Ritual versus righteousness
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: Trito-Isaiah, writing in the context of the early days of the return of the exiles from Babylon, expresses here the consternation of the people whose supplicatory fasting has had no effect, and delivers a scathing divine rejection of such routine ritual in favor of the acts of human liberation that God does find acceptable: freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked. For such righteous activity will bring the healing of God's presence.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 112)
Leader:
Blessed are those who are generous!
People:
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE JUST!
Leader:
For it is they who firmly trust God!
People:
IT IS THEY WHOSE HEARTS ARE STEADFAST!
Collect
Most royal God, you have taught us again and again that the true worship of you is the doing of justice, and that real service to you is the living of compassion. Set this truth again upon our hearts: that, inspired by the words of your prophets and the example of your Christ, we may trade our religiousness for your righteousness. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most righteous God, we humbly confess that, despite your many warnings, we have placed most of our spiritual energies into religion that would lead to individual salvation rather than into righteousness that would establish your Reign of justice for all. Forgive us our selfishness, 0 God, and help us to dedicate ourselves, not to self-satisfying ceremony, but to sacrificial service on behalf of your Christ and the blessed ones of his Reign. In his name we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 2:1-11
Theme:
Wisdom received versus wisdom achieved
Exegetical note: Among the most popular and revered individuals in Paul's day were the professional, itinerant orators, skilled and educated in rhetoric, who could extemporize on virtually any topic, and mesmerize less with substance than with style. With these Paul contrasts himself, who has only a haltingly-delivered, simple message for the many - "Christ and him crucified" - and wisdom for "the mature." Yet even that is not the achieved wisdom of the learned, but the received wisdom revealed by the Spirit of God.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 112)
Leader:
Praise God, who is gracious!
People:
PRAISE GOD, WHO IS RIGHTEOUS!
Leader:
Praise God, who is merciful!
People:
PRAISE GOD, WHO BRINGS LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS FOR THE UPRIGHT!
Collect
Eternal God, you have taught us repreatedly that our hope is not in the spiritual knowledge that we achieve for ourselves, or the insights that we accept from pious professionals, but in the wisdom we receive from you in Christ Jesus. Remind us again of that great truth: that, trusting at last in the Word of Wisdom that alone is effective, we may find real righteousness and perfect peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most loving God, it pains us to confess how easily we have been seduced by slick-tongued purveyors of purported spirituality, and how willingly we have followed any path that they promised would solve our problems and make our lives meaningful and happy. Forgive us our gullibility, O God, and point us again to the true but subtle wisdom of your gospel in Jesus, in which alone is our hope and our salvation. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Gospel:
Matthew 5:13-16
Theme:
Enlightened discipleship
Exegetical note: In an odd combination (though not quite a mixture) of metaphors, Matthew here has Jesus refer to his disciples as "salt" and "light" with respect to their role in bringing salvation to the world. The more developed of the two images is the latter: the disciples' "light," which is to be flaunted rather than obscured, is apparently their good works, which in turn reflect, not the efforts or inherent righteousness of the doers, but the glory of a gracious God.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us worship the God of Light!
People:
LET US PRAISE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
Leader:
Let us make our own lights to shine through all the earth!
People:
TO THE GLORY AND HONOR OF GOD AND CHRIST JESUS!
Collect
God of Light, you have called us to ministries of illumination in a sin-darkened world. Make us reflective of the spiritual radiance of the Christ: that, aglow with the redemption that only he radiates, we may shed his Light around us in ways that brighten the world and all its inhabitants. In the his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of love, we humbly confess that we do not always reflect the radiance of your precious Christ, and that we sometimes even contribute in many unfortunate ways to the darkness of sin that enshrouds the world to its detriment and damnation. Forgive us, we pray, and let our lights so shine that others may see in their glow your ho'y and healing Light, and may find thereby the Way that leads to life and peace. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 112)
Leader:
Blessed are those who are generous!
People:
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE JUST!
Leader:
For it is they who firmly trust God!
People:
IT IS THEY WHOSE HEARTS ARE STEADFAST!
Collect
Most royal God, you have taught us again and again that the true worship of you is the doing of justice, and that real service to you is the living of compassion. Set this truth again upon our hearts: that, inspired by the words of your prophets and the example of your Christ, we may trade our religiousness for your righteousness. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most righteous God, we humbly confess that, despite your many warnings, we have placed most of our spiritual energies into religion that would lead to individual salvation rather than into righteousness that would establish your Reign of justice for all. Forgive us our selfishness, 0 God, and help us to dedicate ourselves, not to self-satisfying ceremony, but to sacrificial service on behalf of your Christ and the blessed ones of his Reign. In his name we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 2:1-11
Theme:
Wisdom received versus wisdom achieved
Exegetical note: Among the most popular and revered individuals in Paul's day were the professional, itinerant orators, skilled and educated in rhetoric, who could extemporize on virtually any topic, and mesmerize less with substance than with style. With these Paul contrasts himself, who has only a haltingly-delivered, simple message for the many - "Christ and him crucified" - and wisdom for "the mature." Yet even that is not the achieved wisdom of the learned, but the received wisdom revealed by the Spirit of God.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 112)
Leader:
Praise God, who is gracious!
People:
PRAISE GOD, WHO IS RIGHTEOUS!
Leader:
Praise God, who is merciful!
People:
PRAISE GOD, WHO BRINGS LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS FOR THE UPRIGHT!
Collect
Eternal God, you have taught us repreatedly that our hope is not in the spiritual knowledge that we achieve for ourselves, or the insights that we accept from pious professionals, but in the wisdom we receive from you in Christ Jesus. Remind us again of that great truth: that, trusting at last in the Word of Wisdom that alone is effective, we may find real righteousness and perfect peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most loving God, it pains us to confess how easily we have been seduced by slick-tongued purveyors of purported spirituality, and how willingly we have followed any path that they promised would solve our problems and make our lives meaningful and happy. Forgive us our gullibility, O God, and point us again to the true but subtle wisdom of your gospel in Jesus, in which alone is our hope and our salvation. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Gospel:
Matthew 5:13-16
Theme:
Enlightened discipleship
Exegetical note: In an odd combination (though not quite a mixture) of metaphors, Matthew here has Jesus refer to his disciples as "salt" and "light" with respect to their role in bringing salvation to the world. The more developed of the two images is the latter: the disciples' "light," which is to be flaunted rather than obscured, is apparently their good works, which in turn reflect, not the efforts or inherent righteousness of the doers, but the glory of a gracious God.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us worship the God of Light!
People:
LET US PRAISE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
Leader:
Let us make our own lights to shine through all the earth!
People:
TO THE GLORY AND HONOR OF GOD AND CHRIST JESUS!
Collect
God of Light, you have called us to ministries of illumination in a sin-darkened world. Make us reflective of the spiritual radiance of the Christ: that, aglow with the redemption that only he radiates, we may shed his Light around us in ways that brighten the world and all its inhabitants. In the his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of love, we humbly confess that we do not always reflect the radiance of your precious Christ, and that we sometimes even contribute in many unfortunate ways to the darkness of sin that enshrouds the world to its detriment and damnation. Forgive us, we pray, and let our lights so shine that others may see in their glow your ho'y and healing Light, and may find thereby the Way that leads to life and peace. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen
