The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Collect
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
113

The Readings
I Samuel 2:1-10     +     Romans 12:9-16b     +     Luke 1:39-57

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

~Luke 1:39-41

Great the women who bore
The tidings in the hill country.
The highly favored one,
Her greeting at the door
Spurs the Forerunner to leap, he
Acknowledging the Son
Enthroned in princely state,
Beauteous in the womb of the morn.
The prophetess bows down,
Inspired, to relate
The revelation to be born,
And confirm her renown.
She cries, 'The mother of my Lord,'

And she, 'Magnificat,' outpoured.

Closing Prayer

Cleanse our consciences, we beseech thee, O God, by thy visitation, that thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, when he cometh, may find in us a dwelling place made ready for himself; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Ascension Day

The Collect
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.                          

The Psalm
47

The Readings
Acts 1:1-11     +     Ephesians 1:15-23     +     Luke 24:44-53


And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ~Ephesians 1:22-23


Near the end of the Easter season comes Ascension Day. It is a major feast that really gets short shrift. In part, it’s because it always falls on a Thursday (May 30^th this year), since it is observed forty days after Easter Day (Acts 1:3 doesn’t make for great liturgical planning). But probably it’s also because of the nature of this feast—what are we to make of the Ascension? We confess “he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father”—but really, what do we do with that? It is a mystery not even our Prayer Book tries to pin down—we are given the choice of two collects for the day, with different themes emphasized. But acknowledging a mystery does not mean we are discouraged from seeking understanding. And I think one thing that we see in the Ascension is that Christ is “no longer bound to distant years in Palestine, (but) comes to claim the here and now and conquer every place and time” (Hymn no. 182). Jesus is not simply an historical figure, or even primarily the object of Christian worship—Christ does not belong to us, and we cannot hold him in our grasp. Rather, we belong to Christ. And we are together the body of Christ in the world, a tangible, embodied presence of the cosmic Christ, the one “who fills all in all.” Alleluia!

Closing Prayer
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
~The Book of Common Prayer, p. 226

Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

The Collect
Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
119:33-40

The Readings
Isaiah 30:18-21     +     II Corinthians 4:1-6     +     John 14:6-14

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves, for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let the light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
~II Cor. 4:5-6

In today's Gospel, during the last supper, Philip says, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." To which Jesus answers, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you do not know me?" John's Gospel asserts that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18)--and yet it also asserts that to see Jesus is to see God. Even the twelve who lived and worked with him, his closest companions and friends, were slow to understand it. But when that truth had fully shone on them in the resurrection, they gave their lives, even to death, to spreading the good news.

For all who have followed after them, we whose faith is based on the testimony handed down, we have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29). We who have not actually seen the face of Jesus--do we also see God? Jesus says, "If you know me, you will know my Father also; from now on you do know him and have seen him" (John 14:7). We come to know Jesus as we meet him in the loving relationship of those who today are his closest companions and friends; we meet him when we come in faith to read and hear the holy scriptures, and hear a word behind us say, This is the way--walk in it (Isaiah 30:21); we meet him through the gracious and grace-giving Spirit of God, who shines into our inmost being to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:6).

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, give us a heart to know and love you, eyes to see you and ears to hear you, and a will to share your light with all people. Amen.