Sunday Proper 1

Remember, O Lord, what thou hast wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as thou hast called us to thy service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

 

First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see thee in thy one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Holy Sonnet II: As Due By Many Titles I Resign

As due by many titles I resign
My self to Thee, O God; first I was made
By Thee, and for Thee, and when I was decayed
Thy blood bought that, the which before was Thine;
I am Thy son, made with Thy Self to shine,
Thy servant, whose pains Thou hast still repaid,
Thy sheep, thine image, and, till I betrayed
My self, a temple of Thy Spirit divine;
Why doth the devil then usurp on me?
Why doth he steal, nay ravish that’s thy right?
Except thou rise and for thine own work fight,
Oh I shall soon despair, when I do see
That thou lov’st mankind well, yet wilt not choose me,
And Satan hates me, yet is loth to lose me.

 

- John Donne

 

 

Perseverance

Sing, heart within me, though no shout ascendeth,

No trumpet soundeth on this battlefield.

Yet sing, my heart, O sing the Grace that lendeth

Cuorage to stand thy ground and not to yield.

 

Not in me, Lord, Thou knowest, was there ever

Strength to endure, or any fortitude.

Now in the silence, come — for I would never

Miss Thy bright Presence, walk in solitude.

 

Broken my sword — what use a weapon broken?

Yet with that broken blade till set of sun

I fain would fight. O blessed be the token –

The secret token saith: Fight on! Fight on!

 

- Amy Carmichael

 

 

The Donkey

When forests walked and fishes flew
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood,
Then, surely, I was born.

 

With monstrous head and sickening bray
And ears like errant wings—
The devil’s walking parody
Of all four-footed things:

 

The battered outlaw of the earth
Of ancient crooked will;
Scourge, beat, deride me—I am dumb—
I keep my secret still.

 

Fools! For I also had my hour—
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout around my head
And palms about my feet.

 

- G.K. Chesterton