19 JULY 08

SATURDAY AFTER TRINITY VIII

19 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS


Morning Prayers: Psalm 145: 1 Samuel 15:24-34; Luke 17:11-19


Evening Prayers: Psalm 147; Esther 4:1, 5-17; Acts 28:16-end


REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel lesson today from Morning Prayer we find Jesus meeting a group of ten lepers along the way. Lepers were complete outcasts from their society, seen as unclean, sinful, and to be avoided at all costs. Yet, Jesus has compassion on them and enters into their world. Going against the grain of Jewish culture and religious law, Jesus comes close to these lepers by listening to their story...and by healing them.

So that these men might enjoy the benefits of being reintegrated into mainstream society, Jesus sends them to the priests of the Temple so the priests might see them and declare them clean...healed. After they are declared clean, only one of them returns to Jesus out of deep gratitude. Jesus sends him on his way declaring, "...your faith has made you whole."

Why are we so afraid to enter into the lives of those our society, even some religious authorities, declare unclean, especially when we have these kinds of examples that our Lord has lived before us? Are there people who are so unclean, so unworthy, as not to merit the compassion of our Lord? What about our compassion?

Are there people in your life that live on the fringe, the margin, the edge of accepted society who need healing? Are you willing to simply follow the example of Jesus and enter into relationship with such persons and begin that process of healing the Lord so desire to work through you?

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg



QUOTES TO CONSIDER

"We want to lower the bar of how church is done and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple."

"We have come to understand the Church as this: the presence of Jesus among His people called out as a spiritual family to pursue His mission on this planet."

"Unfortunately, in most churches in the Western world the presence of the pastor is more noticeable than the presence of Jesus."

***From Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens, Neil Cole, Jossey-Bass, 2005***

THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

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


THE SAINT OF THE DAY


St. Vincent De Paul (1581-1660)

After graduating with a degree in theology, St. Vincent De Paul was troubled with the plight of the many poor people he came into contact with. The situation was so distressing for many families that they were leaving their young infants at churches. St. Vincent spent a lifetime establishing homes for orphans and organisations that assisted the poor, of which several remain to this day. His body remain incorrupt.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

O God, who didst endue thy blessed Saint Vincent with apostolic virtue, to the intent that he should preach thy Gospel to the poor, and stablish the honour of the priesthood of thy Church : grant, we beseech thee ; that we may so hold in reverence his works of righteousness, that we may learn to follow the patern of his godly conversation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.