Third Sunday after Trinity - 2013

The Third Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 69

Salvum me fac

( . . . )

13. But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee : in an acceptable time.

14. Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy : even in the truth of thy salvation.

( . . . )

17. Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable : turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies.

18. And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble : O haste thee, and hear me.

( . . . )

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom though hast given an hearty desire to pray, may be comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 16, 17 | 18

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 5.5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 15.1-10

Barbe and Zahl: “All this material, all this work of compiling, translating, creating, editing, and rewriting which Cranmer undertook in order to present the Prayer Book for “common” use: it all assumes that prayer is a good, desirable thing. We wish to talk to God. We wish to present our concerns and worries, our ( . . . ) burdens and out most treasured, fragile hopes to God. Yet we fail to do this. It is striking how many important problems we fail to put into words before God. It is startling how often the biggest troubles we have are the last ones to find expression in our praying. That is probably because we have given up hope of intervention or transformation in the really vexing areas. In any event, take inventory. Which of your life’s problems at this moment is not a conscious part of your prayers? Ever? It is no wonder that this concise Collect understands that the desire to pray is the gift of God” (75).

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

(What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Revised Trinity Hymnal #629)

Mike
Primus Pilus II