Sunday 2nd March 2025
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time / Te Rātapu Tuawaru o He Wā Noa
Taken from/inspired by Isaiah 55:10-13, Psalm 92:1-4,12-15, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Luke 6:39-49 and the ANZPB
Bidding: The Lord is upright.
Response: He is [our] Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.
[Psalm 92:15]
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it
[Isaiah 55: 10-11]
Let us pray.
He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
[Luke 6:39-42]
We pray for our communities. Help us to see one another, and ourselves, clearly.
[silence]
Bidding: The Lord is upright.
Response: He is [our] Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.
Jesus, you said that “…the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete”.
[Luke 6:49]
We pray for the church. Ground our actions in your incarnation; may the spirit open our eyes and enliven our worship
[silence]
Bidding: The Lord is upright.
Response: He is [our] Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
[1 Corinthians 15: 10-11]
We pray for the world.
Against all odds, we proclaim your victory over death; we pray that your justice and mercy would be made manifest.
[silence]
Bidding: The Lord is upright.
Response: He is [our] Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace.
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
[Isaiah 55: 12, 13b]
Holy Spirit, grant us who serve your Church to mend what is spoiled, to strengthen what is sound, and to follow you wherever and however you may lead. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
