All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (August 14, 2022)
PROCLAMATION OF THE LIGHT
One or more candles may be lit. ‘Is not my word like fire,’ says the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’ Jeremiah 23:29
EVENING HYMN
Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s evening hymn, “O Light Whose Splendor Thrills and Gladdens.”
O Light whose splendor thrills and gladdens
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
O Jesus, blest Anointed One;
as twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.
In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
our light and our salvation,
eternal creator of day and night,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
Now, as darkness is falling,
hear the prayer of your faithful people.
As we look for your coming in glory,
wash away our transgressions,
cleanse us by your refining fire
and make us temples of your Holy Spirit.
By the light of Christ,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
and make us ready to enter your kingdom,
where songs of praise for ever sound.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s adaptation of the Prayer of St. Francis, “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.”
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love;
where there is injury, let me bring pardon;
where there is doubting, let me bring faith.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is despairing, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, let me bring light;
where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
O Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
For it is giving that we receive;
and it is pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is dying that we are born.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
SCRIPTURE
Luke 12: 49-59 Jesus Causes Division
“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
‘Father will be divided against son
and son against father;
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother;
and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”
Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.
“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Shrewd as Snakes and Harmless as Doves
The opening passage of today’s reading, Luke 12: 49-59, is frequently misused to justify all kinds of division which is unrelated to the division which Jesus says that he came to create. It has been used to excuse attacks on the character of others on the internet. It has even been used to rationalize defiance of the local public health authorities when they implemented measures to contain the spread of a dangerous infectious disease.
The division about which Jesus is speaking in this passage is the division over his identity. He is not speaking about anything else. Some people will recognize him as the Messiah and others will not. This division occurred in the time of his earthly ministry. It is a division which continues to this day.
Jesus is not talking about the permissibility of demonizing those with whom we disagree or refusing to cooperate with public health officials’ efforts to prevent the spread of disease.
Elsewhere in the Gospels Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” It is a question which has divided families in tthe past and divides them still. It is a question that in a Hindu country like India, a Buddhist country like Nepal, and a Muslim country like Pakistan will divide a family and subject those who answer, “Jesus is the Messiah,” to not only to the disapproval of other family members but also violence at their hands. Those who have heard Jesus’s call and acknowledged him as their Lord and Shepherd have also suffered persecution by the community in which they live and even a brutal death at the hands of the community’s members.
Those who misuse this passage to justify their expressions of hatred and loathing and other bad behavior toward those who do not agree with them ignore the fact that elsewhere in the Gospels Jesus tells his disciples and the crowd who came to hear him, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NLT).
The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote the church at Rome, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12: 18, NLT).
They appear to have forgotten or perhaps they never learned the principle not “to expound one passage of Scripture in such a way that it disagrees with another.”
Paul draws to the attention of the church in Galatia that “hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger…dissension, division” and that sort of thing are the result of following the desires of our sinful nature. They are not the kind of fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives, one of which is peace. See Galatians 5: 19-23.
What Jesus is telling us is that we can expect to experience division over him between ourselves and members of our families and others in our lives and this division may lead to the kind of suffering and death that he would experience.
Paul draws to the attention of the church in Galatia that “hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger…dissension, division” and that sort of thing are the result of following the desires of our sinful nature. They are not the kind of fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives, one of which is peace. See Galatians 5: 19-23.
What Jesus is telling us is that we can expect to experience division over him between ourselves and members of our families and others in our lives and this division may lead to the kind of suffering and death that he would experience.
Jesus, however, is not telling us that we should deliberately provoke a negative response from others, adopt a confrontive attitude toward them and the kinds of behavior that goes with that attitude. He is not telling us to view the negative responses that we may trigger in others by our unkind and unpleasant words and bad behavior as genuine persecution. It is the natural consequence of what we ourselves are saying and doing, speaking and acting in ways that are not consistent with Jesus’ teaching and example. Considering our words and actions, it may be well-deserved.
Jesus enjoins his followers to be merciful, that is, kind and forgiving, as God is merciful and thereby show that we are indeed God’s children. He taught that loving our neighbors as ourselves was equal to loving God with the entirety of our being He taught us to love those who do not love us and to do good to them and to pray for them if they treat us badly. He taught us to treat others as we would have others treat us. He taught us to be lenient in our judgment of others, to make allowances for them, and to forgive their failings. What Jesus said about coming to divide people against each other must be understood in the light of these teachings and what else he said.
The final passage of today’s reading is worthy of note. This saying also found elsewhere in the Gospels in conjunction with Jesus’ teaching about making peace with anyone with whom a rift has developed in our relationship with them and becoming friendly with them again (Matthew 5: 23-24).
The Scriptures were not thrown together higgledy-piggledy. While we may not fathom the reason, everything appears where it is found in Scripture for a reason.
