Sunday October 20 Pentecost 22
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Psalm 148
These three psalms are especially appropriate on Sundays, the mini-anniversary of the resurrection. All creation praises God-the heavens, the earth-including fog, sea monsters, and “creeping things” (perhaps even insects or worms)-and humanity-rulers, young people and old people-all things without exception praise God together. Notice that the sequence is taken from the first creation story in Genesis: first light, then the heavens, then creatures of the water, then creatures of the land, and finally people.
Psalm 149
Songs of joy at God’s victory. The joy of military victories toward the end of the psalm was their way of saying that God has ended all injustice.
Psalm 150
A scene of riotous joy as every conceivable instrument and every creature praises God.
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 4.1-10 What’s Ecclesiasticus about?
Advice to be generous to the poor-you will then be a full member of God’s family.
Matthew 16.13-20 What’s Matthew about?
Peter realizes that Jesus is the embodiment of God’s kingdom come into the world. Matthew is often concerned about how the early Christian community of his time will remain faithful and so he remembers Jesus giving responsibility for the community to Peter.
This week’s collect:
Almighty and everliving God,
increase in us your gift of faith,
that forsaking what lies behind
and reaching out to what is before,
we may run the way of your commandments
and win the crown of everlasting joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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