Sunday, September 26, 2010

17th Sunday in Trinitytide

THE EPISTLE. Ephes. 4. 1
THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 14. 1

LORD, we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In this prayer the word "prevent" in old English means to 'go before' and hence to anticipate.



The idea of the Epistle and Gospel for this Sunday appears to be that of gaining liberty and victory through becoming the humble servants of Christ. St. Paul writes out of his prison, "I the prisoner of the Lord," as he writes in another place, "Remember my bonds:" and one who was in the bonds of an infirmity was brought to Christ, "and He took him, and healed him, and let him go," setting him free from his disease on the instant in a manner which cannot be explained by physiological science. Afterwards our Lord speaks of the humane work of setting free on the Sabbath an ox or an ass that had fallen into a pit; and of one being bidden to go up higher through his humility in taking the lowest room at a wedding feast. All these may be taken as illustrations of the way in which our Lord's service becomes perfect freedom to those who humbly take His yoke upon them. They offer also a further illustration of the principle stated in the end of the Epistle, "There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all." This principle is of a restrictive character: bringing the world out of a free worship of many gods to the worship of One; limiting it to one faith, and to one only means of initiation into the family of the one God. The idea conveyed is one of a bondage to rule and law which leaves no room for invention or wild development and speculation. But as Christ reigned from the Cross; as St. Paul governed the churches of Ephesus and other cities from his prison in Rome; as one who sits down in the lowest room will hear the Host say to him, "Friend, go up higher;" so limitations and restrictions of this kind are a means of real spiritual freedom, however much they may seem an irksome bondage to those who regard them superficially. The Christian who worships the One God is more free than the heathen who worshipped many; and the believer in a Faith once for all given is more free than he who is continually looking for new developments and open to the bondage of every novel speculation. -JOHN HENRY BLUNT

Fallen Heroes

This week these marines lost their lives for the cause of liberty. We ak that you remember them.
Justin Allen 23,
Brett Linley 29,
Matthew Weikert 29,
Justus Bartett 27,
Dave Santos 21,
Chase Stanley 21,
Jesse Reed 26,
Matthew Johnson 21,
Zachary Fisher 24,
Brandon King 23,
Christopher Goeke 23,
and Sheldon Tate 27
are all Marines that gave their lives this week, no media mention. Yet a celebrity drug addict receives much press.
Honor these Marines.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Prayers for those who lost their lives in defense of this Nation and on 9.11

FOR ALL IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defense, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

Heavenly Father, we commend to thy gracious care and keeping all the men and women in our Armed Forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with thy heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that beset them; and help them to know that none can pluck out of thy hand those who put their trust in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Eternal God, we commend to thy fatherly care all those who are enlisted in the Armed Forces. In time of preparation grant that discipline and training may fit them worthily to serve our country, and in the day of strife guide and sustain them in upholding the cause of justice and freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

Almighty God, who didst offer thy only Son to be made perfect through suffering, and to win our salvation by enduring the cross; sustain with thy healing power all those whose loved ones have given their lives in the service of our country. Redeem, we pray thee, the pain of their bereavement, that knowing their loss to be the price of our freedom, they may remember the gratitude of the nation for which they gave so costly a sacrifice. And grant, O Lord, that these dead shall not have died in vain, and that out of the distress of this present age there may arise a new and better world in which thy will shall rule, to the honor of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

FOR OUR ENEMIES

O Saviour of the world, our Redeemer, whose love embraces all mankind, we hear thy prayer from the Cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Forgive, O Lord, those who have poured out the innocent blood and caused suffering in the world. May our prayers be for them a ministry of reconciliation. We ask it in thine own Name. Amen.

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