A merciful Heavenly Father
St. Mark's ChurchA Reflection upon this Sunday's Collect
The 21st Sunday afterTrinity, November 13, 2011
Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-20
The Gospel: St. John 4:46-54
(I) An Historical Note. This is the final collect is a series of fourteen collects taken from Gelasius (the series began on Trinity 6 and includes each Sunday except for Trinity 17). Like other Gelasian collects (such as the second collects at Morning and Evening Prayer), this prayer is concerned with Peace. As commentator Stephens-Hodge wrote: “No doubt in each of these three collects Gelasius was thinking primarily of peace on earth. The pax Romana which had held the old world together for so long was in process of being shattered, and men were looking around for some new basis of security.”[1] As is evident from his collects, Gelasius understood that true peace comes only through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lasting and real outward peace is the fruit of the inward peace (“the peace of God which passeth all understanding”) which abides in the hearts and minds of those who know and love the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.
(II) Comments on the Collect.
Grant, we beseech thee . . . pardon and peace (so) that they may be cleansed from all their sins. Let us begin with the Petition – that for which we are asking. The conviction of having sinned against God is a terrible weight and burden – but as St. John reminds us: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins.” In this Collect we are beseeching God the Father to remember the atoning death of the Son upon the Cross, in order that we might be both declared forgiven (pardoned) and also restored to peace.
Grant us pardon. The English pardon is a translation of the Latin indulgentia. There are some nuances in the Latin that we lose in English. It is as though we are praying: “O God, be indulgent towards your people – overlook our faults and our defects of character as a father would do for his children.”[2] Let us not lose sight of the fact that we are praying for the Church – for God’s faithful people, his children through adoption. This is not a prayer for the “absolution which God gives, when first a sinner sincerely turns to Him, but the outflowing of fatherly compassion towards His children or believing servants, whereby their constantly recurring failures are put away.”[3] And so, in the spirit of such promises from God as Malachi 3:17 – “I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son who serveth him” – we come as sons and daughters to the Father and beg his merciful indulgence of our misdoings.
Grant us peace. We ask not only for God to pardon us, but also for the further gift of freedom from the torment of sin, anxiety and worry. We are praying that we might know (or sense) our pardon and thus enjoy inner peace, because of the mercy of our Father towards us.
that they may be cleansed from all their sins. Believing that God’s promise to pardon his people when they sin applies to us when we sin and then enjoying that forgiveness is described here as being cleansed from all (our) sins.
Having considered the Petition, let us now go back and reflect upon the two conditions upon which this pardon, peace and cleansing rests: (1) the mercy of God to accept the substitutionary death of Christ on behalf of sinners and (2) the faithfulness of the people.
merciful Lord. In this Collect we call upon a God whom we confess as merciful. In the original Latin, the word translated here as “merciful” is placitus which means “appeased.” The wrath of God against sin has been appeased (satisfied, propitiated) by means of Christ’s atonement upon the Cross, therefore we may come to the Father through the Son and beseech him for pardon (the compassionate overlooking of our sins because of the Cross) and peace (freedom from the torment of sin and from anxiety and worry). [4]
. . . to thy faithful people. The second condition of forgiveness is faith. God’s faithful people are those who in the faith of Christ believe that he is willing and able to accomplish that which he has promised. As we read in the book of Hebrews: “. . . without faith it is impossible to please him (God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
(so that they may) serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed state of serving God with a quiet mind comes as the result of a previous action of the merciful Lord our God, in and upon the souls of those who seek to be his faithful servants. Oftentimes, however, instead of that ability to spend long, fruitful times in meditation on God’s Word written, and contemplation of God’s Incarnate Word, our minds easily wander off into exercitations concerning problems, fears and anxieties. It is only as we confess our sins, humble ourselves before God, and seek his pardon, cleansing and peace that shall we be able to serve our Father with a quiet mind. “If therefore we would serve God with a quiet mind we must not only not live in sin, but we must not carry about with us the burden of unforgiven sin.”[5] Such devoted and attentive commitment to the Lord in service free from anxiety and distraction is what God deserves, requires and asks for; and it is our high privilege, responsibility and opportunity to offer the service of a quiet mind, even when we are going through a crisis.[6]
The late Dr. Peter Toon paraphrased the message of this collect as: “Merciful Father, we implore You to give to your faithful people, who freely confess their sins to You, the blessings of pardon and inward peace, together with the cleansing of their hearts, that they may serve You with undivided and consecrated attention; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”[7]
Fr. J. S. Patterson
[1] Stephens-Hodge, 146.
[2] See Goulburn, 330.
[3] Goulburn, 330.
[4] Shepherd, 218.
[5] Daniel, 306.
[6] This paragraph is a modified (edited) version of an unpublished essay by Peter Toon (written in 2006).
[7] Peter Toon (from an unpublished essay).
Reader Comments (2)
I have to admit I am very impressed with the quality of your blog. It is certainly a pleasure to read as I do enjoy your posts.
