COLLECT FOR THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST –
PROPER 11 A RCL
Almighty
God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask
and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and
mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not,
and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMENWe continue the themes of our Pentecost prayer life in the appointed collect. But, first, let us explore its somewhat unique and quaint history. Originally, the Collect was composed by Cranmer with scriptural references to Ecclesiasticus 1:5, Matthew 6:8, and Romans 8:26. In the 1549 Prayer Book and up until our 1928 BCP (page 49) the rubrics indicated that the Collect along with five others was, “To be used after the Collects of Morning or Evening Prayer, or Communion, at the discretion of the Minister,” should there not be a sufficient number of people for the Eucharist. In the 1928 Prayer Book, a variation of the Collect was also included for the 12th Sunday after Trinity. The message is clear; our merciful and steadfast God listens and provides, even in the face of our acceptance of our own unworthiness to ask and our lack of understanding of our real needs. The Collect also contains several illuminating descriptions of the reciprocal dynamics of prayer. .” This week, starting with the imagery of the fountain constantly pouring forth wisdom for our benefit, we are invited to share our concerns and frustrations with our God who already knows our needs. There are no secrets! There is also no reason to hold back because of shame or guilt. God is the essence of forgiveness. Yes, God already knows and through the worthiness of Christ we are made worthy. We are called to the revitalizing experience of self admission: awareness, acceptance, and action. One last thought: you will note that the concluding Pleading Clause which invariably starts with, “…through Jesus Christ our Lord,” echoes the word, “worthiness” in describing Christ. That is also unique! Let us pray!!
As the Collect has affirmed God’s omniscient caring, we continue Jacob’s journey with the story of his incredible dream of the ladder stretching between heaven and earth. God reassures Jacob that, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.” The Psalm responds with the acquiescence, “…lead me in the way that is everlasting.” Paul concludes his comments on “living in the spirit” with the assurance that we will become “children of God,...and joint heirs with Christ.” Another one of Christ’s horticultural parables addresses the dichotomy between how the “seeds and the weeds” will be treated in the end. “Let anyone with ears listen!” The Track Two choices all address, in awe and humility, God’s loving and caring characteristics.
GENESIS 28: 10-19a – Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
PSALM 139: 1-11, 22-23 – The Inescapable God
ROMANS 8: 12-25 – Life in the Spirit
MATTHEW 13: 24-30, 36-43 – Parable of the Weeds
Track Two:
WISDOM OF SOLOMON 12: 13, 16-19 – The Sins of the Caananites – OR
ISAIAH 44: 6-8 The Lord Alone is God
PSALM 86 11-17 – Supplication for Help Against Enemies
For background information on the Collects, click here.