The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
Home, 20th Sunday after Trinity
O ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Sacrementary of Bishop Gelasius of Rome [494]. Much minor reworking from the Latin. [Barbee and Zalh]
Ephesians v. 15 Psalm 116 & St. Matthew xxii. 1
Augustine on Psalm CXVI
1st Chronicles xv. 25
So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
Ephesians v. 15
SEE then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
St. Matthew xxii. 1
JESUS said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Scripture from 1928 Book of Common Prayer
The Collects of Thomas Cranmer, Barbee and Zahl
Homily
Augustine on the Psalms
Psalm CXVIII
1. ...We are taught in this Psalm, when we chaunt Allelujah, which
meaneth, Praise the Lord, that we should, when we hear the words,
"Confess unto the Lord" (ver. 1), praise the Lord. The praise of God
could not be expressed in fewer words than these, "For He is good." I
see not what can be more solemn than this brevity, since goodness is so
peculiarly the quality of God, that the Son of God Himself when
addressed by some one as "Good Master," by one, namely, who beholding
His flesh, and comprehending not the fulness of His divine nature,
considered Him as man only, replied, "Why callest thou Me good? There
is none good but one, that is, God." [5101] And what is this but to
say, If thou wishest to call Me good, recognise Me as God? But since it
is addressed, in revelation of things to come, to a people freed from
all toil and wandering in pilgrimage, and from all admixture with the
wicked, which freedom was given it through the grace of God, who not
only doth not evil for evil, but even returneth good for evil; it is
most appropriately added, "Because His mercy endureth for ever."
2. "Let Israel now confess that He is good, and that His mercy endureth
for ever" (ver. 2). "Let the house of Aaron now confess that His mercy
endureth for ever" (ver. 3). "Yea, let all now that fear the Lord
confess that His mercy endureth for ever" (ver. 4). Ye remember, I
suppose, most beloved, what is the house of Israel, what is the house
of Aaron, and that both are those that fear the Lord. For they are "the
little and the great," [5102] who have already in another Psalm been
happily introduced into your hearts: in the number of whom all of us
should rejoice that we are joined together, in His grace who is good,
and whose mercy endureth for ever; since they were listened to who
said, "May the Lord increase you more and more, you and your children;"
[5103] that the host of the Gentiles might be added to the Israelites
who believed in Christ, of the number of whom are the Apostles our
fathers, for the exaltation of the perfect and the obedience of the
little children; that all of us when made one in Christ, made one flock
under one Shepherd, and the body of that Head, like one man, may say,
"I called upon the Lord in trouble, and the Lord heard me at large"
(ver. 5). The narrow straits of our tribulation are limited: but the
large way whereby we pass along hath no end. "Who shall lay anything to
the charge of God's elect?" [5104]
3. "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man doeth unto me"
(ver. 6). But are men, then, the only enemies that the Church hath?
What is a man devoted to flesh and blood, save flesh and blood? But the
Apostle saith, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against,"...he saith, "spiritual wickedness in high places;" [5105]
that is, the devil and his angels; that devil whom elsewhere he calleth
"the prince of the power of the air." [5106] Hear therefore what
followeth: "The Lord is my helper: therefore shall I despise mine
enemies" (ver. 7). From what class soever my enemies may arise, whether
from the number of evil men, or from the number of evil angels; in the
Lord's help, unto whom we chant the confession of praise, unto whom we
sing Allelujah, they shall be despised.
4. But, when my enemies have been brought to contempt, let not my
friend present himself unto me as a good man, so as to bid me repose my
hope in himself: for "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put
any confidence in man" (ver. 8). Nor let any one, who may in a certain
sense be styled a good angel, be regarded by myself as one in whom I
ought to put my trust: for "no one is good, save God alone;" [5107] and
when a man or an angel appear to aid us, when they do this of sincere
affection, He doth it through them, who made them good after their
measure. "It is" therefore "better to trust in the Lord, than to put
any confidence in princes" (ver. 9). For angels also are called
princes, even as we read in Daniel, "Michael, your prince." [5108]
5. "All nations compassed me round about, but in the Name of the Lord
have I taken vengeance on them" (ver. 10). "They kept me in on every
side, they kept me in, I say, on every side; but in the Name of the
Lord have I taken vengeance on them" (ver. 11). He signifieth the toils
and the victory of the Church; but, as if the question were asked how
she could have overcome so great evils, he looketh back to the example,
and declareth what she had first suffered in her Head, by adding what
followeth, "They kept me in on every side:" and the words, "All
nations," are with reason not repeated here, because this was the act
of the Jews alone. There that very religious nation (which is the body
of Christ, and in behalf of which was done all that was done in mortal
form with immortal power, by that inward divinity, through the outward
flesh), suffered from persecutors, of whose race that flesh was assumed
and hung upon the cross.
