The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany MMXII

The Collect

 

Almighty GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through ...

 

Latin original Collect:

 

Deus, quis nos in tantis periculis constitutos, pro humana scis fragilitate non posse subsistere: da nobis salutem mentis et corporis: utea, quae pro peccatis nostris patimur, te adjuvante vincamus, per...

--Gelesian Sacramentary

  

Introit:  Worship him all ye his angles: Zion heard and was glad….

Epistle:  Romans 13:23-27  Owe no man anything, but to love…

Gradual: So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord…

Gospel:  Matthew 8: 23-27  And when he entered into a ship…

 

See it all here

 http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n69/mode/2up

 

This translation is like the Anglican 1662, differing only with the "Almighty" where the Anglican uses "O" – There is no "Almighty" used in the Latin.  Here is Strodash's translation:

 

God, who knowest that because of our human frailty we are not able to stand amid the so many perils surround us: Grant us health of mind and body that those things which we suffer because of our sins, thou aid us, we may conquer, through….

 

Here is Cranmer's version

 

GOD, which knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that for man's frailness, we cannot always stand uprightly; Grant to us the health of body and soul that all those things which we suffer for sin, by thy help we may pass and overcome, through Christ our Lord. Amen

The collect is similar to the 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany, which attributed to God the knowledge our human weakness.  We admit that we are not able to stand alone against all the perils that surround us. Here we speak of actual physical dangers-not only the spiritual. This collect is directly related to the Gospel account, where Jesus entered the ship, slept, and a great storm arose on the Galilee and threatened the very lives of the Apostles. The waves dashed the little ship about; water flooding the deck.  The Apostles feared for their lives. They expected the little ship would be broken up, and they all would perish.  They called upon Jesus to save them, and he stilled the waters. However, before he did so, he admonished them saying, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

 

This collect also has a bearing upon events of the day. It appeared in Gregory's Sacramentary on Lenten Ember Saturday. Gregory lived in a very troubled time for the Roman Empire, and one can imagine how he who prayed this collect was aware of the nearness of danger from the foes of Rome.

 

How does this collect speak to you today?  Consider human nature.  We all are subject to the assaults of the world and the devil. We sometimes follow our weaknesses into situations and behaviors we regret. Paul wrote to the Romans, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. " [Romans 7:14-15]

 

Human weakness is the cause, it is the reason, but it is no excuse.  There is a way. Paul said, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." [1 Cor 10:13

 

But we do in fact fail. The judge, the policeman, the minister, the mother and father, we all fail. We may aim for that which is holy, and live with an objective of piety, holiness, and righteousness in our thoughts, words, and deeds day in day out – minute by minute, but we all fail sometime,  and all suffer the consequences.  We are not God. He has not perfected us in this world.  So we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us, be patient with us, support us, and help us to overcome the evil of the day with the good he has commanded. We wish to abide with him, and endeavor to follow his commandments, and finally, day by day, we pray:

 

"Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil…"

[Luke 11:4]

 

Finis

 

Some may like to contemplate today's Gospel and the collect with this great hymn adopted by the Royal and US Navy  - Eternal Father Strong to Save  -- with lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QREAaIXJjs

 

(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United 

 

Lutheran Press, Philadelphia)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm

 

The Ancient Collect: Its history and form

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

 

*The introit and gradual appointed are the same as the Third Sunday after the Epiphany.

--
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 Third Sunday after the Epiphany -- MMXII

A Collect Study

The Collect

 

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand of thy Majesty to help and defend us; through ...

 

Latin original Collect:

 

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, infirmitatem nostram propitius respice, atque ad protegendum nos dextram tuea maiestatis extende, per...

--Gelesian Sacramentary

 

Introit:  Worship him all ye his angles: Zion heard and was glad….

Epistle:  Romans 12-16-21  Be not wise in your own conceits…

Gradual: So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord…

Gospel:  Matthew 8: 1-13  When he was come down from the mountains…

 

See it all here

 http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n69/mode/2up

 

The above translation/paraphrasing of Cranmer from 1549 as rendered in the old Lutheran Common Service Book. Strodash renders it thus:

Almighty, Everlasting God, consider graciously our infirmity and also stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty for our protection: through the Lord.

This collect refers directly to the appointed Gospel. In 1928 the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America replaced this Gospel of Matthew with one from John on the marriage feast in Cana on this Sunday, thereby breaking with the traditional accompanying Gospel since at least the 6^th century, and breaking the connection between the collect and the Gospel.  The same sort of things may occur with other churches that have adopted a common three-year lectionary of Sunday readings that presents readings that do not align with the original collect, which collect may have been retained for that Sunday.  As I have written previously, the collect was a means of bringing the lessons and prayers of the people together by the minister.  It seems rather sad that the connections are broken in some places.

