House of Bishops March 7

The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.  Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about. His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.

Psalm 97

Father, all honor, praise, and glory are due you.   May it please you that the Episcopal Church House of Bishops meeting will devote itself to glorifying your name.  May all who attend rejoice in your power and majesty.  May they be glad that you alone reign over the world.  May they comprehend the clouds and thick darkness that obscure you from our view.  May they see that your righteousness and your justice are the only true righteousness and justice.  Please place on their hearts the knowledge that you will one day burn your enemies with fire.  May they tremble at this knowledge.  May their pride melt like wax.  May they hear the heavens proclaim your righteousness, and behold your glory.   May those among them who have followed worthless idols and gods be put to shame and bend their knees before you.  For you alone and not any of us are God, you alone are Lord, you alone sent your Son to redeem us.  May their hearts and may all of our hearts be convicted with this terrible and wonderful knowledge.  Amen.

Mark 8:1-10

In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, (Mark 8:1)
      Jesus, there is a multitude of people in the Episcopal Church who are spiritually hungry and are not being fed.

“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat.” (Mark 8:2)
      Jesus, thank you for caring for both our physical and spiritual needs.

“And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” (Mark 8:3)
      Lord, so many are sent home each week hungry; have mercy on us.

Then his disciples answered him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” (Mark 8:4)
      Father, this is something you specialize in doing: feeding your people in the wilderness. Even now Father, send your heavenly manna to those in the Episcopal Church who are wandering in the wilderness. Guide us all by your Holy Spirit. Help your people rediscover their salvation history.

He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” (Mark 85:)
      Holy Spirit, please help us bring all our resources to Jesus.

So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. (Mark 8:6)
      Jesus, we ask you to bless our offerings.

They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he said to set them also before them. (Mark 8:7)
      Lord, you have tried to teach us about giving: even the smallest mite given can be a huge blessing. (Mark 12:41-44)

So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. (Mark 8:8)
      Lord, please gather up the fragments of my life.

Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And he sent them away, immediately got into the boat with his disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:9-10)
      Jesus, come and visit those parishes where the gospel is denied and the people sent home hungry.

Tuesday: 94, [95]: Genesis 49:29-50:14; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Mark 8:1-10
Wednesday: 119:121-144: Genesis 50:15-26; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Mark 8:11-26

Albany Intercessor