6. "They came about me as bees do a hive, and burned up even as the
fire among the thorns: and in the Name of the Lord have I taken
vengeance on them" (ver. 12). Here then the order of the words
corresponds with the order of events. For we rightly understand that
our Lord Himself, the Head of the Church, was surrounded by
persecutors, even as bees surround a hive. For the Holy Spirit is
speaking with mystic subtlety of what was done by those who knew not
what they did. For bees make honey in the hives: while our Lord's
persecutors, unconscious as they were, rendered Him sweeter unto us
even by His very Passion; so that we may taste and see how sweet is the
Lord, [5109] "Who died for our sins, and arose for our justification."
[5110] But what followeth, "and burned up even as the fire among the
thorns," is better understood of His Body, that is, of a people spread
abroad, whom all nations compassed about, since it was gathered
together from all nations. They consumed this sinful flesh, and the
grievous piercings of this mortal life, in the flame of persecution.
"Taken vengeance on them:" either because they themselves, that
wickedness, which in them persecuted the righteous, having been
extinguished, were joined with the people of Christ; or because the
rest of them, who have at this time scorned the mercy of Him who
calleth them, will at the end feel the truth of Him who judgeth them.
7. "I have been driven on like a heap of sand, so that I was falling,
but the Lord upheld me" (ver. 13). For though there were a great
multitude of believers, that might be compared to the countless sand,
and brought into one communion as into one heap; yet "what is man, save
Thou be mindful of Him?" [5111] He said not, the multitude of the
Gentiles could not surpass the abundance of my host, but, "the Lord,"
he saith, "hath upheld me." The persecution of the Gentiles succeeded
not in pushing forward, to its overthrow, the host of the faithful
dwelling together in the unity of the faith.
8. "The Lord is my strength and my praise, and is become my salvation"
(ver. 14). Who then fall, when they are pushed, save they who choose to
be their own strength and their own praise? For no man falleth in the
contest, except he whose strength and praise faileth. He therefore
whose strength and praise is the Lord, falleth no more than the Lord
falleth. And for this reason He hath become their salvation; not that
He hath become anything which He was not before, but because they, when
they believed on Him, became what they were not before, and then He
began to be salvation unto them when turned towards Him, which He was
not to them when turned away from Himself.
9. "The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous"
(ver. 15); where they who raged against their bodies thought there was
the voice of sorrow and destruction. For they did not know the inward
joy of the saints in their future hope. Whence the Apostle also saith,
"As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing;" [5112] and again, "And not only
so, but we glory in tribulations also." [5113]
10. "The right hand of the Lord hath brought mighty things to pass"
(ver. 16). What mighty things? saith he. "The right hand of the Lord,"
he saith, "hath exalted me." It is a mighty thing to exalt the humble,
to deify the mortal, to bring perfection out of infirmity, glory from
subjection, victory from suffering, to give help, to raise from
trouble; that the true salvation of God might be laid open to the
afflicted, and the salvation of men might remain of no avail to the
persecutors. These are great things: but what art thou surprised at?
hear what he repeateth: "The right hand of the Lord hath brought mighty
things to pass."
11. "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord"
(ver. 17). But they, while they were dealing havoc and death on every
side, thought that the Church of Christ was dying. Behold, he now
declareth the works of the Lord. Everywhere Christ is the glory of the
blessed Martyrs. By being beaten He conquered those who struck Him; by
being patient of torments, the tormentors; [5114] by loving, those who
raged against Him.
12. Nevertheless, let him point out to us, why the body of Christ, the
holy Church, the people of adoption, suffered such indignities. "The
Lord," he saith, "hast chastened and corrected me, but He hath not
given me over unto death" (ver. 18). Let not then the boastful wicked
imagine that aught hath been permitted to their power: they would not
have that power, were it not given them from above. Oft doth the father
of a family command his sons to be corrected by the most worthless
slaves; though he designeth the heritage for the former, fetters for
the latter. What is that heritage? Is it of gold, or silver, or jewels,
or farms, or pleasant estates? Consider how we enter into it: and learn
what it is.
13. "Open me," he saith, "the gates of righteousness" (ver 19). Behold,
we have heard of the gates. What is within? "That I may," he saith, "go
into them, and give thanks unto the Lord." This is the confession of
praise full of wonder, "even unto the house of God, in the voice of joy
and confession of praise, among such as keep holiday:" [5115] this is
the everlasting bliss of the righteous, whereby they are blessed who
dwell in the Lord's house, praising Him for evermore. [5116]
14. But consider how the gates of righteousness are entered into.
"These are the gates of the Lord" he saith, "the righteous shall enter
into them" (ver. 20). At least let no wicked man enter there, that
Jerusalem which receiveth not one uncircumcised, where it is said,
"Without are dogs." [5117] Be it enough, that in my long pilgrimage "I
have had my habitation among the tents of Kedar:" [5118] I endured even
unto the end the intercourse of the wicked, but "these are the gates of
the Lord: the righteous shall enter into them."
15. "I will confess unto Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast heard me, and art
become my salvation" (ver. 21). How often is that confession proved to
be one of praise, that doth not point out wounds to the physician, but
giveth thanks for the health it hath received. But the Physician
Himself is the Salvation.
16. But who is this whom we speak of? "The Stone which the builders
rejected" (ver. 22); for "It hath become the head Stone of the corner"
to "make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He
might reconcile both unto God in one body;" [5119] circumcision, to
wit, and uncircumcision.
