Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany February 20, 2022

Theme of the Day: Reactions Uncovered: Love your enemies; overcome evil with good. Following the strategy Jesus lays out today is not a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.

Hymn: 726 Love in Christ Is Strong and Living

1     Love in Christ is strong and living,
    binding faithful hearts in one;
love in Christ is true and giving,
    may his will in us be done.

2     Love is patient and forbearing,
    clothed in Christ’s humility,
gentle, selfless, kind, and caring,
    reaching out in charity.

3     Love in Christ abides forever,
    fainting not when ills attend;
love, forgiving and forgiven,
    shall endure until life’s end.

Text: Dorothy R. Schultz, b. 1934

Order of Service: Service Setting One

Invocation

In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Confession

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.

Holy God, gracious Father,
    I am sinful by nature
        and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
    I have not loved you with my whole heart;
    I have not loved others as I should.
        I deserve your punishment both now and forever.
    But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins
        with his innocent suffering and death.
    Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Absolution

Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord, Have Mercy

P: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C: Amen.

Glory Be to God

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

We praise you, we bless you, we worship you,

we glorify you, we give thanks to you, for your great glory,

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

You take away the sin of the world; receive our prayer.

You sit at the right hand of God the Father; have mercy on us.

For you only are holy; you only are the Lord.

You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, keep your family continually in true faith, so that those who rely only on the hope of your heavenly grace may be protected by your mighty power; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

First Reading: Genesis 45:3–15

³Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”

His brothers could not answer him, because they were terrified by his presence. ⁴Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me, please.”

They came closer. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵Now do not be upset or angry with yourselves for selling me to this place, since God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. ⁶For two years now the famine has been in the land, and there are still five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. ⁷God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as survivors on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great act of deliverance. ⁸So it was not you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord over his entire household, and ruler over the whole land of Egypt. ⁹Hurry, go up to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not delay. ¹⁰You shall live in the land of Goshen, where you will be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹I will take care of you here, for there are still five years of famine. Otherwise you will come to ruin, you, and your household, and all that you have.” ’ ¹²Pay attention. Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³You shall tell my father all about my position of honor in Egypt and about everything that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” ¹⁴He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. ¹⁵He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Psalm of the Day: 103A The LORD Is Kind and Merciful

Refrain

The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

Praise the Lord, / my soul;
   all my inmost being, praise his / holy name—
who forgives / all your sins
   and heals all your dis- / eases,
who redeems your life / from the pit
   and crowns you with love and com- / passion,
who satisfies your desires / with good things
   so that your youth is renewed like the / eagle’s.

Refrain
The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

The Lord is compassionate and / gracious,
   slow to anger, abound- / ing in love.
He does not treat us as our / sins deserve
   or repay us according to our in- / iquities.
For as high as the heavens are a- / bove the earth,
   so great is his love for those who / fear him;
as far as the east is / from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions / from us.
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son
   and to the Holy / Spirit,
as it was in the be- / ginning,
   is now, and will be forever. / Amen.

Refrain

The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

Text: Lectionary for Mass

Second Reading: Romans 12:14–21

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who are rejoicing; weep with those who are weeping. ¹⁶Have the same respect for one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the humble. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

¹⁷Do not pay anyone back evil for evil. Focus on those things that everyone considers noble. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, maintain peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰But:

If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him a drink.

For by doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 6:27–38

²⁷“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other too. If someone takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes away your things, do not demand them back.

³¹“Treat others just as you would want them to treat you. ³²If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? To be sure, even the sinners love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same thing. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you expect to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even the sinners lend to sinners in order to be paid back in full. ³⁵Instead, love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the unthankful and the evil. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. In fact, the measure with which you measure will be measured back to you.”

Hymn of the Day: 729 Son of God, Eternal Savior

1     Son of God, eternal Savior,
    source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us,
    hallows all our human race,
you our head, who, throned in glory,
    for your own will ever plead:
fill us with your love and pity,
    heal our wrongs and help our need.

2     Bind us all as one together
    in your Church’s sacred fold,
weak and healthy, poor and wealthy,
    sad and joyful, young and old.
Is there want or pain or sorrow?
    Make us all the burden share.
Are there spirits crushed and broken?
    Teach us, Lord, to soothe their care.

