The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

Augustine on Psalm CXII

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LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source Bishop Gelasians Sacrmentary [494] where appointed for the Sunday before Ember Days in the Autumn. Ember days were for penitence, fasting, and the Saturday for ordinations in Rome. The 1662 added temptations of the world, the flesh One is reminded of the Lord's prayer and of 2 Peter 2:9

Psalm 112, Ephesians iv. 1   &   St. Luke xiv. 1 
Homily - Psalm CXII by Augustine

Comment

A couple of years ago I watched the movie "300" : the 300 Spartans and supporting troops under Leonidas who held off an invading Persian army for a considerable period under Xerxes against amazing odds - long enough for the Greek city states to rally. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae]

This day the counter on the registration for the Order hit 300. The Legio Christi now has three centuries of Christ's own who vowed to "fear God and do what is right". They represent 300 building blocks on the foundation of the everlasting and true Church of Jesus Christ. The task to defend the Church seems overwhelming, but like Leonidas and his Spartans, you stand in the breach to defend the faith once given in an historic era. So, stand firm in faith, and pray our work in this battle may be of the kind that endures like gold, rather than is burned like stubble [1 Cor 3:11]

In today's homily by Augustine on Psalm 118, he opens with this: 

 I believe, brethren, that ye remarked and committed to memory the title of this Psalm. "The conversion," he saith, "of Haggai and Zechariah." These prophets were not as yet in existence, when these verses were sung.  ...But both, the one within a year after the other, began to prophesy that which seemeth to pertain to the restoration of the temple, as was foretold so long before.  ..."For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." Whoever therefore converteth himself to the work of this building together, and to the hope of a firm and holy edifice, like a living stone from the miserable ruin of this world, understandeth the title of the Psalm, understandeth "the conversion of Haggai and Zechariah." Let him therefore chant the following verses, not so much with the voice of his tongue as of his life. For the completion of the building will be that ineffable peace of wisdom, the "beginning" of which is the "fear of the Lord:" let him therefore, whom this conversion buildeth together, begin thence. 

Do you see how he calls those he addresses in his cathedral "bretheren".  He speaks of he "restoration of the temple"  He regards them to be co-laborers in continuing to build the True Church. He has identified the root of any successful building: before anything else, it is necessary that the laborers have a right "fear of the Lord".  O how many are there who do labor in vain because they know not God. They pursue their ideas of justice and peace, and yet forsake, yes and even deny,  the living God. How quickly their work will be thrown down and burnt in the last days.  Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. [Ps 28:5]. Centurions, be careful. Ensure that in all matters you regard the Lord rightly as your Sovereign, and commit your work always to his glory. 

Finis

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"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]

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