Night
Thursday, April 15, 2027
Opening
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn
Now the day is over, Night is drawing nigh; Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky.
Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924); first published 1865. Public domain.
The reading
Set the day down. Let this reading be the last word you hear before you rest.
No Gospel is published for this date.
Genesis 28:10–17
Meanwhile Jacob, having departed from Beersheba, continued on to Haran. And when he had arrived at a certain place, where he would rest after the setting of the sun, he took some of the stones that lay there, and placing them under his head, he slept in the same place. And he saw in his sleep: a ladder standing upon the earth, with its top touching heaven, also, the Angels of God ascending and descending by it, and the Lord, leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land, in which you sleep, I will give to you and to your offspring. And your offspring will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread abroad to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the Meridian. And in you and in your offspring, all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed. And I will be your guardian wherever you will journey, and I will bring you back into this land. Neither will I dismiss you, until I have accomplished all that I have said.” And when Jacob had awakened from sleep, he said, “Truly, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And being terrified, he said: “How terrible this place is! This is nothing other than the house of God and the gateway of heaven.”
Reflection
Is there a line you would like to read again?
What would you like to tell Jesus?
Silence
Be quiet for a minute. Let Jesus have the last of the day.
Psalm
Psalm 3:6
Ant. You will hold me through the night, Lord, and lift me in the morning.
I have slept, and I have been stupefied. But I awakened because the Lord has taken me up.
Ant. You will hold me through the night, Lord, and lift me in the morning.
Today’s lesson from Jesus
The house on the rock
Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them shall be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them shall be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, and it did fall, and great was its ruin.”
Matthew 7:24–27
Where do these words meet your day?
Intentions
Add your own personal intentions
Shared by the community
For Mary and Dewey as they begin their life together, may the Holy Spirit be with them and help grow their love for one another through Holy Matrimony.
R. Lord, have mercy.
Prayer on Fire intention
Watch over the sick, the frightened, and those who have no safe place. Let your peace keep this house.
R. Lord, have mercy.
Prayer on Fire intention
Grant us rest that heals the spirit, and a heart free of bitterness as we lie down.
R. Lord, have mercy.
Closing
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Holy Spirit, search us gently. Show us what to be sorry for, what to give thanks for, and what to hand over before morning. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.