Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, July 25, 2010

James the Apostle

Divine Office

Order of service for Morning and Evening Prayer.

Services and Events

Opening Prayer

Merciful God,
whose holy apostle Saint James,
leaving his father and all that he had,
was obedient to the calling of your Son Jesus Christ
and followed him even to death:
help us, forsaking the false attractions of the world,
to be ready at all times to answer your call without delay;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading

Acts 11.27-12.2
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

27 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up
and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world;
and this took place during the reign of Claudius.
29 The disciples determined that according to their ability,
each would send relief to the believers living in Judea;
30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
1 About that time King Herod laid violent hands
upon some who belonged to the church.
2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 126 
R Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy. R
3 Then they said among the nations,
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
4 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are glad indeed. R
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves. R

Second Reading

2 Corinthians 4.7-15
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

7 We have this treasure in clay jars,
so that it may be made clear
that this extraordinary power belongs to God
and does not come from us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
11 For while we live,
we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake,
so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us,
but life in you.
13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith
that is in accordance with scripture –
‘I believed, and so I spoke’ –
we also believe, and so we speak,
14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
15 Yes, everything is for your sake,
so that grace, as it extends to more and more people,
may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel

Matthew 20.20-28
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

20 The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons,
and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him.
21 And he said to her,
‘What do you want?’
She said to him,
‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand
and one at your left, in your kingdom.’
22 But Jesus answered,
‘You do not know what you are asking.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’
They said to him, ‘We are able.’
23 He said to them,
‘You will indeed drink my cup,
but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant,
but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’
24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers.
25 But Jesus called them to him and said,
‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones are tyrants over them.
26 It will not be so among you;
but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life a ransom for many.’

Closing Prayer

Almighty God,
who on the day of Pentecost
sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles
with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame,
filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel:
by the power of the same Spirit
strengthen us to witness to your truth
and to draw everyone to the fire of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.