THE 15TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

INTROIT. Inclina, Domine. Ps. 86 BOW down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me: my God, save thy servant, that putteth his trust in thee: be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I will call daily upon thee. Ibid Ps. Comfort the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. V. Glory be.

COLLECT. KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

First Lesson:  Isaiah 49:14-18

[14] But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.” [15] “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. [16] Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. [17] Your builders outstrip your destroyers, and those who laid you waste go forth from you. [18] Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, says the LORD, you shall put them all on as an ornament, you shall bind them on as a bride does.

Psalm 62 To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

[1] For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
[2] He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved.
[3] How long will you set upon a man to shatter him, all of you, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
[4] They only plan to thrust him down from his eminence. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. [Selah]
[5] For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
[6] He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
[7] On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
[8] Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. [Selah]
[9] Men of low estate are but a breath, men of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
[10] Put no confidence in extortion, set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
[11] Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God;
[12] and that to thee, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For thou dost requite a man
according to his work.

EPISTLE. Galatians 6:11-18 11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

GRADUAL. Ps. 92 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest. V. To tell of thy lovingkindness early in the morning, and of thy truth in the night-season. Alleluia, alleluia. V. Ps. 95 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. St. Matthew 6:24-34 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

OFFERTORY. Ps. 40:1, 3 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me: he heard my calling, and he hath put a new song in my mouth, even a thanksgiving unto our God.