The Tenth Sunday after Trinity

 

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

The Tenth Sunday after Trinity

Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source of Collect: Gelasian Sacramentary [492-496] and one similar appeared before in the Sacrementary of Leo. The petition reminds one of Romans: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [Barber & Zahl]"8:26-27

2nd Kings xix 32, Psalms 61, 62 | 48, 49 , 1 Corinthians xii. 1   &   St. Luke xix. 41

Homily of Augustine on Psalm XLVIII

the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand:

 

BULLETIN

calendar

 Ignatius of Loyola - July 31st

 

quotation

..."God is, or He is not..

you must wager. It is not optional. You are embarked. Which will you choose then? …Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.."

[Blaise Pascal, Pascal's Wager]

 

news

RC Bishops allegedly "ordained" dissident Women - 21 July. Church has declared such ceremonies as "INVALID"

Historical Note: Chalcedon was the last Ecumenical Christian Council to address any women's ordination in Canon 15. No woman under forty years of age is to be ordained a deacon, and then only after close scrutiny. … Duties to minister especially to women are addressed in the Aposolic Constitution.

 

James I Packer, Theologian, speaks on the sin of sodomy and the Church's actions 21 July

Catholic representative at Lambeth affirms uniqueness of Christ and context of spiritual combat for evangelisation – 23 July

Galasian Sacramentary. Leonian Sacramentary Google Books, source for ancient collects, in Latin

commentary

Today's homily by Augustine is on Psalm XLVIII. The Old Testament Lesson from 2^nd Kings tells of the Lord's mighty hand in defending Zion, as he sent his Militant Angel (St. Michael?) to slay the Assyrians who came to set siege to the City. Augustine examines the Psalm from the idea of Christ as the New Zion. He explains a bit of ancient historical belief as he writes of verse 6:

"With a strong wind Thou shalt break the ships of Tarshish"

Briefly understood, this is, Thou shalt overthrow the pride of the nations. But where in this history is mentioned the overthrowing of the pride of the nations? Because of "the ships of Tarshish." Learned men have enquired for Tarshish a city, that is, what city was signified by this name: and to some it has seemed that Cilicia is called Tarshish, because its metropolis is called Tarsus. Of which city was the Apostle Paul, being born in Tarsus of Cilicia. But some have understood by it Carthage, being haply sometimes so named, or in some language so signified. For in the Prophet Isaiah it is thus found: "Howl, ye ships of Carthage." But in Ezekiel by some interpreters the word is translated Carthage, by some Tarshish: and from this diversity it can be understood that the same which was called Carthage, is called Tharsus. But it is manifest, that in the beginning of its reign Carthage flourished with ships, and so flourished, that among other nations they excelled in trafficking and navigation. For when Dido, flying from her brother, escaped to the parts of Africa, where she built Carthage, the ships which had been prepared for commerce in his country she had taken with her for her flight, the princes of the country consenting to it; and the same ships also when Carthage was built failed not in traffic. And hence that city became too proud, so that justly by its ships may be understood the pride of the nations, presuming on things uncertain, as on the breath of the winds. Now let none presume on full sails, and on the seeming fair state of this life, as of the sea. Be our foundation in Sion: there ought we to be stablished, not to be "carried about with every wind of doctrine." Whoso then by the uncertain things of this life had been puffed up, let them be overthrown, and be all the pride of the nations subjected to Christ, who shall "with a strong wind break all the ships of Tarshish:" not of any city, but of "Tarshish." How "with a strong wind"? With very strong fear. For so all pride feared Him that shall judge, as on Him humble to believe, lest Him exalted it should fear.

May God defend his holy Apostolic Church from the proud, vain, and perverse ships blown by winds of post-modern false doctrine that assault our Zion, and which attack the faith once given to the saints of Christ's Catholic Church.

Historical Note: Tarshish is likely "Tartessus" in southern Spain near Gibraltar. The folk were great seagoing traders. Tarsus, the City of Paul, is the chief city of Cilicia in the eastern part of Asia Minor, 12 miles up the Cydnus river. 

