The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, July 23, 2023—Eight Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
[Ordinary 16, Proper 11]
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Surely the Lord is in This Place!
Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24;
Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

Opening Statement

The theme of God’s searching love unfolds and deepens with each reading. As he sleeps, Jacob dreams of a ladder rising to heaven with angels of the Lord ascending and descending its rungs. The psalmist proclaims that God pursues us everywhere, from the farthest reaches of the sea to the very depths of Sheol. Paul urges us to give thanks for life in the Spirit by living as children of God, rather than as children of the flesh. Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the wheat and the tares to remind them that though children of darkness surround us, our task is to focus on living as children of light. God’s salvific love does not exist in one spot of hallowed ground in the desert, it pursues us every minute of every day. God’s searching love heals us and the rest of creation, making us children of adoption, children of the Most High. Our proper response to such love is deep gratitude, not hostility to those who have yet to find their way.

Opening Prayer
(Genesis 28, Psalm 139)

Caretaker of our souls, you search us and know us; you are acquainted with all of our ways. Your Spirit hems us in, behind and before. You discern our thoughts from afar. If we take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead us, and your might shall hold us fast. How can we bear such wonder? How can we fathom such awe and splendor? Breathe your Spirit upon us, and claim us as children of light, that we might be found worthy of your love and care. Amen.

Call to Confession
(Psalm 139, Romans 8, Matthew 13)

Holy Mystery, we yearn to grow closer to you this day. When our spirits grow unsettled and groan in travail like our warming planet, meet us in our need. When we seek isolation from the rancor of our time, remind us how the wheat and weeds grow together until the harvest. When we feel captive to the pressures of this world, remind us that we need not succumb to our fears, for you have given us a spirit of adoption as children of God. Pursue us and hold us near, Gentle One, that we may truly be set free. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
(Psalm 139)

The one who hems us in, behind and before, loves us with a fierce tenderness. The one who pursues us to the farthest limit of the sea, fills us with peace and grace beyond measure.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Some caution against leading children to Christ too early, but this is a mistake. If you don’t teach your children to have faith in Jesus, others will convince them to trust in something else (Prov. 22:6; Matt. 19:13, 14; 2 Tim. 3:14–16).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Genesis 28:10-19a
Jacob’s dream of the ladder

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
You have searched me and known me
Domine, probasti

LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
  you know my sitting down and my rising up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
  and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
  but you, O LORD, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before *
  and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
  it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
  where can I flee from your presence?

If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
  if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

If I take the wings of the morning *
  and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there your hand will lead me *
  and your right hand hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, *
  and the light around me turn to night,”

Darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is as bright as the day; *
  darkness and light to you are both alike.

Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *
  try me and know my restless thoughts.

Look well whether there be any wickedness in me *
  and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

Heavenly Father, You created us and watch over us as a loving parent cares for a child. Help us to always walk in Your ways and praise Your name as we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray in the power of Your Spirit, Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

Romans 8:12-25
The revealing of the children of God

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
The parable of the weeds

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

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
(Genesis 28, Romans 8)

Keep your eyes on the gate of heaven. We will see angels climbing Jacob’s ladder, as they bring our prayers to God. Fix your gaze on the entry to the Holy One. We will see angels climbing Jacob’s ladder, as they bring our hopes before the Lord. Wherever you are on life’s journey, take time to mark sacred encounters with joy. We will see the salvation of our God. Go as children of light, children of the living God. 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 23, 2023
Eight Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24;
Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
The theme of God’s searching love unfolds and deepens with each reading. As he sleeps, Jacob dreams of a ladder rising to heaven with angels of the Lord ascending and descending its rungs. The psalmist proclaims that God pursues us everywhere, from the farthest reaches of the sea to the very depths of Sheol. Paul urges us to give thanks for life in the Spirit by living as children of God, rather than as children of the flesh. Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the wheat and the tares to remind them that though children of darkness surround us, our task is to focus on living as children of light. God’s salvific love does not exist in one spot of hallowed ground in the desert, it pursues us every minute of every day. God’s searching love heals us and the rest of creation, making us children of adoption, children of the Most High. Our proper response to such love is deep gratitude, not hostility to those who have yet to find their way.