Twelfth Sunday after Trinity - 2014

The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.89-96

In aeternum. Domine

89. O LORD, thy word : endureth for ever in heaven.

90. Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another : thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.

91. They continue this day according to thine ordinance : for all things serve thee.

92. If my delight had not been in thy law : I should have perished in my trouble.

93. I will never forget thy commandments : for with them thou hast quickened me.

94. I am thine, O save me : for I have sought thy commandments.

95. The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me : but I will consider thy testimonies.

96. I see that all things come to an end : but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire, or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 29.18-24

Psalter: Psalm 76, 77 | 71, 72

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 3.1-9

Gospel Reading: St. Mark 7.31-37

Toon: “Here we address the Lord our God on the basis of two convictions concerning him, convictions whose content we have learned from Holy Scripture from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, for example (Luke 15:20).

First of all, we speak to God knowing that in his infinite compassion and mercy he is always more ready and prepared to hear our prayers and than we are to engage in prayer, petition, supplication and intercession to him. This conviction serves to make us humble and confident.

Then, secondly, we speak to God knowing that he is wont (accustomed in his normal relation to sinners) to be much more generous to those who make supplication to him than they can possibly put into words or deserve. For they ask out of the human context of sin and finitude and God hears in the divine context of grace and infinite knowledge.

Thus, knowing God’s character, we are bold in our petitions asking that He pours down upon us, out of the abundance of the sea of his mercy, two gifts of his grace. First, we ask for forgiveness for all our sins, especially those concerning which we are especially embarrassed and fearful; and secondly we ask for those further gifts which are needed to perfect our Christian lives, making us worthy servants of such a gracious Master. What these gifts are for each and every one of us we leave to God’s wisdom, as we surely ask that they be given unto us as truly good things.

We make sure to offer all our prayer in the Name of and by the Merits of and through the Mediatorship of the Lord Jesus Christ. For in him and with him and through him we are heard by the Father in heaven as we ask in faith. As the Epistle declares Christians belong to a new era, a new epoch, a new covenant and a new relation with God who is their all-sufficiency. And as the Gospel make clear, Jesus hath done all things [for us and for our salvation] well” (http://www.pbs.org.uk/the-bcp/twelfth-sunday-after-trinity).