The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (Yr C) Jun 26, 2016

 

The Psalm Appointed

 

Psalm 118

 

1   Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *

    his mercy endures for ever.

2   Let Israel now proclaim, *

    “His mercy endures for ever.”

3   Let the house of Aaron now proclaim, *

    “His mercy endures for ever.”

4   Let those who fear the Lord now proclaim, *

    “His mercy endures for ever.”

5   I called to the Lord in my distress; *

     the Lord answered by setting me free.

6   The Lord is at my side, therefore I will not fear; *

     what can anyone do to me?

7   The Lord is at my side to help me; *

     I will triumph over those who hate me.

8   It is better to rely on the Lord *

     than to put any trust in flesh.

9   It is better to rely on the Lord *

     than to put any trust in rulers.

10 All the ungodly encompass me; *

     in the name of the Lord I will repel them.

11 They hem me in, they hem me in on every side; *

     in the name of the Lord I will repel them.

12 They swarm about me like bees;

     they blaze like a fire of thorns; *

     in the name of the Lord I will repel them.

13 I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, *

     but the Lord came to my help.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *

     and he has become my salvation.

15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *

     in the tents of the righteous:

16 “The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *

     the right hand of the Lord is exalted!

     the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”

17 I shall not die, but live, *

     and declare the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *

      but he did not hand me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *

     I will enter them;

     I will offer thanks to the Lord.

20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *

     he who is righteous may enter.”

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *

     and have become my salvation.

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *

     has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord’s doing, *

     and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 On this day the Lord has acted; *

     we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Hosanna, Lord, hosanna! *

     Lord, send us now success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *

     we bless you from the house of the Lord.

27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *

     form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

28 “You are my God, and I will thank you; *

     you are my God, and I will exalt you.”

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *

     his mercy endures for ever.

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

 

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Old Testament: II Kings (2:1-2, 6-14)

 

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.  Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.  When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.  Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

 

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The Response:  Canticle 16

“The Song of Zechariah”

 

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

 

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The Gospel: Luke (9:51-62)

 

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.  As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

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TODAY’S HOMILY

by the Rev. Deacon George Snyder

 

Today’s sermon was delivered by the Rev. Deacon George Snyder.

 

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