First Sunday after Trinity - 2025

 

(Picture found at Scripture Type)

The First Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119. 1. Beati immaculati.

BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way, and walk in the law of the Lord.

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, * and seek him with their whole heart;

3 Even they who do no wickedness, * and walk in his ways.

4 Thou hast charged * that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.

5 O that my ways were made so direct, * that I might keep thy statutes!

6 So shall I not be confounded, * while I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7 I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart, * when Ishall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness.

8 I will keep thy statutes; * O forsake me not utterly.

ii. In quo corrigit?

WHEREWITHAL shall a young man cleanse his way? * even by ruling himself after thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee; * O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid within my heart, * that I should not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O Lord; * O teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I been telling * of all the judgments of thy mouth.

14 I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, * as in all manner of riches.

15 I will talk of thy commandments, * and have respect unto thy ways.

16 My delight shall be in thy statutes, * and I will not forget thy word.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son * and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be * world without end. Amen.

 

The Collect.

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23.23-32

Psalter: Psalm 1, 5 | 2, 3, 4

Epistle Reading: 1 John 4.7-21

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 16.19-31

 

Homily

 

Professor Ryan Armstrong from Oklahoma State University (OSU) said this about my book, "Beyond Outrage: Vetting Media to Increase Sensibility and Stability":

"Philliber offers a thoughtful, well-written guide for consumers of news and social media who are filled with enthusiasm. He asks readers to calm down and apply critical thinking after hearing enraging news. He provides example after example of misplaced facts that led to a mob mentality and the villainization of the innocent. His book is a well-written and enjoyable read, full of personal anecdotes and clever turns of phrase. It is very accessible, and he often condenses sophisticated research into digestible bites that are easy to understand (while encouraging readers to check the original sources for themselves). He is a Christian pastor and consistently connects Christian tradition to his arguments, although the book will have appeal to readers uninterested in Christianity. Throughout the book, I was struck by its importance for modern society.

I’m a college professor, and I feel like I’m beating a dead horse when I tell my students to fact-check everyone, including myself. Unfortunately, many of them simply believe “facts” they read on the internet, hear from a friend, and hear from professors like me. In today’s society, very few voices encourage calm, critical thinking, rather than taking up arms with half a story. For me, Philliber’s book felt like a drink of water in the desert.

Philliber stays focused from beginning to end. His argument is consistent and tightly presented, but it is very practical. I use the term “guide” because it is not theory-heavy. He explains that he is a minister who offered a series of workshops for his parishioners, and over time he turned these workshops into a book. Each chapter offers action points, next-steps, and hands-on ways to make oneself a better citizen of the world. The book lends itself to a classroom setting. Any religious group, self-help book club, or student organization can pick it up and have a turn-key discussion series for 10 weeks.

Overall, this is a delightful read, and I am so grateful to have come across it. We need more voices like this. I hope it makes an impact on society."