The Collect
O GOD, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle (1 Corinthians xv. 1)
BRETHREN, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
The Gospel (St. Luke xviii. 9)
JESUS spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Trinity XI - Message in a Minute
Today's readings teach us that Christian belief and Christian behaviour are completely intertwined. The Bible begins with belief, not with behaviour. It does not tell us, "This is how to behave, and if you behave this way you will come to believe certain things." The Bible tells us instead, "If you really believe these things, your behaviour will change for the better."
The central tenets of Christianity are tied up with Jesus' death and resurrection. Saint Paul tells us today that, quite simply, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." He means that Jesus died on the cross to forgive every act of disobedience anyone ever has committed or ever will commit. A person who tries to base his life on what Paul teaches us is going to end up in the same good position as the tax collector. God is going to love him and forgive him and accept him because he knows the truth, and he lives by the truth.
And the truth is, "I am a sinner. I deserve to die and be shut off from God forever. But God loved me enough to send his son to die to forgive my sins and promise me resurrection and eternal life."
"For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Trinity XI - Message in a Minute
Today's readings teach us that Christian belief and Christian behaviour are completely intertwined. The Bible begins with belief, not with behaviour. It does not tell us, "This is how to behave, and if you behave this way you will come to believe certain things." The Bible tells us instead, "If you really believe these things, your behaviour will change for the better."
The central tenets of Christianity are tied up with Jesus' death and resurrection. Saint Paul tells us today that, quite simply, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." He means that Jesus died on the cross to forgive every act of disobedience anyone ever has committed or ever will commit. A person who tries to base his life on what Paul teaches us is going to end up in the same good position as the tax collector. God is going to love him and forgive him and accept him because he knows the truth, and he lives by the truth.
And the truth is, "I am a sinner. I deserve to die and be shut off from God forever. But God loved me enough to send his son to die to forgive my sins and promise me resurrection and eternal life."
"For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
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