Holy One, make speed to save us:
O God, come quickly to help us.
Glory to God, Source of all being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
OPENING
Variable Psalms
Wednesdays: From Psalm 73, QUAM BONUS ISRAEL
Truly, God is good to Israel, *
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped; *
I had almost tripped and fallen;
because I envied the proud *
and saw the prosperity of the wicked:
For they suffer no pain, *
and their bodies are sleek and sound;
in the misfortunes of others they have no share; *
they are not afflicted as others are;
therefore they wear their pride like a necklace *
and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.
Their iniquity comes from gross minds, *
and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.
They scoff and speak maliciously; *
out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens, *
and their evil speech runs through the world.
And so the people turn to them *
and find in them no fault.
They say, ”How should God know? *
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
So then, these are the wicked; *
always at ease, they increase their wealth.
In vain have I kept my heart clean, *
and washed my hands in innocence.
I have been afflicted all day long, *
and punished every morning.
Had I gone on speaking this way, *
I should have betrayed the generation of your children.
When I tried to understand these things, *
it was too hard for me;
Yet I am always with you; *
you hold me by my hand.
You will guide me by your counsel, *
and afterwards receive me with glory.
CLOSING: A song of Pilgrimage (from Sirach 51)
While I was still young, before I began my travels,*
I sought for wisdom openly in my prayers.
I asked for her outside the temple sanctuary,*
and I will seek her to the end.
She has been the delight of my heart.*
from first blossom to early fruit.
I have kept firmly to the true path;*
I have followed her steps since my youth.
I bowed my ear a little and received her;*
I found wisdom and was well instructed.
Glory to the One who gives me wisdom!*
I will live according to her way.
Because I longed to find her with all my heart,*
I have gained a good possession.
As my reward the Lord has given me a tongue*
with which I shall sing his praises.
READING: Luke 20:27–40
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’
Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
We have judged others too harshly and thought ourselves superior to them.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
We have judged ourselves too harshly and thought ourselves inferior to others.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
We have refused to accept that there is no condemnation, only compassion, in God’s heart.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord’s 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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
COLLECTS
Wednesdays:Bless us, Lord Christ; you give peace to our hearts when the unthinkable happens, the suffering of the innocent. Amen
O Lord, you always guide your people whom you build up on the foundation of your love: make us ever stand in awe of your Holy Name, and love you in equal measure; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity. Amen.
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing: through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St Ternans Banchory 