The Christian Louboutin Leopard High-heel Boots voted, at their party conference in September, to repeal large parts of the Christian Louboutin Apricot-colored Slingbacks. Julian Huppert MP, chairman of the party's Christian Louboutin Platform Toggle Ankle Boot said: "Tackling piracy is important, but it shouldn't be seen as an end in Christian Louboutin Platform Lace-up Bootie Light Coffee. It's more important to create conditions that reward innovation and talent, and ensure that creators get the benefits of their christian louboutin platform lace up bootie black. "The Digital Economy Act fails to do that; worse, it sorely lacks a convincing evidence base and Christian Louboutin Three-Strap Mary Jane White legitimacy." The government has also dropped plans to block access to websites which host copyright infringing Christian Louboutin Three-Strap Mary Jane Black Patent Leather, despite the act giving them powers to do so. Instead, it is likely that rights holders will be encouraged to take action against Christian Louboutin Mad Mary Janes Black using different laws shoes Outlet. In July, BT was ordered to block the website Newzbin2 because it provided links to pirated films Christian Louboutin Three-Strap Mary Jane Black. That case was brought under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, rather than the Christian Louboutin Nude Slingback. Red Bottom Shoes Hit tv dramas these kinds of as Christian Louboutin Slingback Jeweled Slingback. and Grey’s Anatomy have spawned the notion that hospital scrubs would be the ultimate Christian Louboutin Slingback Leopard for comfort and reduce and fashion. The stars using the well-known signifies have developed nursing scrubs fashionable. But before Christian Louboutin Slingback Leopard print patent introduced her scrubs assortment or Urbane nursing scrubs grew to become a primary variety for Christian Louboutin Slingback Jeweled Slingback in add-on to other health care professionals, scrubs are already only put on by surgeons and only for the duration of surgeries.
The Christian Louboutin Slingback Peep Toe Glitter is usually in or far from fashion, mixed and matched or clashed, essentially the most essential component is sensation cozy and confident. Christian Louboutin Slingback Very Jaws 140 slingbacks that arrived in to the style cycle within 70’s are returning back though again and Christian Louboutin Slingback Mater Claude Peep-Toe Pumps, but even within their 70’s heyday, e.g. the huge checks owe their origin to Christian Louboutin Suede Cage Bootie Black. So the confirm design remains to be in and out while using cycle actually offered that Christian Louboutin Slingback Red experienced been 1st thought to be fashionable. And if we seem way more closely in the Christian Louboutin Slingback In Black that are already constant all over many decades, as well as centuries they are already designed with purpose in mind. Protective versus the Louboutin Boots In Black. Take be aware of how Thomas Burberry arrived up while using concept of the Louboutin Tall Boots In Black.
Thomas Burberry Noticing how local Louboutin Ankle Boots In Black and farmers wore linen smocks, that are already impressive in summer time and comfortable within winter, he attempted to utilize the Louboutin Boots In Gray same rules to other clothing. In 1879 he designed a cloth which was weatherproofed within yarn just before weaving, employing a key method after which Louboutin Boots In Black proofed though again within piece, employing the precise same undisclosed formula. the brand-new substance was untearable and weatherproof, while impressive and breathable. He generally known as the Louboutin Booty Leopard Boots ‘gabardine’ and registered the Louboutin 93060 La Wrinkled Gray Suede Boot being a trademark. It grew to become the assortment mackintosh for British officers in the training course of the Louboutin Grey Stretch Platform OTK Boots in Europe, therefore the name Trench Coat. It stays appropriate to unique type besides some color additions Beats by Dr Dre. Then arrived Louboutin Platform Pump Blue, in any metal you like, there is sufficient historic previous in these small gems to create a dozen books. They dropped far from style for Louboutin Pumps after which it arrived back though again within 80’s and now actually more powerful and switching to Louboutin Pumps Leopard Print. It appears like they are planning being all over for just about any minimal of the Louboutin Pumps Black Leather, hopefully. Now we see men’s diamond evolving, the name to observe Vivienne Westwood. Did you actually contemplate by which the discount christian louboutin women's shoes fit originated? Not Italy, Not Germany, Not France. The final result of the Louboutin Furry Short Boots In Black youthful man who just made the decision to generate his especially own Louboutin Furry Short Boots and never be motivated by his peers red bottom shoes. Brummell rejected 18th century frills (dandy man). His Christian Louboutin Pumps Lucifer Bow 120mm Black, a shadowy azure coat, buff-coloured pantaloons and christian louboutin pumps NIB red patent, black color boots in inclusion to a completely clean white guitar neck Christian Louboutin Miss Fast Plato 120 Ankle Boots Purple, survives presently for the motive that shadowy group Christian Louboutin Zipito 120mm Suede Ankle Boots Beige, white shirt and silk tie Bell bottomed trousers are already an additional ‘Christian Louboutin Vicky Booty 120mm Suede Ankle Boots Claret’ while using rectangular rig uniform. These are already sensible garments for Christian Louboutin Toundra Fur Suede Ankle Boots Black Red who worked sailing ships offered which they could be rolled up securely to clear the ft and ankles when working the Christian Louboutin Madame Butterfly Booty 150 Suede Purple. In normal with all other products of the sailor’s , trousers are already kept folded prepared for use in the package bag. Kept within out to continue being apart from fluff in regards to the Christian Louboutin Velours Scrunch Suede Boots Coffee as well as to continue being apart from ‘shine’ by ironing, they are already folded horizontally at about a hand’s Christian Louboutin Sandals Rodita Zip Platform Black and taped right into a rectangular ‘block’.
ganjames