Liturgy for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (Mark)
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Scriptures for the Day
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Solomon succeeds David as king and seeks wisdom from God. God appears to Solomon in a dream, offering him anything he desires. Solomon asks for an understanding mind to govern the people wisely. Pleased with Solomon's request, God grants him unparalleled wisdom and also promises riches and honor.
Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom is personified as a woman who has built her house and prepared a feast. She calls out to the simple and those lacking understanding to come, eat her bread, and drink her wine, inviting them to live and walk in insight.
Psalm 111 A psalm of praise, celebrating the works of the Lord. It highlights God's righteousness, grace, compassion, and faithfulness. The psalmist declares that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and all who follow His precepts have good understanding.
Psalm 34:9-14 The psalmist exhorts the faithful to fear the Lord, promising that those who do will lack nothing. The passage encourages turning away from evil, doing good, seeking peace, and pursuing it, emphasizing the benefits of a righteous life.
Ephesians 5:15-20 Paul advises the Ephesians to live wisely, making the most of every opportunity. They are to understand the Lord's will, be filled with the Spirit, and express their joy and gratitude through songs, hymns, and spiritual songs, always giving thanks to God.
John 6:51-58 Jesus declares that He is the living bread that came down from heaven. Those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will have eternal life. This passage emphasizes the importance of a deep, spiritual communion with Jesus for eternal sustenance.
Themes
The passages intertwine themes of repentance, provision, unity, and spiritual nourishment:
Wisdom and Understanding: Solomon's request, the call of Proverbs 9, and Paul's advice in Ephesians emphasize the pursuit and value of wisdom. They remind us that true wisdom comes from God and is foundational for living a life that pleases Him.
Living Righteously: Psalms 34 and 111, along with Ephesians, highlight living in accordance with God's will and precepts. These passages call us to live out our faith through actions that reflect God's righteousness and to seek peace and pursue it in all aspects of life.
Spiritual Nourishment: John 6 speaks to the spiritual sustenance found in Jesus, paralleling the wisdom and guidance from God as our spiritual food. Just as physical food sustains our bodies, Jesus, the living bread, nourishes our souls, granting us eternal life and a deep relationship with Him.
Praise and Thanksgiving: Psalms and Ephesians emphasize praising God and giving thanks for His works and guidance. They encourage us to continually express our gratitude and joy for God's enduring faithfulness and the many blessings He bestows upon us.
Call to Worship
One: Come, let us seek the wisdom that God generously offers.
All: We come with open hearts and minds, ready to receive.
One: Let us praise the Lord for His mighty works and gracious gifts
All: We will sing songs of thanksgiving and lift our voices in joy.
One: Let us feast on the bread of life that sustains us eternally.
All: We come to be nourished by Christ, our living bread, who gives us the gospel of grace.
Prayer of Confession
All: Merciful God, we need your grace and help. You are a God of plenty, yet we doubt your abundance. When we sin, we doubt your unbounded love. When we are called to trust, we doubt your ability to help. When we need, we doubt your ability to provide. Help us, Lord! You sent manna from heaven to your children and your child, Jesus, as Bread from Heaven to show us you can meet our needs. Nothing is impossible for you, especially meeting our request to build our trust. (personal prayer)
One: Lord may your name be glorified in us and through us. We ask this through Christ Jesus, your only begotten son. It is he who is our Lord and our Savior, our brother and our friend.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon- Psalm 136
We experience ups and downs, good days and bad, but God’s love is constant. With the songwriter long ago in the book of Psalms we rejoice, “Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good. The love of the Lord never ever ends!”
Friends, this is the good news!
Thanks be to God!
Prayer of Illumination
Holy Spirit, enlighten our hearts and minds as we read Your Word. Grant us understanding and wisdom to grasp Your truth and live it out in our daily lives. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Lord, we dedicate our lives to Your service. Use our gifts for Your glory and guide us in Your wisdom. Amen.
