Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

News of the Order and commentary appear after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel

 

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
Homily of Chrysostom on Matthew vi. 24ff

KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Deuteronomy vii. 6-13, Psalm 103, Galatians vi. 11   &   St. Matthew vi. 24

Homilies

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

 

 

BULLETIN

 

 

calendar

Great Martyr General Placidas Eustachius - September 20th

Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist -- September 21st

Maurice, Centurion, & Theban Legion - September 22nd

 

commentary

 

Recently I was told in a work situation, "No man can serve two masters ." We are often called to serve in situations where we must answer to two separate temporal authorities. Occasionally their goals and desires might conflict. Loyalty is always a key ingredient in this situation, a hierarchy of loyalty that begins from the greatest and highest and extends to the least. In our case it clearly begins with the Captain of the Host. We are to "Fear and God and do what is Right" first and foremost. Hence; we may say we actually serve but one Master.  Having satisfied that loyalty, and where ambiguity may still exist, we must look to such things as the law of the land, regulation, ethical standards of our profession, tradition of service, and last and least, the desires of those humans whom we serve. That is the high road, for if we were to have no standard except loyalty to another person, we should we be in the exact predicament that Christ taught in the lesson today, of serving manna rather than God. In working our way though these predicaments which we all may face, some on a regular basis, we ought do so in prayer, and endeavor to carry out our calling in such manner and with such wisdom and tact that all "good" men may be satisfied, and in all cases we may give the glory to God.

 

This week for the first time we offer the homily of Chrysostom on this passage. As usual his work is most rewarding, and in it he addresses the situation of the soldiers to whom John Baptist addressed in the desert.

 

For the present therefore let us lay aside our excessive sumptuousness, and let us endure moderation, and learn to acquire by honest labor all that we are to have: since even the blessed John, when he was discoursing with those that were employed upon the tribute, and with the soldiery, enjoined them "to be content with their wages." Anxious though he were to lead them on to another, and a higher self-command, yet since they were still unfit for this, he speaks of the lesser things. Because, if he had mentioned what are higher than these, they would have failed to apply themselves to them, and would have fallen from the others.

 

Read it all at the link above.

 

Salve

msc