 

The Gospel scene is one of Jesus coming down from the Sermon on the Mount where he had just preached the Beatitudes (e.g.,  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"  etc.) [Matt 5:1-12].  A poor leper approached him, worshiped him, and said, "Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean". Perhaps he had taken to heart the words he had heard when Jesus taught, "Ask and it shall be given you…for every one that asketh receiveth…" [Matt 7:7]

 

Now we can recall that lepers were normally to stay at a distance from any that were healthy so as not to spread the disease, yet this one came forward. Jewish law directed that no man should touch that which was unclean, and all lepers were considered most unclean [Leviticus 15:31].  Did our Lord rebuke him? Did the Great Physician send him on his way?  No, rather he made that which he had just preached practical ,by showing mercy and healing the "infirmities" of the man.  

 

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

 

We see that for the purpose of healing and comfort, and possibly demonstration, the law regarding touching of one considered unclean notwithstanding, Jesus made the beatitude practical. What better demonstration could there be? I wonder if it was Providence that the leper presented himself at that particular time and place. 

 

The reader may note two things here: Firstly, Jesus has spoken his command in saying "I will."  It is clear here that he has not asked God the Father to accomplish the healing but has done so by his own power.  Secondly, he actually touched the leper, breaking Jewish law and custom, and concomitant with that touch he accomplished that which he purposed.  He did not need to touch the leper, but he did so.  I think we can imagine why he accomplished this healing in the manner he did, as opposed to other healings which he accomplished by word alone. Immediately following this healing of the leper in today's Gospel, is the healing of the Centurion's servant in Capernaum, where our Lord healed by his word alone (at the request of the Centurion)  Following that event, he continued to heal many: Peter's mother-in-law and many others who were possessed [Matt 8:14-17]

  

 "stretched forth thy right hand" - So reads the collect.

 

Finally, we note that the collect calls for God's right hand. In scripture one finds the right hand (Hb. yamiyn) used in "righteous" work ( e.g., Psalms 17-7 for salvation).  The Gospel does not say "right hand" in this account, only hand (Gr. khire); but it was custom to offer the right hand as a sign of righteousness.  The word also has the sense of 'stretch forth thy power" and it is used in a prayer for our soldiers*.  The 'right hand' may be seen today in many instances in church tradition. I think of the ancient customs of holy communion, where the minister takes the consecrated bread in his right hand and places it in the right hand of the communicant.  Also in the practice of "Unction", prayers for the sick in accordance with James' epistle, where the ministers stretch forth their hands as a sign of the intent of the minister in calling on God to heal the supplicant's infirmities. When they stretch forth their hand and touch and anoint with oil, tradition calls for the "right" hand. Following this divine source and ecclesiastical tradition, the use of the right hand is a practice also observed in the secular world: the king's unction for coronations, knighting, military salute, presidential inaugurations, and all manner of official oaths to truth before God.

 

This is another place in Scripture where our Lord has fulfilled the Law in a new way formerly not understood by the people.  He demonstrated that his acts and words had the force of establishing and refining laws and customs as he came with the authority of God, and was God, and is God, indeed.

Our infirmities are not only physical. Consider the epistle appointed for the day. In Romans 12:16-21, Paul encourages his listeners to live in peace and love with their neighbors, forbearing one another.  May our Lord continue to work through the Spirit that is within his elect to lead them in their journey to become the image of himself.

 

"Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesees"

[Matt 8:17]

* O LORD God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the soldiers of our country. Support them in the day of battle, and in the time of peace keep them safe from all evil; endue them with courage and loyalty; and grant that in all things they may serve without reproach; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 [1928 BCP]

 

Finis

 

(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United 

 

Lutheran Press, Philadelphia)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm

 

The Ancient Collect: Its history and form

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

 

--
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

Second Sunday after Epiphany MMXII - Collect Study

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through..  

Latin original Collect:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui coelestia simul et terrena moderaris, supplicationes populi tui clementer exaudi, et pacem tuam nostris concede temporibus, per..
--Gelesian Sacramentary

Introit:  All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee, O God.….
Epistle:  Romans 12-6-16.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace given..
Gradual: He sent his Word and heald them; and delivered them from their destruction…
Gospel:  John 2: 1-11  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee…

See it all here
http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n67/mode/2up

This translation is that of Cranmer and also appears in the Lutheran book of worship and captures superbly the intent of the Latin original from the 6th century

It is similar to last Sunday's collect, in that it asks for God to receive our prayers. In this case it asks for peace in our time, whereas last week the petition was that God would show us his desire and give us the strength to do it.

The form of the petition may remind one of  Psalm 102:  "Hear my (our) prayer O Lord, and let my (our) cry come unto thee" which is often used as part of a litany of prayer.  

The attributes given to God are Almighty and Everlasting, for he is certainly both.  He is beyond all power in our comprehension, able to create the vast universe and the smallest particle.  He is everlasting being the Alpha and Omega. There never was a time that he wasn't God in Trinity,

These two attributes are now brought together to show that he constantly commands all that is, heaven and earth. He is the great Sustainer.  There is nothing that is beyond his sovereign command, and there never shall be.

