Optional Gracetide Proper 23

Optional Gracetide 23 "Love of Neighbor"

Prayer:
Gracious Father, help us to understand that deeds done without charity are worth nothing. Through your Spirit pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, so that we and our neighbors may be drawn ever more closely unto the heart of your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Corpus of Lectionary Citations:

Torah or History:
Exodus 23: 1-13
Leviticus 19: 17-18, 33-34
2 Chronicles 19: 1-7
Ruth 1: 1-18

Psalm 15

Wisdom:
Proverbs 12:1
Proverbs 13:1
Ecclesiastes 9: 1-7

Prophets:
Micah 6: 6-8

Deuterocanonical:
Tobit 4: 12-14

Apostolic Epistle:
Romans 12: 9-21
1 Corinthians 13: 1-13
1 John 2: 3-11
1 John 3: 10-24
1 John 4: 7-12

Apostolic Account:
Acts 16: 25-34

Gospel:
Luke 10: 25-37
Luke 15: 11-32
John 15: 9-17

Proposed Readings for the Divine Liturgy:

Year A (2008):
Leviticus 19: 17-18, 33-34
Psalm 15
1 John 2: 3-11
Luke 10: 25-37

Year B (2006):
Micah 6: 6-8
Psalm 15
1 John 3: 10-24
Luke 15: 11-32

Year C (2007):
Ruth 1: 1-18
Psalm 15
1 John 4: 7-12
Luke 15: 11-32

Post-Communion Prayer:
Gracious Father, we are grateful for the nourishment that you share through both word and sacrament. Through your Spirit strengthen us to be your faithful witnesses, eager to proclaim to a hungry world the good news of salvation in Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.