Galatians 6:1–10, 14–18—This Sunday, we shall celebrate our nation’s
independence. Our political liberty and freedom is a gift from God. Yet, in the
Church, we are not independent. We are member of one body, the mystical body of
Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). As such, we are not to live our lives for
ourselves independent of others, but are to bear one another’s burdens. The
strong Christians are to help the weak.
St Paul urges us, let us not grow weary of doing good,
for we are a new creation in Christ, and, as such, our wills are conformed to
God’s will, which desires what is best for all people.
Under the theme “The Nature of God’s Kingdom” the epistle
lessons tells of life in the Kingdom on earth.
This lesson speaks
especially about good works; to bear one another’s burden, to “forgive those who trespass against us,”
to share all good things with him who teaches us. But the apostle
Paul does not forget to make it clear that these good works come only from a “new creation” from those who are able to
“sow to the Spirit.”
Te natural human impulse is to act, to judge one’s actions, and to approve or correct oneself. (The conscience) For this reason it is so difficult for us to understand the impossible for us to believe that God forgives without our being able to correct our mistakes and to justify ourselves before God. God has to change our minds and make us accept forgiveness by faith in Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
Collect for the Pentecost Season: Almighty God, You have built Your Church on
the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself as the
cornerstone. Continue to send Your messengers to preserve Your people in true
peace that, by the preaching of Your Word, Your Church may be kept free from
all harm and danger; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[2]
Collect for Thursday of the week of Pentecost 4: O thou who in almighty power wast weak and in perfect Excellency was lowly, grant unto us the same mind. All that we have which is our own is naught if we have any good in us it is wholly thy gift. O Savior, since thou, the Lord of heaven and earth didst humble thyself, grant unto us true humility, and make us like thyself, and then, of thine infinite goodness, raise us to thine everlasting glory; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, forever and ever. Amen (Thomas Crammer) -[3]30 June, 2022
[1] Lift High the Cross, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Pentecost 4, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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