Finally, the collect petitions for that which only God can give: true peace. We are comforted by the words and promise of our Lord Jesus Christ who said,

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The traditional epistle appointed for this Sunday continues the reading from last Sunday in Roman's 12.  See a homily by Chrysostom here:
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany2_chrysostom_romans_xii_4.html


Finis

(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United

Lutheran Press, Philadelphia)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm

The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html
--
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 First Sunday after Epiphany MMXII - Collect Study

The Collect

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Latin original Collect:

Voto, quaesumus Domine, supplicantis populi tui coelesti pietate prosequere ut et quea agenda sunt, videant et ad 

implenda auae viderit, convalescat, per Dominnum.

--Gelesian Sacramentary

 

Introit:  I saw the Lord, sitting upon a throne: high and lifted up….

Epistle:  Romans 12: 1-5   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…

Gradual:  Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wonders…

Gospel:  Luke 2:41-52  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast …

See it all here

 http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n65/mode/2up

This English translation of the proper collect that is used in the Lutheran worship manual is the same as Cranmer's translation found in the Book of Common Prayer.

I offer below a translation which I hope serves to bring it closer to the original Latin, and to include some of the interpretation offered by Strodach.  

Vow, we beseech thee O Lord, to receive the humble and celestial supplications of thy people who sincerely call upon  thee, so that the things that should be done may be seen, and strength may be given to perform the same;  through our Lord…

Consider this prayer in the light of the historic epistle of Paul to the Romans, which has traditionally accompanied it on the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany.  Paul calls on his listeners to a reasonable service to God. But how? "By the mercies of God".  In other words, it is only by God's grace that man can see clearly the way ahead,--to know what things he ought to do, and then through the power of God's grace strengthening him, to do those things.  Paul says "therefore" meaning because of what I told you.  In the chapter preceding Paul wrote of the great gift of the calling and election that had been extended to the Gentiles not on account of their works, but  by grace. He said, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work"

I have mentioned before the writing of Augustine that so much is akin to this collect and Paul's epistles. Augustine wrote: "Give, O Lord, what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt." [Confessions:] and of his defense of the faith against the heretic Pelagius. 

This past week was the Sacrementarum of the Order. Some of us rehearsed the Vow of the Order, which acknowledges 

that it is through the aid of the Holy Ghost that we will be able to obey the Commandments and the Summary of the Law, follow the Rule of the Order, and fear God and do what is right.  That vow, this collect, and the Gospel preached by our Lord and his Apostle are in one accord. On the Order's Vow page, today's collect has stood for many years:

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Homily and propers from the OC here

http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany1.html

Finis

 

(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United 

Lutheran Press, Philadelphia)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm

 

The Ancient Collect: Its history and form

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

 

[1] Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895) Quotes reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895). 

Also: "Pelagianism quickly spread, especially around Carthage, which is one reason the opponents acted so promptly and firmly. Augustine wrote four letters specifically on Pelagianism, "De peccatorum meritis et remissione libri III" (Three Books on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins) in 412, "De spiritu et litera" (On the Spirit and the Letter) and "Definitiones Caelestii" (Caelestius's Definitions) in 414, and "De natura et gratia" (On Nature and Grace) in 415. In these he strongly affirmed the existence of original sin, the need for infant baptism, the impossibility of a sinless life without Christ, and the necessity of Christ's grace. Augustine's works are intended in part for the common people and thus do not address Pelagius or his disciple Caelestius (except for the Definitiones Caelestii) by name..." [Wiki]

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

Epiphany MMXII Collect Study

The Epiphany

The Lord hath manifested forth his glory: O come let us adore him

The Collect

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, the we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious God-head; through the same..…

Latin original Collect:

Dues qui hodierna die unigenitum tuum gentibus stella duce revelasti, concede propitius, ut qui jam te ex fide congnovimus, usque ad contemplandam speciem tuae celsitudinis perducamur, pre eundem

--Gelasian Sacramentary

Introit:  Behold the Lord, the ruler, hath come: and the kingdom, and the power, and the glory are in his hand..

Epistle:  Isaiah 60:1-6   Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord…

Gradual:  All they from Sheba shall come; and they shall bring gold and incense…

Gospel:  Matthew 2: 1-12  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea  …

See it all here

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n64/mode/2up

We enter a new season on this day.  This is likely the second oldest holy day of the church, Easter being the first.  The day remembers the showing forth of Christ to the world.  The Gentile wise-men came following the star guided by an angel.

The collect reminds us that we too shall have an Epiphany of our Lord on the Last Great Day, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

From the rising of the sun event to the going down of the same my name shall be great  among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.

Finis

 

(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm

 

The Ancient Collect: Its history and form

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

 

--
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