Cycle A Epiphany 7 Lectionary 7

February 23, 2013 Confession

Sunday Title:  Perfect Sunday 

Sermon Title: “Really”

Previously:

Scripture Cuttings:

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 You shall be holy,

for I the Lord your God am holy.

Psalm 119:33-40 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your teaching and keep it wholeheartedly.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Matthew 5:38-48 But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well.

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  As God is holy, we are to be holy. (pause to remember Jesus began his ministry proclaiming: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.-Matthew 4:17)

  You are the Lord our God...

C: and you call us to be your peoples.

  You provide instruction for the living of life in you.

    But we see only restriction of our freedom.

You teach us how to be your children,

  yet as disciples we still act like spoiled children.

You ask us to make sacrifices as your witness,

  to humanize our enemies: to pray for them,

    not to hoard the gifts you give.

But we are schooled in self-reliance and fairness,

  so the kingdom of heaven is diluted by our self-interest,

    and our witness is deleted by petty self-right-ness.

Save, O Lord, your people.

Save us from our unrighteousness: what we see

and what we evade.  (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Lord...

C: strengthen our faithfulness. Amen.

P:  The Lord our God is holy, complete, perfect. Now God provides a foundation for our faithfulness: Jesus Christ. For Christ’s sake our sins are forgiven. We may come to know we are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in us. To the glory of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!