The Second Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source of Collect: Archbishop Cranmer [1549], The Collect calls forth the idea of a lamb in saying that Jesus became a sacrifice for us; and complements the image in the Gospel by following the steps of the Good Shepherd. In those days sheep were not driven; they followed [Barbee and Zahl}
Isaih xl. 1, Psalm 21, 23 | 116, 117; 1 St. Peter ii. 19. St. John x. 11.
READINGS
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her
warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath
received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the
way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall
be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
places plain: 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and
all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken
it.
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is
grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the
LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God
shall stand for ever.
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high
mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice
with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of
Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with
strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is
with him, and his work before him.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the
lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead
those that are with young.
1 St. Peter ii. 19. THIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. St. John x. 11. JESUS said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.
A psalm of David himself.
[615] Lat. XXII.
[616] Pascuae incipientis.
[617] [Note this very comprehensive comment on the real meaning of the
valley.--C.]
[618] 1 Cor. iii. 2.
[619] [He applies the figures of ver. 5 and here to the Lord's Table,
the chrism (i.e., confirmation), and the Church in time and
eternity.--C.]
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The Collects of Thomas Cranmer
HOMILY
Augustine
Psalm XXIII
1. The Church speaks to Christ: "The Lord feedeth me, and I shall lack
nothing" (ver. 1). The Lord Jesus Christ is my Shepherd, "and I shall
lack nothing."
2. "In a place of pasture there hath He placed me" (ver. 2). In a place
of fresh pasture, leading me to faith, [616] there hath He placed me to
be nourished. "By the water of refreshing hath He brought me up." By
the water of baptism, whereby they are refreshed who have lost health
and strength, hath He brought me up.
3. "He hath converted my soul: He hath led me forth in the paths of
righteousness, for His Name's sake" (ver. 3). He hath brought me forth
in the narrow ways, wherein few walk, of His righteousness; not for my
merit's sake, but for His Name's sake.
4. "Yea, though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death" (ver. 4).
Yea, though I walk in the midst of this life, which is the shadow of
death. [617] "I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." I will fear
no evil, for Thou dwellest in my heart by faith: and Thou art now with
me, that after the shadow of death I too may be with Thee. "Thy rod and
Thy staff, they have comforted me." Thy discipline, like a rod for a
flock of sheep, and like a staff for children of some size, and growing
out of the natural into spiritual life, they have not been grievous to
me; rather have they comforted me: because Thou art mindful of me.
5. "Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, against them that trouble
me" (ver. 5). Now after the rod, whereby, whilst a little one, and
living the natural life, I was brought up among the flock in the
pastures; after that rod, I say, when I began to be under the staff,
Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, that I should no more be fed as
a babe with milk, [618] but being older should take meat, strengthened
against them that trouble me. "Thou hast fattened my head with oil."
Thou hast gladdened my mind with spiritual joy. "And Thy inebriating
cup, how excellent is it!" And Thy cup yielding forgetfulness of former
vain delights, how excellent is it!
6. "And Thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:" that is, as
long as I live in this mortal life, not Thine, but mine. "That I may
dwell in the house of the Lord [619] for length of days" (ver. 6). Now
Thy mercy shall follow me not here only, but also that I may dwell in
the house of the Lord for ever.
Let us pray in the words of Augustine.
Turn we to the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and with pure hearts offer to him, so far as our
meanness can, great and true thanks, with all our hearts praying his exceeding kindness, that of
his good pleasure he would deign to hear our prayers, that by his Power he would drive out the
enemy from our deeds and thoughts, that he would increase our faith, guide our understandings,
give us spiritual thoughts, and lead us to his bliss, through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with him, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[A prayer which he was wont to use after his Sermons and Lectures.]
NPNF (V1-08) St. Augustine
Notes: