Morning Prayer, Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday in Lent — March 22, 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
Refrain: You anoint my head with oil. (Ps. 23:5)

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.  (Refrain)
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.  (Refrain)

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  “Shepherd me, O God”  (ELW 780)
piano solo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFRLzDywkTA

Refrain
     Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
     beyond my fears, from death into life.

God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.  (Refrain)

Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your name.  (Refrain)

Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.  (Refrain)

You have set me a banquet of love
in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love beyond my pow'r to hold.  (Refrain)

Surely your kindness and mercy follow me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore.  (Refrain)

Ephesians 5:8-14
Because we now live in the divine light that is Jesus Christ, we conduct our lives in ways that reflect the light of Christ, so that our activity is truly pleasing to God.

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Reflection

The Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Bible were both addressed to an oppressed people. Moses, Elijah and Jesus were leaders of enslaved peoples, and were themselves enslaved. These oppressed peoples did not have voice or vote in their own country; they were victims of repeated colonialization: peoples occupied by huge empires who had their faces set on bringing into servitude as much geographical land and resources and human capital that they could get their hands on. The five husbands of the Samaritan woman plus the current non-husband (in John 4:1-42) parallels the six nations which colonized Samaria, the likes of which include Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Alexandria, and in Jesus’ day Rome (cf.  Craig Koester, “The Savior of the World,” Journal of Biblical Literature 109/4 (1990), 665-680, and Sung Uk Lim, “Speak My Name: Anti-Colonial Mimicry and the Samaritan Woman in John 4:1-42” (www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/religious_studies/SBL2008/Lim.doc). Jesus healed the Samaritan woman. Jesus healed all the Samaritans. Jesus healed everyone: Jews, Hellenists. Everyone, to the end of the world and back again.

A song from Jesus to you. Or a song from a mom to her children. Or a song from a big brother to a family he has to care for too soon. You name it...   Jesus works through 'em all. Jesus gives 'em all strength to help those who need help, even when they are pretty darn near the bottom of the barrel.

“Riser,” Dierks Bentley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQDbjIh3_Ts

Lay your pretty head down on my shoulder
You don’t have to worry anymore
This old world is cold and getting colder
And I know how to lock and bolt the door

I’m strong enough to hold you through the winter
Mean enough to stare your demons down
The hard times put the shine into the diamond
I won’t let that keep us in the ground

I'm a riser
I'm a get off of the ground, don't run and hider
Pushin' comes to shove
Hey I'm a fighter
When darkness comes to town, I'm a lighter
A get out aliver, of the fire
Survivor

If we ain't got no money I can make it
And I ain't afraid of working to the bone
When I don’t know what I'm doin' I can fake it
I'll pray 'til Jesus rolls away the stone

I'm a riser
I'm a get off of the ground, don't run and hider
When pushin' comes to shove
Hey I'm a fighter
When darkness comes to town, I’m a lighter
A get out aliver, of the fire
Survivor

I'm a trier
I'm a get down low so I can lift you higher
An army couldn’t keep down my desire
Yeah

I'm a riser
I'm a get off of the ground, don't run and hider
Hey pushin' comes to shove
And baby I'm a fighter
When darkness comes to town, I’m a lighter
Get out aliver, of the fire
Survivor, I’m a riser

I’m a riser
I’m a riser
I’m a riser
I’m a riser

a comment at the end of this video on youtube by B Gull: 
“I’ve lived in a tent, lived in a car, lived in a shelter. All were better than having my children live in an abusive home. I’ve lived on food stamps and cash assistance. I’ve had it all and lost it all. I’ve had to tell my kids “no” to toys, i’ve gone without eating to feed my son. I kept fighting, pushing and trying. I am now in a home, i have a car, i have a great career, my kids have the things they need and want. I am off welfare I am surviving...I am a riser!”

Scriptural Dialogue

One does not live by bread alone,
     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

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. “Shepherd me, O God” (ELW 780) Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950, based on Psalm 23. © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc. piano solo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFRLzDywkTA “Riser,” Dierks Bentley, Capitol (2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQDbjIh3_Ts