17. "By the Lord was it made unto it" (ver. 23): that is, it is made
into the head stone of the corner by the Lord. For although He would
not have become this, had He not suffered: yet He became not this
through those from whom He suffered. For they who were building,
refused Him: but in the edifice which the Lord was secretly raising,
that was made the head stone of the corner which they rejected. "And it
is marvellous in our eyes:" in the eyes of the inner man, in the eyes
of those that believe, those that hope, those that love; not in the
carnal eyes of those who, through scorning Him as if He were a man,
rejected Him.
18. "This is the day which the Lord hath made" (ver. 24). This man
remembereth that he had said in former Psalms, "Since He hath inclined
His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live;"
[5120] making mention of his old days; whence he now saith, "This is
the day which the Lord hath made;" that is, wherein He hath given me
Salvation. This is the day whereof He said, "In an acceptable time have
I heard thee, and in a day of Salvation have I helped thee;" [5121]
that is, a day wherein He, the Mediator, hath become the head Stone of
the corner. "Let us rejoice," therefore, "and be glad in Him."
19. "Save me now, O Lord: prosper Thou well my way, O Lord" (ver. 25).
Because it is the day of Salvation, "save me:" because we, returning
from a long pilgrimage, are separated from those who hated peace, with
whom we were peaceful, and who, when we spoke to them, made war upon us
without a cause; "prosper well our way" as we return, since Thou hast
become our Way.
20. "Blessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord" (ver. 26).
Cursed, therefore, is he that cometh in his own name; as He saith in
the Gospel: "if another shall come in his own name, him ye will
receive." [5122] "We have blessed you out of the house of God." I
believe that these are the words of the great to the little, of those
great ones, to wit, who in spirit commune with God the Word, who is
with God, as they may in this life; and yet temper their discourse for
the sake of the little ones, so that they may sincerely say what the
Apostle saith: "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or
whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ
constraineth us." [5123] They bless the little children from the inner
house of the Lord, where that praise faileth not age after age:
consider therefore what they proclaim from thence. [5124]
21. "God is the Lord, who hath showed us light" (ver. 27). That Lord,
who came in the Lord's Name, whom the builders refused, and who became
the head Stone of the corner, [5125] that "Mediator between God and
man, Jesus Christ," [5126] is God, He is equal with the Father, He hath
showed us light, that we might understand what we believed, and declare
it to you who understand it not as yet, but already believe it. But
that ye also may understand, "Declare a holy day in full assemblies,
even unto the horns of the altar;" that is, even unto the inner house
of God, from which we have blessed you, where are the high places of
the altar. "Declare a holy day," not in a slothful manner, but "in full
assemblies" (ver. 28). For this is the voice of joyfulness among those
that keep holy day, who walk "in the place of the wonderful tabernacle,
even unto the house of God." [5127] For if there be there the spiritual
sacrifice, the everlasting sacrifice of praise, both the Priest is
everlasting, and the peaceful mind of the righteous an everlasting
altar....
22. And what shall we sing there, save His praises? What else shall we
say there, save, "Thou art my God, and I will confess unto Thee; Thou
art my God, and I will praise Thee. I wilt confess unto Thee, for Thou
hast heard me, and art become my Salvation." We will not say these
things in loud words; but the love that abideth in Him of itself crieth
out in these words, and these words are love itself. Thus as he began
with praise, so he endeth: "Confess unto the Lord, for He is gracious,
and His mercy endureth for ever" (ver. 29). With this the Psalm
commenceth, with this it endeth; since, as from the commencement which
we have left behind, so in the end, whither we are returning, there is
not anything that can more profitably please us, than the praise of
God, and Allelujah evermore.
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
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[5100] Lat. CXVII.
[5101] Mark x. 17, 18.
[5102] Ps. cxv. 12, 13.
[5103] Ps. cxv. 14.
[5104] Rom. viii. 33.
[5105] Eph. vi. 12.
[5106] Eph. ii. 2.
[5107] Mark x. 18.
[5108] Dan. xii. 1.
[5109] Ps. xxxiv. 8.
[5110] Rom. iv. 25.
[5111] Ps. viii. 4.
[5112] 2 Cor. vi. 10.
[5113] Rom. v. 3.
[5114] mss. facientes. Edd. impatientes.
[5115] Ps. xlii. 4.
[5116] Ps. lxxxiv. 4.
[5117] Rev. xxii. 15.
[5118] Ps. cxx. 5.
[5119] Eph. ii. 15, 16.
[5120] Ps. cxiv. 2.
[5121] Isa. xlix. 8.
[5122] John v. 43.
[5123] 2 Cor. v. 13, 14.
[5124] [Contrary to all his habitual usage, our author fails to note
just here what is written in St. Matt. xxi. 15, 16, concerning this
Paschal Psalm, and the hosannas of children in the temple.--C.]
[5125] Matt. xxi. 9, 42.
[5126] 1 Tim. ii. 5.
[5127] Ps. xlii. 4.
Finis
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