Third Sunday after Trinity

The Third Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.17-24

Retribue servo tuo

O DO well unto thy servant : that I may live, and keep thy word.

18. Open thou mine eyes : that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.

19. I am a stranger upon earth : O hide not thy commandments from me.

20. My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire : that it hath alway unto thy judgements.

21. Thou hast rebuked the proud : and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments.

22. O turn from me shame and rebuke : for I have kept thy testimonies.

23. Princes also did sit and speak against me : but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes.

24. For thy testimonies are my delight : and my counsellors.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom though hast given an hearty desire to pray, may be comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 16, 17 | 18

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 5.5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 15.1-10

Toon: “The content of the Epistle warns us that our adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. It then bids us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God our Father. This Collect is the humble deprecation (a prayer against evils that are lurking near to us or hanging over our heads) by which we seek to follow St Peter’s advice.

When we are faced by problems and tribulations, there should arise in our hearts a desire to bring them to God (who has thereby given to us in the moment of impending danger a hearty desire to pray). There is intensity in the verb, Grant, and this force is present in this petition that we make to God because his Spirit is touching our souls and inspiring us to cry out for divine help.

We ask that we be both defended (protected and preserved) from all dangers, enemies and adversities and also comforted in and through them. God’s aid is our defence and the consciousness of its real presence becomes and is our comfort.

By the providential gracious aid of the Lord we can sing:

Ye fainting saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

And with St Paul we can testify:

Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:3ff).

The Gospel reading contains parables from Jesus which make clear how precious the individual person is to God and how that when he responds in repentance to God’s grace there is joy in heaven amongst the angelic hosts. Such knowledge in the believer’s heart obviously encourages him to call upon God in humble confidence when things appear to be going either well or not so well for him” (http://www.pbs.org.uk/the-bcp/third-sunday-after-trinity).

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

(What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Revised Trinity Hymnal #629)