The 5^th Sunday after Easter called “Rogate: Pray to the Lord…” from Psalm 66:20  Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

 The text is a reference to Isaiah 48:20, followed by a verse from Psalm 66: Vocem iucunditatis annuntiate, et audiatur, alleluia: nuntiate usque ad extremum terræ: liberavit Dominus populum suum, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Iubilate Deo omnis terra: psalmum dicite nomini eius, date gloriam laudi eius.

 Speak out with a voice of joy; let it be heard, alleluia, to the ends of the earth: The Lord has set his people free, alleluia, alleluia. Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!

God’s Word from the Old Testament Exodus 32:7-14  ⁷ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.  ⁸ They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’  ⁹ “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people.  ¹⁰ Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”  ¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?  ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.  ¹³ Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'”  ¹⁴ Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

The epistle from St. Paul’s first letter to St.Timothy in the 2^nd chapter: I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–  ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  ⁴ who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,  ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all men

The holy Gospel of St. John in the 16^th chapter:  I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.  25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.  26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.  27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” …”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”