Full NRSV Sunday texts

St Luke the Evangelist (HD) (Red)

Thursday, October 18^th, 2018

Readings
SIRACH 38:1-4, 6-10, 12-14 OR 2 TIMOTHY 4:5-13; PSALM 147:1-7; LUKE 4:14-21

Collect
Almighty God,
who inspired Luke the physician
to proclaim the love and healing power of your Son,
give your Church, by the grace of the Spirit
and the medicine of the gospel,
the same love and power to heal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF SIRACH
Honour physicians for their services, for the Lord created them; for their gift of healing comes from the Most High, and they are rewarded by the king. The skill of physicians makes them distinguished, and in the presence of the great they are admired. The Lord created medicines out of the earth, and the sensible will not despise them. And he gave skill to human beings that he might be glorified in his marvellous works. By them the physician heals and takes away pain; the pharmacist makes a mixture from them. God's works will never be finished; and from him health spreads over all the earth. My child, when you are ill, do not delay, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you. Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly, and cleanse your heart from all sin. Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him; do not let him leave you, for you need him. There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians, for they too pray to the Lord that he grant them success in diagnosis and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.
SIRACH 38:1-4, 6-10, 12-14

Or

A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY
As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
2 TIMOTHY 4:5-13

Psalm
PSALM
REFRAIN Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.

Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!

The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. R

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names. R

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; there is no limit to his wisdom.

The Lord lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God upon the harp. R
PSALM 147:1-7

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO LUKE
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
LUKE 4:14-21

Prayer over the Gifts
God of compassion,
you are a strong tower for all who trust in you.
Be now and evermore our defence,
that we may proclaim the only name under heaven
given for health and salvation,
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer After Communion
Living God,
may we who have shared in these holy mysteries
enjoy health of body and mind,
and witness faithfully to your gospel,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.