James [July 25th]

Saint James
[July 25th]

GRANT, O merciful God, that, as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

James Bar-Zebedee "the Major", brother of John, slain by Herod Agrippa I in about 42 AD [Acts xi.]. This collect recalls Matthew iv. 21-22 when Jesus called James and John from their work as fishermen to leave their ship and their father and follow him

Jeremiah xlv   Psalm 34   Acts xi. 27   &   St. Matthew xx. 20
Homilies

but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister

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A correction to a link in the post for 9th Sunday after Trinity.
The link for Robert Gagnon's Article is:
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=325
Entitled:
The Faulty Orientation Argument of Anglican Archbishop Harper of Ireland

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

 

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

 

 The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Augustine on Psalm XLIV

GRANT to us Lord we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful; that we, which cannot be without thee, may by thee be able to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source Leonine [440-461] taken in the Gelasian Sacramentary [492-496]. One is reminded of Paul's Epistle to Philemon vs 1:6 "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." The 1662 Anglican Prayer Book revision read "that we, who cannot do anything that is good, may..." The Collect clearly points to God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in aiding us to do good. This theme was made a canon in the ecumenical councils and is part of the Order's vow.

2nd Chronicles xviii. 16, 1st Corinthians x. 1   &   St. Luke xvi. 1

Homily of Augustine on Psalm XLIV

Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?

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BULLETIN

 

calendar

James (Bar-Zebedee) the Apostle -- July 25th

 

 

quotation

 

"nor in the state of corrupted nature, can man  fulfill the commandments of the law without grace ."

 

[Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Q109, Article 4 ]

 

news

Robert Gagnon  defends the true meaning of Paul's words in Romans 1:24-27 in this excellent article in his apologetic. Ecclesia semper reformanda

 

One of our members recommended this site on the works of   J. E. Lesslie Newbigin http://www.newbigin.net   You will find a wealth of material under the link for Biography. 

 

commentary

 

Today's homily by Augustine is on Psalm XLIV. This psalm speaks of a great defeat of Israel (vs 10-17). It may point to a military defeat like that which is recorded in 2^nd Chronicles xviii, offered today with the psalm for reflection.

 

Augustine examines all the verses from a Christian perspective. His closing paragraph credits the last verse of the psalm to Christ's the Resurrection and Ascension. Note too Augustine's examination of this verse reflect his strong belief in Grace.  He writes:

 

"Arise, O Lord, help us" (ver. 26). And indeed, dearly beloved, He has arisen and helped us. For when he awaked (i.e. when He arose again, and became known to the Gentiles) on the cessation of persecutions, even those who had cleaved to the earth were raised up from the earth, and on performing penance, have been restored to Christ's body, feeble and imperfect though they were: so that in them was fulfilled the text, "Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect; and in Thy book shall they all be written." [Ps. cxxxix. 16.] "Arise, O Lord, help us, and redeem us for Thy Name's sake;" that is to say, freely; for Thy Name's sake, not for the sake of my merits: because Thou hast vouchsafed to do it, not because I am worthy that Thou shouldest do it unto me. For this very thing, that "we have not forgotten Thee;" that "our heart hath not gone back;" that we "have not stretched out our hands to any strange god;" how should we have been able to achieve, except with Thy help? How should we have strength for it, except through Thy appealing to us within, exhorting us, and not forsaking us? Whether then we suffer in tribulations, or rejoice in prosperities, redeem Thou us, not for our merits, but for Thy Name's sake.

 

Thomas Aquinas agrees with our need for Grace in today's featured quotation.

