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Today is August 31st, Trinity 15
First Reading: Jeremiah 15.15-21
O Lord, you know; remember me
and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your
forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. Your words were found, and I ate them, and
your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by
your name, O Lord, God of hosts. I did
not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of
your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound
incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail. Therefore thus
says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand
before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall
serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to
them. And I will make you to this
people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall
not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the
Lord. I will deliver you out of the
hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Psalm 26,1-8
Give judgement for me, O Lord, for I have /
walked with in/tegrity: I have trusted in the / Lord and / have
not / faltered.
Test me, O / Lord, and / try me: examine my / heart / and my / mind.
For your love is be/fore my / eyes: I have / walked / in your / truth.
I
have not joined the company / of the / false: nor con/sorted / with the de/ceitful.
I
hate the gathering of / evil/doers: and I will / not sit / down with the / wicked.
I
will wash my hands in / innocence, O / Lord: that I may / go a/bout your / altar,
To make heard the / voice of / thanksgiving:
and tell of / all your / wonderful /
deeds.
Lord, I love the house of your / habi/tation:
and the / place where your / glory a/bides.
Second Reading: Romans 12.9-21
Love must be completely sincere.
Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.
Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for
one another. Work hard and do not be
lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in
your troubles, and pray at all times.
Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your
homes to strangers. Ask God to bless
those who persecute you - yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with
those who weep. Have the same concern
for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of
yourselves as wise. If someone has done
you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to
be good. Do everything possible on your
part to live in peace with everybody.
Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For
the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says: "If your
enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by
doing this you will make them burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer
evil with good.
Gospel: Matthew 16.21-28
From that time on,
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo
great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and
be killed, and on the third day be raised.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 'God forbid
it, Lord! This must never happen to you.'
But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a
stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but
on human things.' Then Jesus told his
disciples, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and
take up their cross and follow me. For
those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life
for my sake will find it. For what will
it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what
will they give in return for their life?
For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his
Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly
I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they
see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.'
Post Communion Prayer
Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your
perpetual mercy; and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall,
keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things
profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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