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THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

INTROIT. Suscepimus. Psalm 48
WE have waited for thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple: O God, according to thy Name, so is thy praise unto the world’s end: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Ps. ibid. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised: in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill. V. Glory be.

COLLECT. O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth: we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Lesson:  Sirach 27:4-7

[4] When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man’s filth remains in his thoughts. [5] The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a man is in his reasoning. [6] The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man’s mind. [7] Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men.

Psalm 92:1-2, 11-15 A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

[1] It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to thy name, O Most High;
[2] to declare thy steadfast love in the morning, and thy faithfulness by night,
[11] My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies, my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
[12] The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
[13] They are planted in the house of the LORD, they flourish in the courts of our God.
[14] They still bring forth fruit in old age, they are ever full of sap and green,
[15] to show that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

EPISTLE. Romans 8:12-17

12 BRETHREN, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

GRADUAL. Ps. 31 Be thou my strong rock and house of defence, that thou mayest save me. V. In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. Ps. 48. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised: in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. St. Matthew 7:15-21
15 AT that time; Jesus said to his disciples: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

OFFERTORY. Ps. 18. Thou shalt save the people that are in adversity, O Lord, and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud: for who is God, but the Lord?

A fisherman lowers a net into calm water at sunrise on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus stands beside him, symbolizing faith and trust after a night of empty nets.

Nevertheless at Thy Word: Faith in the Midst of Empty Nets

by | Jul 5, 2026 |

Sermon Excerpt — Trinity 5
Luke 5:1–11
Have you ever worked hard at something, only to come up empty? Simon Peter knew that feeling well. After a long night of fishing, he and his companions had caught nothing. Exhausted and discouraged, they returned to shore and began washing their nets—resigned to failure.

It was in that very moment that Jesus stepped in and said, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets.”

By all human reasoning, this made no sense. The night was over. The opportunity had passed. Yet Peter responds with remarkable faith:“Nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net.”

Those four words change everything.

Peter obeys—and the result is abundance beyond imagination. The nets overflow. The boats nearly sink. What began in exhaustion ends in overwhelming blessing.

This passage reminds us that faith often looks like simple obedience in difficult moments. Not when we feel strong or confident, but when we are tired, uncertain, and ready to give up. Christ does not wait for us to be perfect or prepared—He meets us in our weakness and calls us to trust Him.

Whatever “empty nets” you are carrying today, bring them to Christ. And then, like Peter, say: “Nevertheless at thy word.” Cast the net once more—and trust that He is faithful.