The Lord welcomes us to his table to share in the heavenly banquet. So we come to worship, acknowledging God’s unconditional generosity and infinite power.
First Reading Proverbs 25:6-7
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great;
for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’,
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
Psalm 81, 1-7
R. Shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Sing merrily to God our strength,
shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Take up the song and sound the timbrel,
the tuneful lyre with the harp. R.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
as at the full moon, upon our solemn feast day.
For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob,
The charge he laid on the people of Joseph, when they came out of the land of Egypt. R.
I heard a voice I did not know that said:
“I eased their shoulder from the burden; their hands were set from bearing the load.
“You called upon me in trouble and I delivered you;
I answered you from the secret place of thunder
And proved you at the waters of Meribah. R.
Second Reading Hebrews 13:1-8. 15-16
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.
Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Gospel acclamation:
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.
Gospel Luke 14:1. 7-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’
Intercessions
We pray for the Church throughout the world, especially as it seeks to challenge oppressive social norms and demonstrate God’s love for all people.
We pray for those in positions of power and responsibility; that they may put aside self-interest and act with humility for the common good.
We pray for those who are marginalised by society; that they may be freed from oppression and know that they are just as valuable as anyone else.
We pray that we might have a healthy sense of self-esteem, neither full of our own importance nor lacking in self-worth but knowing that all are equally loved by God.
We pray for the departed, especially those we have known and loved. This week we remember Kim Button (priest), Gladys Smith, Charles Day, Daniel Downing, Joyce Busby, Elsie Best, Doris Sweeney, Hilda Drinkall, Elizabeth Redpath, Hilary Hotchin (priest).
Also check out other Contests in Kingston Upon Hull.
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