August 3, 2020
Evening Prayer (Vespers)
You may wish to light a candle and place it before
you as you begin.
OPENING DIALOGUE
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the light
no darkness can overcome.
Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening, and the day
is almost over.
Let your light scatter the darkness and illumine your church.
HYMN: Blest Are They, ELW 728
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwSkmzw8dY8
READINGS
FIRST READING:
A reading from: Isaiah 43: 1-7 (CEB)
43 But now,
says the Lord—
the one who created you, Jacob,
the one who
formed you, Israel:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called
you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you;
when
through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched
and flame
won’t burn you.
3 I am the Lord your God,
the holy
one of Israel, your savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and
Seba in your place.
4 Because you are precious in
my eyes,
you are
honored, and I love you.
I give
people in your place,
and nations
in exchange for your life.
5 Don’t fear,
I am with
you.
From the east I’ll bring your children;
from the
west I’ll gather you.
6 I’ll say to the north, “Give
them back!”
and to the
south, “Don’t detain them.”
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters
from the end of the earth,
7 everyone
who is called by my name
and whom I
created for my glory,
whom I have
formed and made.
Word of God, word of
life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM: Psalm 17: 1-7,
15 (CEB)
17 Listen to what’s right, Lord;
pay
attention to my cry!
Listen closely to my prayer;
it’s
spoken by lips that don’t lie!
2 My justice comes from you;
let
your eyes see what is right!
3 You have examined my heart,
testing
me at night.
You’ve looked me over closely,
but
haven’t found anything wrong.
My
mouth doesn’t sin.
4 But these other people’s deeds?
I
have avoided such violent ways
by
the command from your lips.
5 My steps are set firmly on your paths;
my
feet haven’t slipped.
6 I cry out to you because you answer me.
So
tilt your ears toward me now—
listen
to what I’m saying!
7 Manifest your faithful love in amazing ways
because
you are the one
who
saves those who take refuge in you,
saving
them from their attackers
by
your strong hand.
15 But me? I will see your face in righteousness;
when
I awake, I will be filled full by seeing your image.
Gospel:
Matthew 15: 32-39 (CEB)
A reading
from: Matthew
32 Now Jesus called his disciples and said, “I feel sorry for the crowd because they have been with me for
three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry for
fear they won’t have enough strength to travel.”
33 His
disciples replied, “Where are we going to get enough food in this wilderness to
satisfy such a big crowd?”
34 Jesus
said, “How much bread do you have?”
They responded, “Seven loaves and a few fish.”
35 He told the
crowd to sit on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves of
bread and the fish. After he gave thanks, he broke them into pieces and gave
them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 Everyone
ate until they were full. The disciples collected seven baskets full of
leftovers. 38 Four thousand men ate, plus
women and children. 39 After dismissing the crowds,
Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.
Word of
God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
REFLECTION:
Today’s
texts are about compassion, God’s care for God’s children, for us. Isaiah tells
us God says:
·
Do not be afraid, I am with
you.
·
You are precious in my eyes.
·
I have called you by name;
you are mine.
These are the words, the promises, of a God
who loves us beyond measure. These are not the words of a God who punishes us
for wrongdoing, but the words of someone who cares deeply about us.
The Psalm is a human response to God’s loving
care.
·
I cry to you because you
answer me.
·
You save those who take
refuge in you.
·
When you examine me, you are
just.
In the Gospel text, this is the second feeding
of a multitude in Matthew. The first time, the disciples spoke first about the
people being hungry. This time, Jesus speaks first.
·
I feel sorry for these
people. Let’s take care of them.
·
How much bread do you have?
·
Ask the folks to sit down.
As before, everyone ate until they were full,
and there were leftovers. As in the feeding of the 5,000, the number referred
to just the men, but it was recognized that there were women and children
present. So, there were perhaps 8-10,000 people in the crowd. And Jesus fed
them all.
I have always been suspicious of such numbers.
Maybe it was 40 or 400 men, not 4,000. Exaggeration happens all the time in the
ancient world. It makes people and events seem larger than they really were.
Truth be told, it still happens today. Have you ever asked a fisher how big the
latest catch was? Still, the number of people is not quite the point.
First, the miracle is the point: In order to
silence those who insist that the miracle was in everyone sharing what they
had, this text makes it clear that the people were out of food. After three
days, there was nothing left to share. This story makes it clear that the
feeding of the multitude must be miraculous.
And second, it’s not the numbers that matter with
this miraculous feeding. It’s the way Jesus felt. In the CEB Jesus says, “I
feel sorry for the crowd.” The Message reads, “I hurt for these people.” The
NRSV and the NIV read, “I have compassion.” However we say it, Jesus cares
about what is happening to us.
As we travel through these days of Covid-19,
economic collapse, and political dissonance, I find it hopeful that God cares
for and about us. We are truly walking through deep waters, and it’s encouraging
to know that God is with us. We are precious, loved by God.
Let’s all be encouraged – filled with courage –
as we make our way through these days with each other and with God. Amen
SCRIPTURE DIALOGUE
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many
and various ways by the prophets,
but in these last days, God has spoken to us
by the Son.
PRAYERS
For
the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy.
For
the health of creation, for abundant harvests that all may share, for plentiful
water, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For
essential workers, public servants, the government, and those who protect us;
for those who work to bring peace, justice, healing, and protection in this and
every place, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For
those who travel, for those who are sick and suffering, for those who are in
captivity, and for those who are living in isolation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy.
For
deliverance in the time of affliction, wrath, danger and need, let us pray to
the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Other
prayer petitions may be offered here.
O
God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the
ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go
forth with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only trusting that your
hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For
the kingdom, the power, and the glory, are yours now and forever. Amen.
HYMN:
Great Is Thy Faithfulness, ELW 733
YouTube
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTKIqmdfHSk
BLESSING
Let
us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, + keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen
Liturgy from ELW Annual Liturgy License 26504
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