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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost • Year C
July 6, 2025 • Proper 9
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Historical Collect
O God, you never undermine your purpose, as you perfectly provide for all that you create. Remove from our way all that is harmful and give us what will profit that we may share in your invincible 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
Almighty God, called to walk the path of life by following your Son, Jesus, we are likewise sent out into your world to be beacons of your love and grace. May our lives always bear witness to your redeeming grace made known in the cross; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
The Lord will bring peace to his people, and will keep them in the land of the living. This comfort and consolation comes only through the cross of Christ. It is through his own humiliation that the faithful are lifted up. His peace will rest upon those who hear his Word and respond with faith. This is the gospel harvest.
First Reading • Isaiah 66:10-14
When we love people as Jesus did, sowing the Gospel will be the heart’s desire. Jesus loved Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44) and wanted his peace for her but she rejected him. Our cities may also reject him but do we weep over them? The day may come when we may rejoice with our cities because we have first wept over them. May our mournful weeping stir up in us the labor before us! When we admit to ourselves their plight, we will delight in going into the fields and cities, in-step with the Spirit, for “the hand of the LORD is with his servants.”
Psalm • Psalm 66:1-7
What has God accomplished in history — and in you and your congregation? Spread the news. Plant the seed of the Good News.
Second Reading • Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18
The obvious connection of the Epistle to the Gospel today is sowing toward the harvest. The difference is that in the Gospel lesson, the focus is on others but in the Epistle, the focus is on us. We must take advantage of the opportunities God provides to “sow to the Spirit.” The Christian too often holds on to the Gospel seed, rationalizing that it may not grow or that she may not plant properly. This is of no concern to Jesus. He expects that the seed will fall on a variety of “soil” (Mark 4:1-20). Our job is to scatter. Results are the Spirit’s task after we have scattered the seed. So, scatter!
Gospel • Luke 10:1-20
The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Yet, how many potential laborers there are in each congregation. Jesus sent out 72 and told them to pray for more workers. In our congregations, there are many more than 72 who might scatter seed. The Lord has blessed us with laborers; we must send them out. Because his message is, “repent,” we should expect rejection. Remind them that it is the Lord who is actually being rejected. Yet peace is promised to those who by God’s grace listen.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
