Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles

transferred from 28 October

The Collect of the Day
O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
119:89-96

The Readings
Deuteronomy 32:1-4     +     Ephesians 2:13-22     +     John 15:17-27

So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. ~Ephesians 2:17-22

Closing Prayer
Defend us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all perils of mind and body: and at the intercession of the ever blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, mother of God, of thy blessed apostles Simon and Jude, and all saints, graciously bestow upon us both peace and safety: that all adversity and error being done away, thy Church may serve thee in untroubled freedom, through the same, Christ our Lord. Amen.
~from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book

Saint James of Jerusalem, Brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Martyr

The Collect of the Day
Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
1

The Readings

Acts 15:12-22a     +     I Corinthians 15:1-11     +      Matthew 13:54-58

"All the apostles and elders kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me..."

~Acts 15:12-13

We live in a time in which keeping silence and really listening seem to be in short supply. Everywhere there is noise, arguing, interrupting. We do not listen to what another is saying, or give her the benefit of the doubt, but instead internally formulate our rebuttal while our "opponent" is speaking. The breakdown of substantive political discourse in favor of shouting down and speaking over others is a symptom of a troubling lack in our society and in our souls that is not limited to election time.

Today, be intentional in going against the grain of this trend. No one of us can change society overnight. But we can pray for grace to grow within us; we can cultivate silence in our souls that will allow us to better hear God and one another; we can honor the dignity of our brothers and sisters by really listening to them, and honor ourselves by expecting the same respect from others. It is in such listening and speaking that the wonders of God may be made manifest, the reconciliation to which God calls us.

Closing Prayer

O God, thank you for giving us examples, like James, of leaders whose strength is in their wise and compassionate understanding. Help us to make space in our lives for your holy wisdom, that we may make space for others; this we pray in the Name of the one who is our peace, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. 

    

Saint Luke the Evangelist

The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Psalm

147:1-7

The Readings
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 38:1-4, 6-10, 12-14     +    II Timothy 4:5-13    +    Luke 4:14-21

He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
      because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
      and recovery of sight to the blind,
   to let the oppressed go free,

      to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

~Luke 4:17-19

Though true of all four Gospels, it is in Luke's account that we see most clearly the favor Jesus shows to those on the margins of society--the poor, the outcasts, the oppressed, the weak. When Jesus stands in the synagogue to read from the prophet Isaiah, he publicly inaugurates his ministry with these words that tie the work of the Messiah to freeing those who are bound and downtrodden. 

Earlier this week, the Catholic Church officially canonized Oscar Romero. An archbishop in El Salvador, Romero was an outspoken critic of the violence, social injustices, and human rights abuses in that country's civil war; he was murdered in 1980 by a gunman while celebrating Mass. Romero wrote,    

"When we struggle for human rights, for freedom, for dignity, when we feel that it is a ministry of the church to concern itself for those who are hungry, for those who have no schools, for those who are deprived, we are not departing from God’s promise. He comes to free us from sin, and the church knows that sin’s consequences are all such injustices and abuses."

We often hear about the desire to "keep politics out of religion"--if that means faith leaders refraining from endorsing political candidates and becoming party mouthpieces, well and good. But the gospel, though not partisan, is inescapably political. It has always declared good news to the poor and been a source of nervousness for the powerful who fear being cast down from their thrones (Luke 1:22). The gospel is not for the faint of heart or lovers of the status quo; it is for those who look forward with hope for a better, more just world, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.   

Closing Prayer
O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ For the Future of the Human Race, BCP p. 828