The Ninth Sunday after Trinity - 2015

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.65-72

Bonitatem fecisti

O LORD, thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant : according unto thy word.

66. O learn me true understanding and knowledge : for I have believed thy commandments.

67. Before I was troubled, I went wrong : but now I have kept thy word.

68. Thou art good and gracious : O teach me thy statutes.

69. The proud have imagined a lie against me : but I will keep thy commandments with my whole heart.

70. Their heart is as fat as brawn : but my delight hath been in thy law.

71. It is good for me that I have been in trouble : that I may learn thy statutes.

72. The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me : than thousands of gold and silver.

The Collect.

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

Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 10.1-25

Psalter: Psalm 46, 47 | 44, 45

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.1-13

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 16.1-9

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity9.html#homily

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity - 2015

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.57-64

Portio mea, Domine

THOU art my portion, O Lord : I have promised to keep thy law.

58. I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart : O be merciful unto me, according to thy word.

59. I called mine own ways to remembrance : and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

60. I made haste, and prolonged not the time : to keep thy commandments.

61. The congregations of the ungodly have robbed me : but I have not forgotten thy law.

62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee : because of thy righteous judgements.

63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee : and keep thy commandments.

64. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy : O teach me thy statutes.

The Collect.

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 be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Zechariah 4.1-10

Psalter: Psalm 39, 41 | 37

Epistle Reading: Romans 8.12-17

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 7.15-21

Homily:  http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity8.html#homily

The Seventh Sunday after Trinity - 2015

The Seventh Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.49-56

Memor esto servi tui

O THINK upon thy servant, as concerning thy world : wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.

50. The same is my comfort in my trouble : for thy word hath quickened me.

51. The proud have had me exceedingly in derision : yet have I not shrinked from thy law.

52. For I remembered thine everlasting judgements, O Lord : and received comfort.

53. I am horribly afraid : for the ungodly that forsake thy law.

54. Thy statutes have been my songs : in the house of my pilgrimage.

55. I have thought upon thy Name, O Lord, in the night-season : and have kept thy law.

56. This I had : because I kept thy commandments.

The Collect.

LORD of all power and might, 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.

Old Testament Reading: Hosea 14.1-9

Psalter: Psalm 32, 36 | 33, 34

Epistle Reading: Romans 6.19-23

Gospel Reading: St. Mark 8.1-9

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity7.html#homily

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity - 2015

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.41-48

Et veniat super me

LET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord : even thy salvation, according unto thy word.

42. So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers : for my trust is in thy word.

43. O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth : for my hope is in thy judgements.

44. So shall I alway keep thy law : yea, for ever and ever.

45. And I will walk at liberty : for I seek thy commandments.

46. I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings : and will not be ashamed.

47. And my delight shall be in thy commandments : which I have loved.

48. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved : and my study shall be in thy statutes.

The Collect.

O GOD, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 57.13b-19

Psalter: Psalm 28, 29 | 30, 31

Epistle Reading: Romans 6.3-11

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 5.20-26

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity6.html#homily

Fifth Sunday after Trinity - 2015

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.33-40

Legem pone

TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes : and I shall keep it unto the end.

34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law : yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.

35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments : for therein is my desire.

36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies : and not to covetousness.

37. O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity : and quicken thou me in thy way.

38. O stablish thy word in thy servant : that I may fear thee.

39. Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of : for thy judgements are good.

40. Behold, my delight is in thy commandments : O quicken me in thy righteousness.

The Collect.

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 2.1-23

Psalter: Psalm 21, 23 | 26, 27

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 3.8-15a (15b-16)

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 5.1-11

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity5.html#homily

Personal reflection: This Collect is a very timely prayer in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, but also one that encompasses the situation of many of our fellow believers in other places who are in hot and hostile environments. Let us band together to pray for them and for us.

I would like to recommend a book that I think is appropriate for our present situation in the United States, and several European countries; and goes along with the emphasis of this week’s Gospel reading, “Compassion without Compromise”. Here is my review: http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2015/06/compassion-without-compromise-by-adam.html