Last Sunday after Trinity 28th October 2007
Collect
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
First reading - Jeremiah 14.7-10,19-22
7) Although our iniquities testify against us,
act, O LORD, for your name’s sake;
our apostasies indeed are many,
and we have sinned against you.
8) O hope of Israel,
its saviour in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveller turning aside for the night?
9) Why should you be like someone confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not forsake us!
10) Thus says the LORD concerning this people:
Truly they have loved to wander,
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the LORD does not accept them,
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.
19) Have you completely rejected Judah?
Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We look for peace, but find no good;
for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
20) We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,
the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you.
21) Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonour your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22) Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O LORD our God?
We set our hope on you,
for it is you who do all this.
Please join in the Psalm refrain:
I will bless your name for ever, my God and King
Second reading - 2 Timothy 4.6-8,16-18
6) As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.
7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8) From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
16) At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!
17) But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
18) The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel
Gospel - Luke 18.9-14
9) Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
10) ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector.
11) The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.
12) I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.”
13) But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
14) I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Post-communion
God of all grace, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your true and living bread; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.