The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
The collect and readings - as well as the Bishop's sermon, video and other resources - for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity (24 September A.D. 2017).
The Collect
Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Epistle - Galatians 6:11-18
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. (ESV)
Psalm 92:1-4
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, / and to sing praises unto thy Name, O thou Most High;
To tell of thy loving-kindness in the morning, / and of thy faithfulness in the night-season;
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute, / with a melody upon the harp. Alleluia! Alleluia!
For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy works; / and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands. Alleluia!
Gospel - Matthew 6:24-34
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)
Resources
Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer Readings
- Morning Prayer: Psalm 79; Joel 2:15-27; 1 Peter 1:13-25.
- Evening Prayer: Psalm 84, 85; Daniel 5; Matthew 7:1-14.
Artwork: Evelyn de Morgan, The Worship of Mammon, 1909. De Morgan Centre, London.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.