Hebrews
13:1–17—How does a person’s humility manifest itself with
regard to those around us? The writer to the Hebrews exhorts us to care for the
needy: Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…remember
those who are in prison…and those who are mistreated.
We ought always to bring to mind Christ’s example, who
suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
Furthermore, we ought to recall those heroes of the faith whom we heard about
in the epistle readings a few weeks ago and imitate their faith. In the Church,
we are to humble ourselves and obey our leaders and submit to them, for God has
appointed them to keep watch over your souls.
The Epistle encourages the hearer to develop a
life-style in direct opposition to the cultural patter of our modern society. “Independence” and “individuality” are the hallmarks of American society. The Biblical
and secular understandings of these two words have little in common. The world
views independence as freedom from something. The LORD views it as freedom for
something. The world views individuality as life for oneself; God views it as
life for others.
For the
mission of the Church: Almighty God, You have called Your Church to
witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your
Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of Your salvation so that all who
hear it may receive the gift of salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer for humility: O God, You resist the proud and give grace to the humble.
Grant us true humility after the likeness of Your only Son that we may never be
arrogant and prideful and thus provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made
partakers of the gifts of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [2]
Collect for
Thursday of the week of Pentecost 11: O Thou, who art the same yet art known to
us through constant change, help us to realize Thy Providence and its
ever-lasting laws, in whatsoever comes to pass. We see Thee within the order
which Thou has made, and we believe in the Presence that besets us before and
behind, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen - Anonymous [3]
-25 August, 2022
[1] Lift High the Cross © Copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Collect for the mission of the Church and for humility, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Pentecost 11, 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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