The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, July 16, 2023—Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
[Ordinary 15, Proper 10]
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Growing God’s Word
Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112;
Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Parables of Jesus Parable of the Sower

Opening Statement

The Parable of the Sower in Matthew teaches us to nurture the soil of our lives, as we listen to the word of God for understanding and action. As seeds are scattered near the path, we can count on the word of God as a lamp to our feet, lighting the path for even greater understanding. Taking those ideas into the world, we can learn to nurture ourselves as well as others.

Opening Prayer
(Matthew 13, Psalm 119)

Loving God, gather us into this moment of reverence, celebration, and growth. As your sons and daughters, we long for renewed faith and meaning in our lives. Christ’s Parable of the Sower lights our path, with its images of rocky ground, tangled thorns, and green shoots. May the light of your word illuminate our way and become the joy of our hearts! Amen.

Call to Confession
(Matthew 13, Psalm 119)

Merciful One, we often feel the burden of living, as though we’ve been tossed on rocky soil and left to struggle on our own. Other days, we throw ourselves too quickly onto wrong paths. We are tested by hungry birds; we are choked by thorns, and wither in the beating sun. We are here to choose different paths, confirm new oaths, admit our afflictions, and ask you to give us life again. Perfect One, show us your ways and bless us with your sacraments, that we may not stray from your road. Help us hear your word, understand it, and bear your fruit for the world.

Assurance of Pardon
(Matthew 13, Psalm 119)

Be assured that it’s never too late! The God of Love, and Christ the storyteller, remind us to listen, understand, and act. Prepare your hearts as garden beds for God’s seeds of joy and hope. Receive God’s grace today and every day.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Colossians 2:9-10

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Paul warned the Colossians to guard themselves against empty, deceptive philosophies that were based on limited human reasoning. It may be impossible for us to comprehend how Jesus could be totally human and totally divine at the same time (John 1:1, 14; Phil. 2:6–8). But that is the clear teaching of Scripture, and we must accept it, even if we do not understand it. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Everything that exists was created by Him and for Him. It is all under His authority, including all the nations, governments, and rulers of the earth. Of course, some people disagree with that—they do not acknowledge the lordship of Christ. But their opinion is irrelevant because one day “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil. 2:10).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Genesis 25:19-34
Esau sells his birthright to Jacob

This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
    and the older will serve the younger.”

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 119:105-112
Your word is a lamp to my feet
Lucerna pedibus meis

Your word is a lantern to my feet *
  and a light upon my path.

I have sworn and am determined *
  to keep your righteous judgments.

I am deeply troubled; *
  preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips, *
  and teach me your judgments.

My life is always in my hand, *
  yet I do not forget your law.

The wicked have set a trap for me, *
  but I have not strayed from your commandments.

Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
  truly, they are the joy of my heart.

I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
  for ever and to the end.

Heavenly Father, Your word describes many blessings that believers can receive directly from Your hand. We trust Your word, and as believers we know by experience that Your word is true. You have never failed us, and You have never failed to keep Your word. But we confess that we have failed You and others, so teach us good judgment and give us greater knowledge of Your will. For Jesus' sake, forgive us for our failures and sins. Fill us now with the knowledge, love, power and Spirit of Jesus Christ so we can grow in faithfulness and grace. Use us to bring Your blessings to others that they might rejoice in You. We pray through Jesus Christ, Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

Romans 8:1-11
Living according to the Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
The parable of the sower and the seed

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Here end the Readings

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed

• We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

• And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

• And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord's Prayer - Our Father Who Art in Heaven

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion
A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present. This table is open to all who recognize Jesus Christ as healer and redeemer. This table is open to all who work to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. No one is turned away because of life circumstances. No one is barred from this table. No one seeking God’s abundant grace and mercy is turned aside. We see before us the abundance that a life of faith offers as we respond to God’s everlasting mercy in prayer and deed.

Benediction
(Matthew 13, Psalm 119)

May your path be gentle, your soil rich, and your weeds small. As you go forth into the world, look for gardens to water, feed, and cultivate. Nurture the love of Christ in others, as well as in yourselves. Amen!

A Seed of Faith

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets].

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, July 16, 2023
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112;
Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
The Parable of the Sower in Matthew teaches us to nurture the soil of our lives, as we listen to the word of God for understanding and action. As seeds are scattered near the path, we can count on the word of God as a lamp to our feet, lighting the path for even greater understanding. Taking those ideas into the world, we can learn to nurture ourselves as well as others.