Mark 2:1-12

And again he entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And he preached the word to them. (Mark 2:1-2)
      Jesus, preach the word to us.

      Holy Spirit, come and infuse the preaching in this diocese with your power.

      Father, let your word be set forth in clear and consistent preaching throughout this diocese.

Then they came to him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. (Mark 2:3)
      Jesus, help us receive all the ill, the paralyzed, the epileptics that you send us.

And when they could not come near him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. (Mark 2:4)
      Holy Spirit, fill up our churches with people open to your word.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:5)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for giving Jesus sight of their faith; help us find such faith in ourselves.

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:6-7)
      Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving our sins.

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, he said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Mark 2:8-11)
      Jesus, thank you for your words of power. Anoint the healing ministry throughout this diocese so that all will know you have the power to forgive sins.

Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12)
      Father, help us give you glory for all that you are doing among us. Thank you.

Tuesday: 26, 28 * 36, 39; 1 Samuel 19:1-18 Acts 12:1-17 Mark 2:1-12
Wednesday: 38 * 119:25-48; 1 Samuel 20:1-23 Acts 12:18-25 Mark 2:13-22

Albany Intercessor

President Obama

Father,
We lift up President Obama into Your light. Protect and bless him. May we lead quiet and undisturbed lives, in godly peace. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:2

Tammuz

Traditionally this month of the Hebrew calendar includes the anniversary of the golden calf. It is in Tammuz that many Jewish tragedies have taken place. In this month, Jerusalem was captured by Nebuchadnezzar (586 BCE)with destruction of the First Temple, Pompey (63 BCE), Roman general Apostomus (70 AD) with destruction of the Second Temple, and the Crusaders (1099 AD).

Psalm 122 Wycliffe
1 The song of degrees of David. I am glad in these things, that be said to me; We shall go into the house of the Lord. (The song of degrees for David. I was glad, when they said to me, We shall go to the House of the Lord.)

2 Our feet were standing; in thy halls/in thy foreyards, thou Jerusalem. (And now our feet stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.)

3 Jerusalem, which is builded as a city; whose partaking thereof is into the same thing. (Jerusalem is built to be a city, where people be together, yea, with one heart and mind.)

4 For the lineages, the lineages of the Lord, ascended thither, the witnessing of Israel; to acknowledge to the name of the Lord. (For the tribes, the Lord’s tribes, come there to give thanks to the Lord; that is Israel’s duty.)

5 For they sat there on seats in doom; seats on the house of David. (For the thrones of judgement, or of justice, be put there; yea, the thrones of the house of David.)

6 Pray ye those things, that be to the peace of Jerusalem; and abundance be to them that love thee. (Pray ye for the peace of Jerusalem; and say, May those who love thee prosper, or have great abundance.)

7 Peace be made in thy strength; and abundance in thy towers. (May there be peace within thy strongholds, or thy fortresses; and prosperity within thy palaces.)

8 For my brethren and my neighbours; I spake peace of thee. (For the sake of my brothers, or my kinsmen, and my neighbours; I say, Peace be with thee.)

9 For the house of our Lord God; I sought goods to thee. (For the sake of the House of the Lord our God; I shall seek thy good, or thy prosperity/I shall pray for good things for thee.)