Morning Prayer, Fourth Sunday in Lent — Sunday, March 26, 2017

Opening

O Lord, open my lips,
     and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son
     and to the Holy Spirit:
     as it was in the beginning, is now,
     and will be forever. Amen.

Invitatory

The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2)
Oh, come, let us worship and praise.

Psalm 95:1-7

Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving
     and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms.
For you, Lord, are a great God,
     and a great ruler above all gods.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
In your hand are the caverns of the earth;
     the heights of the hills are also yours.
The sea is yours, for you made it;
     and your hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Come, let us worship and bow down;
     let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
For the Lord is our God,
     and we are the people of God’s pasture
     and the sheep of God’s hand.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.

Invitatory

The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.
Oh, come, let us worship and praise.

Psalm 23

You anoint my head with oil.

The Lord| is my shepherd;
  I shall not be in want.
The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures
  and leads me beside still waters.
You restore my soul, O Lord,
  and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me.

You anoint my head with oil.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
  you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

You anoint my head with oil.

Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, you give us new birth in the waters of baptism, you anoint us with oil, and you nourish us at your table with heavenly food. In your goodness and mercy, dispel the shadows of evil and death, and lead us along safe paths, that we may rest securely in you and dwell in the house of the Lord now and forever, for your name’s sake. Amen.

Song  “You Are Mine”  (ELW 581)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXAku-lQliQ

1  "I will come to you in the silence,
    I will lift you from all your fear.
    You will hear my voice,
    I claim you as my choice.
    Be still and know I am here."

2  "I am hope for all who are hopeless,
    I am eyes for all who long to see.
    In the shadows of the night,
    I will be your light.
    Come and rest in me."

Refrain
   "Do not be afraid, I am with you.
    I have called you each by name.
    Come and follow me,
    I will bring you home;
    I love you and you are mine."

3  "I am strength for all the despairing,
    healing for the ones who dwell in shame.
    All the blind will see,
    the lame will all run free,
    and all will know my name."  Refrain

4  "I am the Word that leads all to freedom,
    I am the peace the world cannot give.
    I will call your name,
    embracing all your pain.
    Stand up, now walk and live!"  Refrain

John 9:1-7
Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking a hostile reaction that Jesus regards as spiritual blindness to the things of God.

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. Jesus’s disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. But in order that God’s works might be manifest in him, we must work the works of the One who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When Jesus had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

The word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Reflection

After Jesus uncovered the eyes of the man born blind, he was able to see that Jesus is the light of the world and he was able to live in that Light. He did not ask for sight. Jesus just uncovered his eyes, made him able to see, because Jesus saw him and worked “the works of the One who sent” Jesus, the light of the world. Then, part of living in the light of Christ for the man born blind was understanding what God’s love is like. 

There’s a famous definition of love in a famous love story called The Notebook (1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks; 2004 drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes). Young in life, the protagonist defines love in a letter to his life partner and bride to be. It strikes me that what he describes is none other than God’s love in the world. A love bigger than anything between two people, but a love which shimmers through regularly and steadfastly in our midst, and if the Gospel and the ways of the Triune God across history are any indication, especially when we least expect it: 

“The best love is the kind that weakens the soul and makes us reach for more. That plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.”

May God’s love shine brightly in your path. May God’s love make you reach for more. May God’s love plant a fire in your heart. And may God’s love continually bring peace to your mind. For you, your community, and the whole world. Amen.

Scriptural Dialogue

Jesus says, I am the light of the world;
     whoever follows me will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Gospel Canticle “Song of Zechariah”

In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel,
     you have come to your people and set them free.
You have raised up for us a mighty Savior,
     born of the house of your servant David.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old
     to save us from our enemies,
     from the hands of all who hate us,
to show mercy to our forebears,
     and to remember your holy covenant.
This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham:
     to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you without fear, holy and righteous
     before you, all the days of our life.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give God's people knowledge of salvation
     by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
     and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Prayers

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us pray. We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that you would also protect us today from sin and all evil, so that our life and actions may please you. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. 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.

Blessing

May God who has called us forth from the dust of the earth, and claimed us as children of the light, strengthen you on your journey into life renewed. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you + peace. Amen.

A greeting of peace may be shared by all.

Copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS011448. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. “You Are Mine”  (ELW 581) Text: David Haas © 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXAku-lQliQ