In this passage Jesus urges those who are listening to him to settle their differences with others. He warns them that if they do not, they may suffer unpleasant consequences.
This passage was not tacked on the two preceding passages at random. The implication is that we should not go out of our way to cause strife, angry or violent disagreement. We may experience criticism and mistreatment from others due to our belief in Jesus. We, on our part, however, should not seek to provoke conflict or to fuel it but do our best to amicably resolve differences.
Jesus recognized that his mission would cause division. He is honest with his followers about the effects of his claim to be the Messiah. However, Jesus is not telling his followers to go looking for trouble. They can expect opposition, but they should not stir up opposition. We are not serving the cause of the gospel when we create needless obstacles for ourselves. When Jesus sent out his disciples to proclaim the coming of the kingdom, he instructed them to be “shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NLT). It is good advice for us today.
Silence
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Ashley White’s Amarillo Canticles setting of the Magnificat, “My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord.”
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me,
and holy is his Name,
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel,
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For peace from on high and our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the welfare of all churches and for the unity of the human family, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For (name), our bishop, and (name), our pastor, and for all ministers of the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For our nation, its government, and for all who serve and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For this city (town, university, monastery…). For every city and community, and for all those living in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the safety of travelers, the recovery of the sick, the care of the destitute and the release of prisoners, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For an angel of peace to guide and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For a peaceful evening and a night free from sin, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For a Christian end to our lives and for all who have fallen asleep in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
In the communion of the Holy Spirit (and of all the saints), let us commend ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ our Lord.
To you, O Lord.
Free Prayer
In silent or spontaneous prayer all bring before God the concerns of the day.
The Collect
Come Holy Spirit,
to all baptised in your name,
that we may turn to good
whatever lies ahead.
Give us passion, give us fire;
make us transform the world from what it is,
to what you have created it to be.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear the “Kyrie” from Healey Willan’s Missa De Sancta Maria Magdalen.
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
As our Saviour taught his disciples,
we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.
BLESSING
The blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with us always. Amen.
Jesus enjoins his followers to be merciful, that is, kind and forgiving, as God is merciful and thereby show that we are indeed God’s children. He taught that loving our neighbors as ourselves was equal to loving God with the entirety of our being He taught us to love those who do not love us and to do good to them and to pray for them if they treat us badly. He taught us to treat others as we would have others treat us. He taught us to be lenient in our judgment of others, to make allowances for them, and to forgive their failings. What Jesus said about coming to divide people against each other must be understood in the light of these teachings and what else he said.
The final passage of today’s reading is worthy of note. This saying also found elsewhere in the Gospels in conjunction with Jesus’ teaching about making peace with anyone with whom a rift has developed in our relationship with them and becoming friendly with them again (Matthew 5: 23-24).
The Scriptures were not thrown together higgledy-piggledy. While we may not fathom the reason, everything appears where it is found in Scripture for a reason.
In this passage Jesus urges those who are listening to him to settle their differences with others. He warns them that if they do not, they may suffer unpleasant consequences.
This passage was not tacked on the two preceding passages at random. The implication is that we should not go out of our way to cause strife, angry or violent disagreement. We may experience criticism and mistreatment from others due to our belief in Jesus. We, on our part, however, should not seek to provoke conflict or to fuel it but do our best to amicably resolve differences.
Jesus recognized that his mission would cause division. He is honest with his followers about the effects of his claim to be the Messiah. However, Jesus is not telling his followers to go looking for trouble. They can expect opposition, but they should not stir up opposition. We are not serving the cause of the gospel when we create needless obstacles for ourselves. When Jesus sent out his disciples to proclaim the coming of the kingdom, he instructed them to be “shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NLT). It is good advice for us today.
Silence
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Ashley White’s Amarillo Canticles setting of the Magnificat, “My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord.”
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me,
and holy is his Name,
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel,
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For peace from on high and our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the welfare of all churches and for the unity of the human family, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For (name), our bishop, and (name), our pastor, and for all ministers of the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For our nation, its government, and for all who serve and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For this city (town, university, monastery…). For every city and community, and for all those living in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the safety of travelers, the recovery of the sick, the care of the destitute and the release of prisoners, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For an angel of peace to guide and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For a peaceful evening and a night free from sin, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For a Christian end to our lives and for all who have fallen asleep in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
In the communion of the Holy Spirit (and of all the saints), let us commend ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ our Lord.
To you, O Lord.
Free Prayer
In silent or spontaneous prayer all bring before God the concerns of the day.
The Collect
Come Holy Spirit,
to all baptised in your name,
that we may turn to good
whatever lies ahead.
Give us passion, give us fire;
make us transform the world from what it is,
to what you have created it to be.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear the “Kyrie” from Healey Willan’s Missa De Sancta Maria Magdalen.
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
As our Saviour taught his disciples,
we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.
BLESSING
The blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with us always. Amen.
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