 

Finis

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

 

 

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

 

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
Augustine on Psalm XXXIX

O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Historical Note: Source Gelasian [ca 494]. Original Latin: cuius providential in sui despositione non fallitur

Job i, Psalms 39, 41 | 37 , Romans viii. 12 & St. Matthew vii. 15
Homily of Augustine on Psalm XXXIX

Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand

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BULLETIN

 

calendar

 

Camillus of Lellis, Soldier, Religious - July 14th

Philippian Jailer, Veteran, - 19 July [ca 50AD]

bidding

for our warriors

 

Heavenly Father, we pray that You will be with all our men and women who are serving their nation at war. We ask that You keep them safe and give them peace of mind knowing they are in Your hands and that You love each one of them. We pray for the families that are waiting for their safe return. That You will help us cope and offer our loved ones the support they need on the field. In Your holy name we pray, Amen

 

[Thanks to Thomas of Tennessee for sharing this prayer]

 

quotation

 

"Nothing is sadder than someone who has lost his memory, and the church, which has lost its memory, is in the same state of senility."  AMEN

 

[Henry Chadwick, 1988 Lambeth Conference, Oxford-Cambridge Scholar of Early Christianity as reported on www.VirtureOnLine.org. The Very Rev. Dr. Chadwick passed away at age 87 on June 29, 2008]

 

Lest we forget…

Grant, O Lord, that we may we always remember the struggles of the Early Church against its adversaries and its quest to defend  the catholic and orthodox faith as was given by our Lord; which faith was conveyed to the Church by the Apostles and Evangelists, and  handed down to us through the ages. Give us such wisdom that we of the Order of Centurions never forget, never lose our memory of the Church Militant, and remain ever vigilant against all strange doctrines and practices. Amen  msc

news

Centurion Michael of Florida sends along this link to a  small silver Chi-Rho ring at a bargain price.

 

Here is an interesting article on the Dead Sea Scroll in Stone and supposed connections to Christianity.

 

We have established an Order of Centurion web-based Calendar courtesy of Google, and have placed some feeds and links our Calendar page on the Order's site. All of the major fixed feasts through the year are entered, and fixed commemoration may follow as time allows.

GOOGLE CALENDAR
of Fixed Feasts and Commemorations
 .  .

 

The Academy of Centurions Theological School (Academia Centurionum Theologia Schola) is scheduled to open for operations on the fifth anniversary of the Order, St. Michael Archangel - MMVIII. More to follow.

 

 

commentary

 

I became dumb, and opened not my mouth; for it was thy doing. Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.

 

Today Augustine preaches on Psalm XXXIX in the homily at the link above. The "plague" that struck David is key to understanding the psalm, and yet David never cursed God for his illness. I wonder if David thought of the book of Job when he wrote it.

 

Compare the quoted verse with the verses in our Old Testament scripture selected to accompany this lesson.  Job refuses to curse or complain against God for his misfortune and plague [Job i.20ff]

 

"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly'

 

May God grant to each Centurion wisdom and patience in their suffering, trusting always in God and waking with him as a sojourner in this world. Whenever one of us succumbs to some "plague" or calamity, let us pray the collect appointed for this Sunday, and as David did in the last verse of the Psalm:  

 

O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen.  

 

 

                                 *****************************************

 

Aside on ethics: I listen tonight to some who speak of a need to have a society based on "ethical" standards, as if it is not now… and yet I suspect these folk are not God fearing. I must wonder if these folk ever ponder from whence ethics arise. Logically, if there is no God, then "right, wrong, ethical, and rights" are mere illusions, mere words with no foundation save human tradition, and are subject to change at the whim of society in a generation. Without the true external source of Good, (Taos as CS Lewis called it -  Natural Law as known by many) there is only power, and enforcement of one group's "ethics" on society. Some of these same folk who speak of "ethics" are among the first to rebuke the God fearers as being dangerous to society and to their "rights"… a strange and quite illogical state of affairs to this Centurion. msc

 

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Order of Centurions

 

 

Seventh Sunday after Trinity

 

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

 

Seventh Sunday after Trinity

Augustine on Psalm XXXII

O LORD of Hosts, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Historical Note: Source: Collect composed by Bishop Gelasius of Rome (492-496), in 1549 Cranmer revised the collect to begin with "Lord of all power and might." His "true religion" reminds one of James' epistle and "pure religon KJV [James 1:27]

For whilst I held my tongue, my bones consumed away through my daily complaining.

