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| Pentecost |
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Almighty and most merciful God, grant, we beseech thee, that by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP page 200)
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| Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land... |
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| Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 19
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13
Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, "When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat." The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
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Commentary
"If there is a more concise condemnation of mankind's sin of materialism than Amos, I haven't heard it. The prophet Amos has us pegged for sure. My own opinion is that we might want to pay attention to what Brother Amos is saying. It appears to me that he is 'right on'. Vicar Phil
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| Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them. |
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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 26
Amos 6:1a, 4-7
Psalm 146
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 16:19-31
Lauda, anima mea
- Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them. When they breathe their last, they return to earth, and in that day their thoughts perish. Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! whose hope is in the LORD their God; Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; who keeps his promise for ever; Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.
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Commentary
The psalmist writes these words, "Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them." Has there ever been a more profound understatement than that? The quoted verse from Psalm 146 reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite books. "God is our blessing; our leaders are our punishment." Dr. Yair Zakovitch (Quoted on page 85 of Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler). Sometimes just a few words from a book justify the price of the entire volume. Vicar Phil
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