Third Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may, by thy mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Epistle (1 St. Peter v. 5)

ALL of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel (St. Luke xv. 1)

THEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.


Sunday Sermon in a Minute

A wise Christian friend of mine pointed out to me that humility comes from the same root word as humus -- earth. Humility implies receptivity. As humus finds its true purpose as it is receptive to seed and to sunlight and to rain, so humble people find their true purpose when they are receptive to the help and the guidance of God.

Our model of humility is Jesus. But even the most superficial examination of the Gospels shows that Jesus is not at all humble in anything approximating the popular sense. Jesus is opinionated, forthright, argumentative, even verging upon insulting and downright nasty. His humility, as the New Testament means it, is something St. Paul explains in Philippians. Even though Jesus was God's equal, he was willing to lay aside all of the power and privilege and prerogatives his position gave him. He became a weakened, limited human being--who lived and suffered and died.

St. Peter reminds us that "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." That doesn't mean that God punishes proud people by denying them his help. By definition, proud people set themselves above and apart from God's help. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting every care upon him; for he careth for you."

+++