Tuesday Morning Devotion

A Devotion for In the Morning (BCP 137)

Let us pray.

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an
instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life:
Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly
suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior
Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Psalm 12

1 Help me, LORD, for there is no godly one left; *
    the faithful have vanished from among us.

2 Everyone speaks falsely with his neighbor; *
    with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.

3 Oh, that the LORD would cut off all smooth tongues, *
    and close the lips that utter proud boasts!

4 Those who say, "With our tongue will we prevail; *
    our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"

5 "Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery, *
    I will rise up," says the LORD, "and give them the help they long for."

6 The words of the LORD are pure words, *
    like silver refined from ore and purified seven times in the fire.

7 O LORD, watch over us *
    and save us from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked prowl on every side, *
    and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.

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.


A reading from the Gospel of Mark

27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28 and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ 29 Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ 31 They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” 32 But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’


The Lord be with You
And also with you
Let us pray

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. Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us bless the Lord Thanks be to God