First Sunday after the Epiphany - 2019

The First Sunday after the Epiphany.

Psalm 47. Omnes gentes, plaudite.

O CLAP your hands together, all ye peoples: * O sing unto God with the voice of melody.

2 For the Lord is high, and to be feared; * he is the great King upon all the earth.

3 He shall subdue the peoples under us, * and the nations under our feet.

4 He shall choose out an heritage for us, * even the excellency of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God is gone up with a merry noise, * and the Lord with the sound of the trump.

6 O sing praises, sing praises unto our God; * O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.

7 For God is the King of all the earth: * sing ye praises with understanding.

8 God reigneth over the nations; * God sitteth upon his holy seat.

9 The princes of the peoples are joined unto the people of the God of Abraham; * for God, which is very high exalted, doth defend the earth, as it were with a shield.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which 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.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60.1-9

Psalter: Psalm 47, 48 | 66, 67

Epistle Reading: Romans 12.1-5

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 2.41-52

Homily

Personal: Two or three years ago I encouraged you to employ this collect everyday through the whole year, praying on behalf of Christ’s Church world-over, and in our own country. I still use it weekly as I pray for my own congregation and the larger church. It is one of several prayers that has stuck with me through the years. The LORD knows we need somebody praying words like this for his people, and especially in the West, where large swaths of churches are caving in on the right and on the left. We need watchmen and warriors praying that that God would be pleased to open our eyes to “know and perceive what things we ought to do,” and we need Centurions and suppliants crying out to him for the grace and power we need to “faithfully fulfill the same”! Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!