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15th Sunday After Pentecost • Year B
September 1, 2024 • Proper 17
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Historical Collect
O Lord, fully continue to purify and defend your Church. Since she cannot stand firmly without your power, govern her always by your grace; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
Eternal and everlasting God, keep us diligent in our faithfulness that we might not fall into practicing hollow rituals and traditions but always worship you and you alone in purity and holiness; through our own life’s journey; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
How does one stay strong in faith? At first glance, it seems that the answer is in the doing of things like keeping commandments. It has far more to do with believing God’s word, what he says he will do. In order to go in and take the land, Israel had to first believe that God was truly with them. Then, the further unfolding of God’s word and will may provide wisdom, light, faith. When we believe that the Lord is near, how could his face not shine upon us? We must be strong, not in ourselves but in the strength of God’s might. Such faith comes from the Word teaching the Lord’s presence, that we may have his strength and will to keep his commandments, so that good things come from within us.
First Reading • Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
The Deuteronomistic principle is: keep God's commands and be blessed, do not keep them, and be cursed. Here, the blessing is taking possession of the land. That is a command that his chosen people kept with varying degrees of commitment and success. As soon as the people began to look on the land itself, instead of the Lord who gave them the land, they began to forget what God had done for them. This is why Moses implored them, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget... (Deut 4:9)
Psalm • Psalm 119:129-136
The psalmist provides us with a picture of the person who not only wants to hear God's word but wants God to teach it to him. He wants to keep God's commandments, so he wants God to reveal it like light unveils things kept in the darkness. He distrusts his own abilities and asks God to steady his steps in the way. He cares not only for himself but for all who do not keep God's law.
Second Reading • Ephesians 6:10-20
Perhaps Paul alludes to the exhortation to Joshua: “Only be strong and very courageous.” (Josh 1:7) If so, he adds a twist. The apostle tells us to be strong in the Lord—in the strength of his might instead of our own strength and courage. Using well-worn metaphorical language that he has used elsewhere (Rom 13:14), he tells us to put on the armor of God. Was Paul thinking of young David, trying on the king's armor but finally going to face the giant in the armor of God, in the strength of his might?
Gospel • Mark 7:14-23
Jesus turns religious ritual on its head—and the ritually religious as well. Just as the food they put in their stomachs would never defile the heart, their bodily rituals would never cleanse their hearts. Human nature, along with the litany of “evil things” Jesus mentioned, will never be addressed by religious rituals and human traditions. The human heart is never cleansed except by the work of God.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
