Australian Daily Prayer

2nd Friday of Epiphany

1
Through Christ let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Grace
We have complete freedom:
to go into the most holy place by means of the death of Jesus
He opened for us a new way, a living way:
through the curtain, through his own body.
Since we have a great high priest
set over the household of God:
let us draw near with a sincere heart and a sure faith,
With hearts that have been made clean
from a guilty conscience:
and bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19-22
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.
1  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
      whom then shall I fear? 
   The Lord is the strength of my life;
      of whom then shall I be afraid?
2  When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,
      came upon me to eat up my flesh, 
   they stumbled and fell.
3  Though a host encamp against me,
      my heart shall not be afraid, 
   and though there rise up war against me,
      yet will I put my trust in him.
4  One thing have I asked of the Lord
      and that alone I seek: 
   that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
      all the days of my life,
5  To behold the fair beauty of the Lord 
   and to seek his will in his temple.
6  For in the day of trouble
      he shall hide me in his shelter; 
   in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
      and set me high upon a rock.
7  And now shall he lift up my head 
   above my enemies round about me;
8  Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
      with great gladness; 
   I will sing and make music to the Lord.
9  Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; 
   have mercy upon me and answer me.
10  My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ 
   Your face, Lord, will I seek.
11  Hide not your face from me, 
   nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
12  You have been my helper; 
   leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
13  Though my father and my mother forsake me, 
   the Lord will take me up.
14  Teach me your way, O Lord; 
   lead me on a level path,
      because of those who lie in wait for me.
15  Deliver me not into the will of my adversaries, 
   for false witnesses have risen up against me,
      and those who breathe out violence.
16  I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord 
   in the land of the living.
17  Wait for the Lord;
      be strong and he shall comfort your heart; 
   wait patiently for the Lord.
1  Alleluia.
      O sing to the Lord a new song; 
   sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2  Let Israel rejoice in their maker; 
   let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
3  Let them praise his name in the dance; 
   let them sing praise to him with timbrel and lyre.
4  For the Lord has pleasure in his people 
   and adorns the poor with salvation.
5  Let the faithful be joyful in glory; 
   let them rejoice in their ranks,
6  With the praises of God in their mouths 
   and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7  To execute vengeance on the nations 
   and punishment on the peoples;
8  To bind their kings in chains 
   and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9  To execute on them the judgement decreed: 
   such honour have all his faithful servants.
      Alleluia.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross: fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed

Hosea 1–2:1 (Listen)

1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Hosea’s Wife and Children

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

And the LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Call her name No Mercy,1 for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.”

When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People,2 for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”3

10 4 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children5 of the living God.” 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness Punished

2:1 6 Say to your brothers, “You are my people,”7 and to your sisters, “You have received mercy.”8

Footnotes

[1] 1:6 Hebrew Lo-ruhama, which means she has not received mercy
[2] 1:9 Hebrew Lo-ammi, which means not my people
[3] 1:9 Hebrew I am not yours
[4] 1:10 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
[5] 1:10 Or Sons
[6] 2:1 Ch 2:3 in Hebrew
[7] 2:1 Hebrew ammi, which means my people
[8] 2:1 Hebrew ruhama, which means she has received mercy

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 8 (Listen)

Food Offered to Idols

8:1 Now concerning1 food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.2

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating3 in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,4 if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers5 and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Footnotes

[1] 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1
[2] 8:3 Greek him
[3] 8:10 Greek reclining at table
[4] 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up
[5] 8:12 Or brothers and sisters

(ESV)

The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, Saviour of the World
Jesus, Saviour of the world,
come to us in your mercy:
we look to you to save and help us.
By your cross and your life laid down,
you set your people free:
we look to you to save and help us.
When they were read to perish,
you saved your disciples:
we looked to you to come to our help.
In the greatness of your mercy,
loose us from our chains:
forgive the sins of all your people.
Make yourself known as our saviour
and mighty deliverer:
save and help us that we may praise you.
come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus:
hear our prayers and be with us always.
And when you come in your glory:
make us to be one with you
and to share the life of your kingdom.
8 The Apostles' Creed may be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
who inspired Simon Peter
to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God:
keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith,
so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth
and follow the one Lord, our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed; guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Peace be to us all, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ephesians 6:23
1
Peace to those who are far off.
Peace to those who are near.
Ephesians 2:17
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, The Lord's Servant
He was despised; he was rejected:
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.
As one from whom people hide their faces:
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Ours were the sufferings he bore:
ours the torments he endured,
While we thought he was being punished:
struck by God and brought low.
He was pierced for our sins:
bruised for no fault but ours.
His punishment has won our peace:
and by his wounds we are healed.
We had all strayed like sheep:
all taking our own way;
But the Lord laid on him:
the guilt of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now passed and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1  Truly, God is loving to Israel, 
   to those who are pure in heart.
2  Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone; 
   my steps had well-nigh slipped.
3  For I was envious of the proud; 
   I saw the wicked in such prosperity;
4  For they suffer no pains 
   and their bodies are sleek and sound;
5  They come to no misfortune like other folk; 
   nor are they plagued as others are;
6  Therefore pride is their necklace 
   and violence wraps them like a cloak.
7  Their iniquity comes from within; 
   the conceits of their hearts overflow.
8  They scoff, and speak only of evil; 
   they talk of oppression from on high.
9  They set their mouth against the heavens, 
   and their tongue ranges round the earth;
10  And so the people turn to them 
   and find in them no fault.
11  They say, ‘How should God know? 
   Is there knowledge in the Most High?’
12  Behold, these are the wicked; 
   ever at ease, they increase their wealth.
13  Is it in vain that I cleansed my heart 
   and washed my hands in innocence?
14  All day long have I been stricken 
   and chastened every morning.
15  If I had said, ‘I will speak as they do,’ 
   I should have betrayed the generation of your children.
16  Then thought I to understand this, 
   but it was too hard for me,
17  Until I entered the sanctuary of God 
   and understood the end of the wicked:
18  How you set them in slippery places; 
   you cast them down to destruction.
19  How suddenly do they come to destruction, 
   perish and come to a fearful end!
20  As with a dream when one awakes, 
   so, Lord, when you arise you will despise their image.
21  When my heart became embittered 
   and I was pierced to the quick,
22  I was but foolish and ignorant; 
   I was like a brute beast in your presence.
23  Yet I am always with you; 
   you hold me by my right hand.
24  You will guide me with your counsel 
   and afterwards receive me with glory.
25  Whom have I in heaven but you? 
   And there is nothing upon earth that I desire
      in comparison with you.
26  Though my flesh and my heart fail me, 
   God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27  Truly, those who forsake you will perish; 
   you will put to silence the faithless who betray you.
28  But it is good for me to draw near to God; 
   in the Lord God have I made my refuge,
      that I may tell of all your works.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Holy Spirit, sanctifier, cleans us from all hypocrisy, unite us to one another in the bonds of peace and love, and confirm us in holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed

Genesis 9:8–19 (Listen)

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Noah’s Descendants

18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.1

Footnotes

[1] 9:19 Or from these the whole earth was populated

(ESV)

Matthew 25:14–30 (Listen)

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants1 and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,2 to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.3 You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Footnotes

[1] 25:14 Or bondservants; also verse 19
[2] 25:15 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer
[3] 25:21 Or bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30

(ESV)

The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song to the Lamb
You are worthy, our Lord and God:
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things:
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain:
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God:
and they will reign with you on earth.
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 4:11; 5:9b-10
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
who inspired Simon Peter
to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God:
keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith,
so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth
and follow the one Lord, our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, restore, establish, strengthen us. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11