15 AUGUST 08

THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY XII

15 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 137:1-6 & 138; II Samuel 9:1-9, 13; Luke 23:50-24:12

Holy Eucharist: Ecclesiasticus 24:7-15a; St. Luke 10:38-42

Evening Prayer: Psalm 144; Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10; Romans 14:13-end

REFLECTION

Today is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the day in which we commemorate the death, or falling asleep in the Lord, of the Mother of God. In the ikon above you see the body of the Blessed Virgin laying in repose, and her soul wrapped in swaddling clothes in the arms of our Lord, and her Lord and Son.

Take time today to consider the depths of love our Lord has for both body and soul, and the meaning contained in the ikon above.

From a Sermon by St. Johnn of Damascus:

"This day the Ark of the living God even the holy and living Ark, wherein once its own Maker had been held, is borne to its resting place in that Temple of the Lord which is not made with hands. Her ancestor David leapeth before it. And in the company with him the Angels dance, the Archangels sing aloud, the Virtues ascribe glory, the Principalities shout for joy, the Powers make merry, the Dominions rejoice, the thrones keep holiday, the Cherubim utter praise, and the Seraphim proclaim its glory. This day the Eden of the new Adam receiveth her who was the living garden of delight, wherein the condemnation was annulled, wherein the Tree of Life was planted, wherein our nakedness was covered."

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

We beseech thee, O Lord ; mercifully to forgive the sins of thy people ; that we, who of ourselves can do nothing that is acceptable unto thee, may be succoured by the intercession of the Mother of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today