grace; you invite all, and let us never stand in the way.  We pray against the evils of racial and tribal divisions in your church—in Africa, in South and North America, in Asia, Australia and Europe.  Reconcile your people one to another; let warring factions cease and all be united in love and friendship.

(Name your requests before God, concluding with:)

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We intercede, Lord God, for all the nations of this world, earnestly needing to hear your invitation.  Many are sick, are hungry, are dying; many are torn by war and genocide and oppression.  Everywhere there is injustice.  Prince of peace, extend your scepter over this world and bring all nations beneath your rule.  Bring your righteousness, your holiness, your peace in all corners of this earth.

(Name your requests before God, concluding with:)

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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.

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.

pentecost

Sunday, May 11

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP

John 21:20-25 TNIV

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Reading

O God,

you have graciously brought us to this hour,

the time when you poured out your Holy Spirit

in tongues of fire upon your apostles,

filling them with the gift of your grace;

so, most wonderful Lord,

may we too receive this blessing;

and as we seek to praise you, merciful God,

in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

may we share in your eternal kingdom.

For your name is worthy of all honor and majesty,

and you are to be glorified in hymns of blessing,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

now and forever, to the end of the ages. Amen.

— Eastern Orthodox Church, 5th century

seventh saturday of eastertide

Saturday, May 10

Opening Prayer

Make us true servants to all those in need,

Filled with compassion in thought, word, and deed;

Loving our neighbor, whatever the cost,

Feeding the hungry and finding the lost.

Lord make us healers of body and mind

Give us your power to bring sight to the blind;

Love to the loveless and gladness for pain,

Filling all hearts with the joy of your name.

— Anonymous

John 21:15-19 NIV

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Reading

Holy God, You dwell among Your saints. You are praised by the Seraphim with the thrice holy hymn and glorified by the Cherubim and worshiped by all the heavenly powers. You have brought all things out of nothing into being. You have created man and woman in Your image and likeness and adorned them with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to the supplicant and do not overlook the sinner but have established repentance as the way of salvation. You have enabled us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to stand at this hour before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the thrice holy hymn also from the lips of us sinners and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship and serve You in holiness all the days of our lives, by the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have pleased You throughout the ages. —John Chrysostom, The Trisagion Hymn

seventh friday of eastertide

Friday, May 9

Opening Prayer

O God, who art rich in love, pour forth from your bounty thy perfect love. Cast out all within that keeps us from experiencing the immeasurable greatness of a love which loved us before we were able to love. Penetrate us with your light, casting out the darkness of fear and hate; and in those places left vacant, fill us. Fill us till overflowing with all that is good, and pure, and holy. Amen. BCP

John 21:1-14 The Message

After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.” The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”

They answered, “No.”

He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.” They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.

Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

Habakkuk 1:13-16 NIV

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.

Therefore, he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food.

seventh thursday of eastertide

Thursday, May 8

Opening Prayer

O Christ, the King of Glory, who through the everlasting gates didst ascend to thy Father’s throne, and open the kingdom of heaven to all believers; grant that, while you reign in heaven, we may not be bowed down to the things of the earth, but that our hearts may be lifted up where you, our redemption, have gone ahead; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, ever one God, world without end. —Mozarabic Sacramenatry, 7th century

John 20:24-31 ESV

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Reading

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within Thy wounds hide me.

Separated from Thee let me never be.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

At the hour of death, call me.

And close to Thee bid me.

That with Thy saints I may be

Praising Thee, forever and ever. Amen.

— St. Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556

seventh wednesday of eastertide

Wednesday, May 7

Opening Prayer

O Almighty God, who has built your church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head cornerstone; grant us to be so joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching that we may be made into a holy temple, acceptable to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. —Anonymous (English Reformers, 1549)

John 17:20-26 NRSV

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Reading

If only I possessed the grace, good Jesus, to be utterly at one with you! Amidst all the variety of worldly things around me, Lord, the only thing I crave is unity with you. You are all my soul needs. Unite, dear friend of my heart, this unique little soul of mine to your perfect goodness. You are all mine; when shall I be yours? Lord Jesus, my beloved, be the magnet of my heart; clasp, press, unite me forever to your sacred heart. You have made me for yourself; make me one with you. Absorb this tiny drop of life into the ocean of goodness whence it came. — Francis de Sales, 1567-1622

seventh tuesday of eastertide

Tuesday, May 6

Opening Prayer

O our God, we believe in thee, we hope in thee, and we love thee, because thou hast created us, redeemed us, and dost sanctify us. Increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and deepen our love, that giving up ourselves wholly to thy will, we may serve thee faithfully all the rest of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen —Anonymous

John 17:13-19 NRSV

“But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Reading

Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed that all your children might be one in you; we pray for the restoration of visible unity to your church. Forgive the pride and the lack of love, which have driven us apart. Take away our narrow-mindedness, our bitterness, our prejudice. May we never consider as normal the disunity, which is a scandal to the world and an offence to your love. Teach us to recognize the gifts of your grace in all those who call upon you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — Anonymous (French Reformed)

seventh monday of eastertide

Monday, May 5

Opening Prayer

Spirit of the living Christ, come upon us in the glory of your risen power; Spirit of the living Christ, come upon us in all the humility of your wondrous love; Spirit of the living Christ, come upon us that new life may course within our veins, new love bind us together in one family, a new vision of the Kingdom of God spur us on to serve you with fearless passion.

— Anonymous

John 17:6-12 NRSV

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

Reading

Just as God did not create men [and women] to live as individuals but to come together in the formation of social unity, so he willed to make [them] holy and save them, not as individuals without bond or link between them, but rather to make them into a people who might acknowledge him and serve him in holiness. — The Vatican II, 1962-1965

seventh sunday of eastertide

Sunday, May 4

Opening Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen. — Leo the Great, Reigned 440-461

John 17:1-5 NRSV

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.”

Reading

It is proper and right to sing to You, bless You, praise You, thank You and worship You in all places of Your dominion; for You are God ineffable, beyond comprehension, invisible, beyond understanding, existing forever and always the same; You and Your only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us into being out of nothing, and when we fell, You raised us up again. You did not cease doing everything until You led us to heaven and granted us Your kingdom to come. For all these things we thank You and Your only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit; for all things that we know and do not know, for blessings seen and unseen that have been bestowed upon us. We also thank You for this liturgy which You are pleased to accept from our hands, even though You are surrounded by thousands of Archangels and tens of thousands of Angels, by the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring with their wings, Singing the victory hymn, proclaiming, crying out, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to God in the highest.

— John Chrysostom, The Divine Liturgy