Tuesday Morning Devotion

Feast of St. Matthew

Psalm 119:41-48

Let thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord *

 even thy salvation, according unto thy word.

  So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers *

 for my trust is in thy word.

  O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth *

 for my hope is in thy judgements.

  So shall I alway keep thy law *

 yea, for ever and ever.

  And I will walk at liberty *

 for I seek thy commandments.

  I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings *

 and will not be ashamed.

  And my delight shall be in thy commandments *

 which I have loved.

  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved *

 and my study shall be in thy statutes.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(Romans 10:1-15)

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Benedictus Dominus Deus

Luke 1:68-79

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *

    for he hath visited and redeemed his people;

And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us *

    in the house of his servant David,

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, *

    which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, *

    and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, *

    and to remember his holy covenant;

To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, *

    that he would give us,

That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies *

    might serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him, *

    all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, *

    for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people *

    for the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God, *

    whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;

To give light to them that sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death, *

    and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

    maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

    born of the Virgin Mary,

    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

    was crucified, dead, and buried.

    He descended into hell.

    The third day he rose again from the dead.

    He ascended into heaven,

    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.

    From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,

    the holy catholic Church,

    the communion of saints,

    the forgiveness of sins,

    the resurrection of the body,

    and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Almighty and everliving God, I pray unto Thee for thy Universal Church and all her members, past, present and yet to come:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Christ, the ruler of all the nations, I pray for the health and well-being of my nation and all the nations and leaders of the earth:

Silence or add individual intentions here

God, the Holy Ghost, I pray Thee to be poured out upon all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, or spirit, that Thy healing grace may be infused in them and in myself:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Heavenly Father, I commend unto Thee those who are departed, that they may be judged with magnanimity and see Thy Heavenly Kingdom:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath taught us:

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, and the power, and the glory,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for St. Matthew

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the witness of thine apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of thy Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.