The First Sunday in Advent MMXI

The Collect

Stir up we beseech thee, thy power, O Lord, and come; that by thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen

 

Latin original Collect:

 

Exita, Domine, quaesumus, potentiam tuam et veni, ut ab imminentibus peccactorum nostrorum periculis te mereamur protegente eripi,te liberante salvari.  Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. – Gregorain Sacramentary

 

This collect begins the new church year. The Advent season ushers in the commemoration of his First Coming, and the anticipation of his Second. "Behold thy King cometh unto thee".   There is the expectation of his coming again – and in power.  "Now is our salvation nearer…"  This first prayer of the church year on First Advent looks ahead through all the coming days of the season.   

 

It is by his might alone that we are to be protected against the threatening peril of our sins.   He will accomplish this by bringing his mighty power to bear for his people.  In anticipation, we lift up our lives, our very souls, to our Lord. "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul; O my God, I trust in thee. Show me thy ways; teach me thy paths" 

 

The prayer is made directly to the Lord (Jesus). This is an unusual pattern in the collect format, but one that may be found here because it is by his work that we have been rescued, and by his sacrifice and victory over death that we have been saved.  

The Advent of our God http://hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/d/v/adventof.htm

(Portions of the above are paraphrased and include passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia pages -27)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.h

 

The Ancient Collect: Its history and form 

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

Finis

 

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Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]

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The Sunday next before Advent - MMXI

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source of Collect: Sacramentary of Gregory of Rome [c. 600]. The title of this collect "The Sunday next before Advent" was that which was used in the Sarum Missal, and was restored to the American Prayerbook in 1892. [Barbee and Zahl]

Jeremiah xxiii. 5   Psalm 146, 147 | 148,149,150 &  St. John vi. 1 
Homilies

Andrew.. saith unto him, There is a lad here

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Jeremiah xxiii. 5

BEHOLD, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

a lad ... hath... two small fishes

Jesus.. the Righteous Branch of the Covenant.. Praise God that he sent to us the Day-spring from on High, the Son of David.  His judgement and his justice is Holy. 

This is a good season to practice that which the Collect suggests, and the theme of the Gospel, and make some measurable contribution to the welfare of those who suffer in poverty this season.  Here in the States it is difficult not to pass a Salvation Army bell ringer somewhere. Walmart in our town allows you to buy a bag of groceries that they will distribute to the local food banks. Check with your church and see if they have a food closet that you might be able to contribute to this season.

Read it all at the link

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Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]

* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM

The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity - MMXI

Grant, we beseech thee merciful Lord, to thy faithful people indulgence and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Sacramentary of Bishop Gelasius of Rome [494AD]. 

Isaiah lix. 15b, Psalms: 120, 121, 122 | 133, 134, 135, Ephesians vi. 10   &   St. John iv. 46 
Homilies

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God 

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HOMILY
John Chrysostom

"Let us put on the whole armor of God." Seest thou how he banishes all fear? For if it be possible "to do all, and to stand," his describing in detail the power of the enemy does not create cowardice and fear, but it shakes off indolence. "That ye may be able," he saith, "to withstand in the evil day." And he further gives them encouragement too from the time; the time, he seems to say, is short; so that ye must needs stand; faint not when the slaughter is achieved. 

... If then it is a warfare, if such are the forces arrayed against us, if "the principalities" are incorporeal, if they are "rulers of the world," if they are "the spiritual hosts of wickedness," how, tell me, canst thou live in self-indulgence? How canst thou be dissolute? How if we are unarmed, shall we be able to overcome? These words let every one repeat to himself every day, whenever he is under the influence of anger, or of lust, whenever he is aiming, and all to no profit, after this languid life. Let him hearken to the blessed Paul, saying to him, "Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers." A harder warfare this than that which is matter of sense, a fiercer conflict. Think how long time this enemy is wrestling, for what it is that he is fighting, and be more guarded than ever. "Nay," a man will say, "but as he is the devil, he ought to have been removed out of the way, and then all had been saved." These are the pretenses to which some of your indolent ones in self-defense give utterance. When thou oughtest to be thankful, O man, that, if thou hast a mind, thou hast the victory over such a foe, thou art on the contrary even discontented, and givest utterance to the words of some sluggish and sleepy soldier. Thou knowest the points of attack, if thou choosest. Reconnoiter on all sides, fortify thyself. Not against the devil alone is the conflict, but also against his powers. How then, you may say, are we to wrestle with the darkness? By becoming light. How with the "spiritual hosts of wickedness"? By becoming good. 

Read it all at the link.

Appropriate for this Veterans Day weekend.

Finis

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Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]

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The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity MMXI

O ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Sacrementary of Bishop Gelasius of Rome [494]. Much minor reworking from the Latin. [Barbee and Zalh]

Ecclesiastes ix. 4, Ephesians v. 15   &  St. Matthew xxii. 1 
Pslams 116, 117 | 118,83 
Homilies

For many are called, but few are chosen

Chrysostom wrote of the Gospel

The being called was not of merit, but of grace. It was fit therefore to make a return for the grace, and not to show forth such great wickedness after the honor. "But I have not enjoyed," one may say, "so much advantage as the Jews." Nay, but thou hast enjoyed far greater benefits. For what things were being prepared for them throughout all their time, these thou hast received at once, not being worthy. Wherefore Paul also saith, "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy." For what things were due to them, these thou hast received.

Wherefore also great is the punishment appointed for them that have been remiss. For as they did despite by not coming, so also thou by thus sitting down with a corrupt life. For to come in with filthy garments is this namely, to depart hence having one's life impure; wherefore also he was speechless. 

Comment: The collect asserts that those praying are to be ready to in body and  spirit to hear and obey, and to accomplish what God has commanded. So it is in this Gospel parable, that those who were ready and obeyed the call enjoyed the favor of the King; and those who rejected that call were excluded--totally and forever.  Likewise, those who came in and were not of the wedding party were cast out.  "Lord, I want to be in that number" 

Read it all at the link.

Finis

--
Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]

* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM