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Collect
O Lord, we beseech thee
mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people
which call upon thee;
and grant that they may both perceive and know
what things they ought to do,
and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mark 2.1–12
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’
Psalm 38
Rebuke me not, O Lord, in your anger,
neither chasten me in your heavy displeasure.
For your arrows have stuck fast in me
and your hand presses hard upon me.
There is no health in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
their weight is a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness.
I am utterly bowed down and brought very low;
I go about mourning all the day long.
My loins are filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my flesh.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I roar aloud because of the disquiet of my heart.
O Lord, you know all my desires
and my sighing is not hidden from you.
My heart is pounding, my strength has failed me;
the light of my eyes is gone from me.
My friends and companions stand apart from my affliction;
my neighbours stand afar off.
Those who seek after my life lay snares for me;
and those who would harm me whisper evil
and mutter slander all the day long.
But I am like one who is deaf and hears not,
like one that is dumb, who does not open his mouth.
I have become like one who does not hear
and from whose mouth comes no retort.
For in you, Lord, have I put my trust;
you will answer me, O Lord my God.
For I said, ‘Let them not triumph over me,
those who exult over me when my foot slips.’
Truly, I am on the verge of falling
and my pain is ever with me.
I will confess my iniquity
and be sorry for my sin.
Those that are my enemies without any cause are mighty,
and those who hate me wrongfully are many in number.
Those who repay evil for good are against me,
because the good is what I seek.
Forsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God.
Make haste to help me,
O Lord of my salvation.