The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, September 17, 2023—Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114; Romans 14:1-12;

Matthew 18:21-35
[Ordinary 24, Proper 19]
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Opening Statement

The story of the Egyptian army’s total destruction can be hard to read. And yet, this story has been incredibly important for all who experience oppression and yearn for God’s liberation. The dead bodies and wrecked chariots on the shores of the Red Sea communicate God’s rejection of oppression, as Miriam and the women celebrate with song and dance. The Talmud records that God stops the angels from singing their praise, for how can they rejoice when God’s creatures are drowning? Perhaps these are the two responses we need to hold together: celebration that evil is conquered and the realization that this triumph means suffering for others. In Romans, Paul addresses issues that undermine the church—how we diminish one another and the church. How do we live God’s righteous initiatives while remembering the humanity of our adversaries?

Restoration

Opening Prayer
(Exodus 15, Romans 14)

We sing to you, O God, for you have been our strength. You open the waters of suffering and lead us safely through. You uphold us in times of deep distress and we exalt your holy name. Receive our honor and thanks, mighty God. Amen.

Call to Confession
(Exodus 14, Exodus 15, Romans 14)

When we hear praises of your past help and triumph, we wonder where you are today, O God. We look at our lives and see hurtful relationships. We look at our nation and see communities suffering under oppression. We look at our world and see injustice and brutality. We need your mighty arm to shatter wrongdoing and corruption. When we are weak, strengthen our faith. When we despair, renew our hope. When we give up, stand us up in your just cause, that we might live for you. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
(Romans 14)

We stand before God—a God of justice, a God of forgiveness and acceptance. This God raises us up and upholds us in our living. Praise be to God!

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Ephesians 5:1

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.

If we are the children of God, it only makes sense that we are to follow our Father. And if we refuse to walk in the ways of our heavenly Father, there is biblical reason to wonder who our father really is (1 John 3:10).

Introduction to the Word
(Exodus 14, Exodus 15)

Today we hear a familiar story. Hear it with new ears! Let it shock you. Let it move you. Would you dance and play your tambourine? Listen to this amazing story of an impossible getaway made possible by God.

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Exodus 14:19-31
Israel delivered at the sea

Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 114
Tremble O earth
In exitu Israel

Hallelujah!
    When Israel came out of Egypt, *
  the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,

Judah became God’s sanctuary *
  and Israel his dominion.

The sea beheld it and fled; *
  Jordan turned and went back.

The mountains skipped like rams, *
  and the little hills like young sheep.

What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
  O Jordan, that you turned back?

You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
  you little hills like young sheep?

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
  at the presence of the God of Jacob,

Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
  and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

Lord our God, you fill heaven and earth with your Spirit and allow us to share in your gifts. We thank you for all you have given us, for all you are giving and will give. We are poor and needy; all people are poor and needy in spite of their striving, longing, and seeking. Only you, through your Spirit, can awaken something in us to help us go toward your goal. Keep us from being caught up in what men do. The greatest help for our hearts is what you do, and each of us can tell something about it. Each of us has received help beyond anything we had hoped or thought of. How much you have done for us! How much you are doing for the nations! Yes, we thank you for this present time. Although our lives often seem hopeless and full of sorrow, your powers are still living among men, working for their good and awaking them to new life. The time will surely come when our hearts will be released from their hunger and we can be filled with the life from above, which you give us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

Romans 14:1-12
When brothers and sisters judge each other

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 18:21-35
A parable of forgiveness

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

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
(Exodus 14, Exodus 15, Romans 14)

Who is like our majestic God? The One who is wonder-worker and awesome in splendor. *

  No other!

God calls to us to join the holy work of making the world right. *

  We will live for God and for God’s world in all we do. Amen.

His Name Is

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, September 17, 2023
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35
The story of the Egyptian army’s total destruction can be hard to read. And yet, this story has been incredibly important for all who experience oppression and yearn for God’s liberation. The dead bodies and wrecked chariots on the shores of the Red Sea communicate God’s rejection of oppression, as Miriam and the women celebrate with song and dance. The Talmud records that God stops the angels from singing their praise, for how can they rejoice when God’s creatures are drowning? Perhaps these are the two responses we need to hold together: celebration that evil is conquered and the realization that this triumph means suffering for others. In Romans, Paul addresses issues that undermine the church—how we diminish one another and the church. How do we live God’s righteous initiatives while remembering the humanity of our adversaries?