3     As you, Lord, have lived for others,
    so may we for others live.
Freely have your gifts been granted;
    freely may your servants give.
Yours the gold and yours the silver,
    yours the wealth of land and sea;
we but stewards of your bounty
    held in solemn trust will be.

4     Son of God, eternal Savior,
    source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us
    hallows all our human race,
by your praying, by your willing
    that your people should be one,
grant, O grant our hope’s fruition:
    here on earth your will be done.

Text: Somerset T. C. Lowry, 1855–1932, abr., alt.

Text: Public domain

Sermon

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who in unity with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Offering

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The Sacrament

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them up to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

P: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lived among us as a human being and revealed his glory as your only Son, full of grace and truth. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of heavenly hosts: heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he, blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give thanks to you, O God, through your dear Son, Jesus Christ, whom you sent to be our Savior, our Redeemer, and the messenger of your grace. Through him you made all things; in him you are well pleased. He is the incarnate Word, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. To fulfill your promises, he stretched out his hands on the cross and released from eternal death all who believe in you.

As we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection, we thank you that you have gathered us together to receive your Son’s body and blood. Send us your Spirit, unite us as one, and strengthen our faith so that we may praise you in your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him, we glorify and honor you, O God our Father, with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my T body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my T blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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

C: Amen.

O Christ, Lamb of God

O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace. Amen.

Distribution Hymn: 731 Oh, How Good It Is

1 Oh, how good it is when the fam’ly of God
dwells together in spirit, in faith and unity.
Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love
are the fruits of his presence here among us. (Refrain)

Ref So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord,
and with one heart we’ll live out his word,
till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come,
for he dwells in the presence of his people.

2 Oh, how good it is on this journey we share
to rejoice with the happy and weep with those who mourn.
For the weak find strength, the afflicted find grace
when we offer the blessing of belonging.

Ref So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord,
and with one heart we’ll live out his word,
till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come,
for he dwells in the presence of his people.

3 Oh, how good it is to embrace his command
to prefer one another, forgive as he forgives.
When we live as one we all share in the love
of the Son with the Father and the Spirit.

Ref So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord,
and with one heart we’ll live out his word,
till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come,
for he dwells in the presence of his people.

Text: Stuart Townend, b. 1963; Ross Holmes, b. 1984; Kristyn Getty, b. 1980; Keith Getty, b. 1974

Hymn: 661 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord

1 Draw near and take the body of your Lord,
and drink the holy blood for you outpoured.
Saved by his body and his holy blood,
with souls refreshed we give our thanks to God.

2 Christ our Redeemer, God’s eternal Son,
has by his cross and blood the vict’ry won.
He gave his life for greatest and for least,
himself the off’ring and himself the priest.

3 Let us approach with faithful hearts sincere
and take the pledges of salvation here.
Christ, who in this life all the saints defends,
gives all believers life that never ends.

4 With heav’nly bread he makes the hungry whole,
gives living waters to the thirsting soul.
Lord of the nations, to whom all must bow,
in this great feast of love be with us now.

Text: tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–1866, alt.; Latin, 7th cent., abr.

Text: Public domain

P: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

C: his mercy endures forever.

P: Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,

C: we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

P: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this saving gift. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and T give you peace.

Amen.

Hymn: 732 In Unity and Peace

Ref How good it is and how pleasant
to live in unity and peace.
How good it is and how pleasant
to live together in one Lord.
(Last time only)
to live together in one Lord.

1     In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
agree in ev’rything you say.
May there be no divisions among you,
but be united in one mind.
    For there is one Lord, one faith,
    one God of us all.

Ref How good it is and how pleasant
to live in unity and peace.
How good it is and how pleasant
to live together in one Lord.

2     Live a life that is worthy of your call,
be humble, gentle, and patient.
Bear with each other in ways that are loving,
preserve the unity of faith.
    For there is one Lord, one faith,
    one God of us all.

Ref How good it is and how pleasant
to live in unity and peace.
How good it is and how pleasant
to live together in one Lord.

3     Share the love that has joined us as one,
unite in spirit and ideals.
Never be rivals, do not be conceited,
but look to others in their need.
    For there is one Lord, one faith,
    one God of us all.

Ref How good it is and how pleasant
to live in unity and peace.
How good it is and how pleasant
to live together in one Lord.

(Last time only)
to live together in one Lord.

Text: James J. Chepponis, b. 1956

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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