Hosea xiv, Psalms 32, 36 | 33,34 , Romans vi. 19   &  St. Mark viii. 1

Homily of Augustine on Psalm XXXII

BULLETIN

 

calendar

Christopher of Antioch -- July 9th

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, "El Cid Campeador" - July 10th

William the Silent - July 10th [1584]

  

quotation

 

But the diapsalma which separates the two verses forbids our joining them together. One may, with some critics, regard diapsalma as a Hebrew word meaning "So be it," or as a Greek word denoting a pause in the psalmody. Thus psalma would mean what is sung, diapsalma a silent pause in the psalmody; and just as we speak of singing in unison as sympsalma, so a cessation marked by a certain pause or break in the continuity is called diapsalma. Whatever the explanation, be it this, that, or the other, one thing at least is all but certain, that after the diapsalma the sequence is broken and cannot be linked up with what precedes.

 

[St. Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos; in Ps. 4, no. 4; trans. of Scholastica Hergin and Felicitas Corrigan, St. Augustine on the Psalms, vol. 1, Psalms 1-29 (Ancient Christian Writers 29); Westminster, MD: Newman Press; London: Longman, Green and Co, 1960), 43-44]

news

Resource: Chafer Theological Seminary Journal with articles from 1994 to 2004 on line.

 

commentary

 

In regard to the quotation above, in today's homily, Augustine used the word "diapsalma". In the text before Augustine there was a diapsalma between verses 7 and 8. One can see how the voice of Psalm XXXII changes from the words of confession to the response of God.

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

 

Augustine opens with:

 

To David himself; for understanding; by which it is understood that not by the merits of works, but by the grace of God, man is delivered, confessing his sins.

 

 David's understanding is by the grace of God, and his forgiveness is not on any account of  his merit.

 

This is an extremely critical doctrine, and was preached by Paul as we see in the scriptures [Romans 3], and held by the early Church.  Paul spoke directly of David, probably with this Psalm in mind when he said:

 

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,[Romans 4:4-6]

 

The Wisdom of Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple gives us Good News:

 

What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. [1 Kings viii. 38]

 

David obtained forgiveness, not by words of confession alone, but by the great remorse and contrition expressed in his prayers, while suffering spiritually, and through his ever-present faith in God.

 

There is no man amongst us who will live a sinless life, before or after accepting Christ as his savior, for none are perfect. There is no man amongst us who can do works worthy to merit any forgiveness. Reconciliation with God is by faith; he knows and forgives the contrite heart [Luke 18:9-14]

 

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Order of Centurions

 

 

Indpendence Day Prayer

O God, by Your creating mankind in Your own image You did bestow on all people certain, unalienable rights. We come today in rich gratitude for these God-given liberties which are assumed in the Declaration of Independence, described in the U.S. Constitution & longed for world over. Thank You, Father, for Your directing providence & gift of courage that guided our forbearers to stand against tyranny & to fight for true liberty. Please protect our soldiers, sailors, airmen & marines today who face numerous dangers & depravations to defend these liberties. Shield our police officers & firefighters who risk much to keep us safe. Guide our national leaders, our legislators, governors & judiciary that they will be firmly steered by our founding principles, protecting & promoting liberty & justice for all – born & unborn. Prosper all honest industry, our farmers, our educators, public servants, the self-employed, the medical & helping professions, & others; that our country may flourish. Deliver us from all natural catastrophes, plagues, famines, pestilence, drought, war, & rebellion. May the religious always be safe to live their faith in this nation. May the citizens of this land always strive for a godly moral & ethical excellence in every situation. & now, Lord, we joyfully commend these United States of America into Your safe keeping, & implore You for Jesus Christ's sake to hear our prayers. Amen

______________

As delivered by Pastor Michael Philliber, Providence Presbyterian Church (PCA), Midland, Texas, 4 July 2008 to the city at the Independence Day Parade.

US Centurions A collect very suitable for the 4th

For Our Country.

 

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--
"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]

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
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