The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
The Reverend Mark Carroll, MMVI
at Evening Prayer
GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm lxvi, Prov. iii:1–7, 11–12, Luke xiv:25
but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Proverbs of King Solomon:
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
What good advice one receives from King Solomon. Advice that never grows old.
Faithful obedience to God begins in the heart, it ends in the heart. Those who put on a show of righteousness and piety, when their hearts are far away from God's law, do feign obedience to their condemnation. Solomon says there is a blessing for hearty obedience: long life and peace. I think I've seen the evidence of that in observing people. Notice who grows old, and where there hearts are.
Next we hear Solomons say,"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart". Truth comes in such ways as speaking truthfully, dealing with people truthfully. Rightly discerning what is good and what is bad; and calling it that. Letting your yes be yes and no be no. Mercy comes in mitigating punishment. We see this in our court system with first offenders. Then the punishment is used in a way to teach, to discipline. We will hear Solomon speak of that in a moment. In the historic ceremony of the church we hear the poeople cry out, as did the blind man, "Lord, have mercy upon us.
Solomon tells us to, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart? Great men often have a great fall, and sometimes they cannot live through it. We heard of King Saul who turned to his own understanding; took matters in his own hands. Would not listen to the Lord in his heart... He failed. He was shamed. He fell on his sword. Other men may fall, and pick themselves up and begin anew, trusting in the Lord's providence to guide them into the ways he has chosen. Christians always have Jesus for a true friend in whom they may trust. A fellow brother has picked up a saying from one of our ministers; something that one should do before doing anything: "Pray on it."Good advice, good practice, for it shows forth a trust in the Lord.
Next Solomon speaks of a sign of where a man's heart is; he says, Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. Now there are some who have next to nothing, yet there is always something that can be given to support the Lord's work of good in this world. Do you remember the story of the poor lady who went to the temple, and humbly put in her two mites into the treasury. Jesus compared her to the rich and pompous who made a show of their offerings, and said she had given more, for she gave from her poverty. Even the man who has nothing, not a penny to his name, still has the labor of his hands, or his mind, that may be offered to God's service. That can take the form of helping the least of his, or sharing his good news, or like Saint Francis did, caring for the churches. One thing that anyone can offer is praise and thanksgiving, as long as we have a breath in our bodies: "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High"
The Reverend Mark Carroll updated 2005
Proverbs iii. 1-12
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
St. Luke xiv. 25
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.