Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

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TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Sunday, November 3, 2019

Readings:
Lesson: Ezekiel 34:1-16
Psalm: 113
Epistle: Ephesians 5:15-21
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

ADORATION
Almighty God, I praise You, and I bless Your holy and sacred Name from sunrise to sunset. As Your glory is above the heavens, so the Universe proclaims Your ever-present “I AM” power, singing with the very vitality of existence and awareness. As You are high above all nations, so all creatures praise, love and serve You—whether they know it or not. Who is like You, enthroned on high and yet watching over heaven and earth? Exalted Father, You lift the weak out of the dust, and the poor from the ashes. Suffering Son, You humbled Yourself into our weakness and poverty. Fluid Spirit, Your power enlivens and the barren household. Eternal Trinity, be praised and blessed for evermore.

CONFESSION
Righteous Father, through Your prophet You called out the false shepherds of Your flock. I confess my failure to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the outcast, or seek the lost. And this is so because I too am weakened by my faults, sick of my sins, wounded by the past, cast out by my deeds, and lost because of my selfishness. Only You can rescue me from being prey to the wolves. Only You can look for me in the darkness, bring me out from all that holds me captive, and feed me with living water and bread from heaven. Only You can be my Shepherd, bringing me to graze on the rich pasture that is my soul, still and quiet at Your breast, waiting upon You.

THANKSGIVING
Holy Spirit, I thank You for the wisdom that You impart to me. You teach me to redeem my days, to make the most of my time, for Your love and Your compassion are new every morning. You cause me to understand Your will, so that I may grow into Your purpose for me. I give You thanks for the godly, righteous and sober life that You encourage me to commit to. I thank You for filling me with Your Spirit whenever I sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to You either aloud in church or in the stillness of my heart. In the energy of Your inspiration, I give thanks to God the Father at all times, and to show gratitude for all Your blessings in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

SUPPLICATION
Lord Jesus Christ, You told the parable of the angry king who hosted a marriage feast for his son. Open this story to me as a lesson that Your Kingdom is never forced. It comes through kindness, love and impartiality—never through coercion, violence and destruction, because evil and wickedness cannot dwell with You. You stretched Your arms upon the cross in order to embrace everyone and cast no one out. Help me then not to spot, judge and exclude the misfit. You know that I can never wear the garment of perfection, so please clothe me instead with Your grace and forgiveness. Set aside for me the crown of righteousness that comes through faith, and invite me to Your feast.

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