*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Notable Feast Days this Week:

July 3 - St. Thomas, Apostle (Roman Catholic)
July 4 - Andrew of Crete, 740
July 5 - Athanasius of Mt. Athos, 1003
July 6 - Sexburga, Ely, 699
July 7 - Palladius of Rome, 1st Bishop of Ireland, c. 432
July 7 - Ethelburga, Faremoutier, 664
July 8 - Aquila and Prisca, Acts 18:2 (Roman Catholic)
July 8 - Sunniva, Norway, 10th c.
July 9 - 2nd Ecumenical Council concluded, 381

Revised Common Lectionary

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 45:10-17
Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Green

Forward

- The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - July 9, 2017 (Year A)

Rest, Provision, and Humility

God is good and raises up those who are humble (Psalm 145:8-14). He surprises us with companionship and the promise of future blessings (Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67). In the context of God's care, we still struggle to be released from the burdens that we place on ourselves. We know better but are still prone to do the things that we shouldn't do (Romans 7:15-25a). In the midst of these struggles, Christ invites us to serve him in humility. In his service, we find rest and strength for the journey (Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30)."

Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 45:10-17

Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord...Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king. Your sons will take the place of your fathers...I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:8-14

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all... All your works praise you...your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

Commentary on Psalm 145
Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon,
Pope Benedict XVI

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49,
58-67
Isaac and Rebecca at the well

Zechariah 9:9-12
The king comes in peace to bring freedom

Romans 7:15-25a
Struggling with sin

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
The yoke of discipleship

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

Prayer

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. -The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (Click to View)

Daily Prayer (Click to View)

Audio Prayer Meditation - Pray As You Go

Spotify Playlist

Singing Psalms and Hymns

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say | Words by Horatius Bonar, 1846 / Music arranged by Michael Card (Kingsfold melody) | Leadsheets

O My God and King and Savior (Psalm 145) | A metrical setting of Psalm 145 to the tune of "Praise the Savior, Now and Ever" | Leadsheet

145 (Every Living Thing)| Refrain by Lacey Brown | Leadsheet

Psalm 145 (I Will Praise Your Name) | Refrain by David Hass | Leadsheet

I Will Lift Up Your Name (Psalm 145) | By Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek | Leadsheet

Psalm 45 | Four-part vocal arrangement from the Genevan Psalter, 1543 | Leadsheet

Psalm 45 and 145 Anglican Chant | Music on pgs. 88 and 320 of Anglican Chant Psalter

Psalm 45 Metrical Options

Psalm 145 Metrical Options

Hymn Suggestions for The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost from Hymnary.org

Commentary on Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

You are to “take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” You are not learning from me how to refashion the fabric of the world, nor to create all things visible and invisible, nor to work miracles and raise the dead. Rather, you are simply learning of me: “that I am meek and lowly in heart.” If you wish to reach high, then begin at the lowest level. If you are trying to construct some mighty edifice in height, you will begin with the lowest foundation. This is humility. However great the mass of the building you may wish to design or erect, the taller the building is to be, the deeper you will dig the foundation. The building in the course of its erection rises up high, but he who digs its foundation must first go down very low. So then, you see even a building is low before it is high and the tower is raised only after humiliation.
-Augustine

More Historical Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening

Thematic Art

Enjoying this newsletter? Become a patron of the Liturgy Letter on Patreon; an on-going crowd funding service where you can commit to as little as $1 a month or set a maximum limit. Anything helps!

Thank you for your support.