The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, August 20, 2023—Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
[Ordinary 20, Proper 15]
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Reconciliation
Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32;

Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

Opening Statement

The relationship between “inside” and “outside,” what defiles and what heals, is in high relief in the Matthew passage. Jesus speaks to the contrast between outward cleanliness and soul cleanliness. And he speaks to an “outsider” in the Canaanite women. In Jesus, God speaks with a human voice, reminding us that insiders and outsiders and all kinds of prayers belong in the circle of God’s grace and love.

Opening Prayer
(Genesis 45, Psalm 133, Romans 11, Matthew 15)

Eternal God, part the veil that blinds us to our unity. When our families hurt and betray us, help us find ways to let go of our pain and work for the healing of all people. When we feel abandoned by those we love, help us trust in the power of forgiveness and seek to bring peace and reconciliation. When our hearts are pierced with anguish, help us reach out to those who can bring us solace and find in the search, grace upon grace, through your loving Spirit. Amen.

The Wound

Prayer for Unity

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like a summer rain which restores the parched earth. It is like a cool breeze at the shore of a lake, at the top of a mountain or through a crowded city street. God meets us here.

God of all creation who called every being into life who is mindful of humankind in all its diversity who embodies us with dignity, granting different gifts and talents to shape life in this world we ask for your Spirit to unite us where we face lack of understanding and disunity in our churches, in our communities, in our countries. And in silence we lay before you the burdens of our hearts.

We ask for your Spirit to unite us in the face of the conflicts, hatred and violation of life experienced in so many regions of the earth and in silence we bring to you the pain of the victims.

We ask for your Spirit to unite us wherever fear prevents us from caring for our neighbor, from meeting people of different ethnicities, cultures and faith communities with respect and in silence we bring to you the brokenness of human relationships.

God of all creation, in Christ we are reconciled, and so we ask for your uniting Spirit to help us to overcome all our divisions that we may live in peace. Amen.

Call to Confession
(Genesis 45, Matthew 15)

God of grace, you invite us to draw near and embrace the circle of your love. We come in anguish at our broken relationships—our alienation from one another, our resistance to reconciliation, our readiness to be the blind following the blind, and our readiness to give up when persistence is called for. Gather us in, and make a place to heal our anguish, ease our alienation, and end our resistance. Ready us for reconciliation, forbearance, and persistence. Turn our gaze to the one who calls our name.

Assurance of Pardon
(Genesis 45, Matthew 15)

In coming forth, we take a single step, and God faithfully bridges the gap. You are loved and your spirit is healed in the embrace of a God of love and healing.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Psalm 16:8

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

A fully armed warrior would hold his weapon in his right hand and his shield in his left. The person to the right of a king would have the privilege of defending him. For a king to put someone there would be an affirmation of trust, and therefore an honor. In contrast, when the Lord takes up his position at someone’s right hand, as here, he is in a position to offer defense with his shield (Psalm 109:31).

Introduction to the Word
(Matthew 15, Genesis 45)

The Canaanite woman cries out, claiming God’s grace. Joseph reaches out to his brothers in tears, claiming grace for them all. Resistance melts when what is right in God’s kin-dom emerges in a flood of tears and a wave of grace.

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph reconciles with his brothers

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 133
How good it is to live in unity
Ecce, quam bonum!

Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
  when brethren live together in unity!

It is like fine oil upon the head *
  that runs down upon the beard,

Upon the beard of Aaron, *
  and runs down upon the collar of his robe.

It is like the dew of Hermon *
  that falls upon the hills of Zion.

For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: *
  life for evermore.

Lord our God, grant that we may be your children who receive the Spirit and all they need from you. You strengthen us not only physically but also inwardly, in our hearts, enabling us to face the uncertainties of earthly life and whatever still needs changing in human society. Keep us from giving in to weakness. May your power be always with us. May we have patience and hope, because you are working for the good and we may wait for it in expectation. Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
God’s mercy to all Jew and Gentile

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.

[F]or God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28
The Canaanite woman’s daughter is healed

[Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”

“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”]

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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

Video - 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 45, Psalm 133, Romans 11, Matthew 15)

Come out from the back of the line. Come out from the edge of the crowd. Come out from the corner of the room. Embrace others and be embraced—that the least, the last, and the lost may come out of the shadows and live in the light. Embrace the world and be embraced.

The Lord's Prayer — A Multicultural Reading

 

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, August 20, 2023
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133;
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28
The relationship between “inside” and “outside,” what defiles and what heals, is in high relief in the Matthew passage. Jesus speaks to the contrast between outward cleanliness and soul cleanliness. And he speaks to an “outsider” in the Canaanite women. In Jesus, God speaks with a human voice, reminding us that insiders and outsiders and all kinds of prayers belong in the circle of God’s grace and love.