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Proper 15
Closest to August 17 |
| Almighty God, who hast
given thy only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an
example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully
receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavor ourselves to
follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. |
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Lesson |
Jeremiah 23:23-29
A God at hand
"Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says
the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name,
saying, `I have dreamed, I have dreamed!' How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy
lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams which they
tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Ba'al? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my
word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the
LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer which breaks
the rock in pieces? |
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Epistle |
Hebrews 12:1-7(8-10)11-14
The Example of Jesus
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us
run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so
that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of
shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? --
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage
when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom
he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as
sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then
you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we
respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits
and live? For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he
disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained
by it.
Warning Against Rejecting God's Grace
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be
put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one
will see the Lord. |
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Gospel |
Luke 12:49-56
Jesus the Cause of Division
"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already
kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it
is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you,
but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against
two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother
against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her
daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Interpreting the Time
He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the
west, you say at once, `A shower is coming'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be
scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and
sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? |
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