Second Sunday after Trinity

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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Sunday, June 30, 2019

Readings:
Lesson: Judges 13:8-25
Psalm: 18:1-20
Epistle: 1 John 3:13-24
Gospel: Luke 14:16-24

ADORATION
I love You, O Lord, for You are my Strength, my Savior, and my God. When I call upon You, You save me from the sorrow of my soul, the hell of my heart, and the trouble of my mind. You remind me that You are present as much on fiery cherubim and bright heavens as in darkness and thick clouds. You stop at nothing to reach through, come down, grasp and deliver me from my strongest enemies—the thoughts, feelings, and voices within that hate me, that tell me I’m not good enough, that I don’t deserve You, that feel too mighty for me. You deliver me to freedom, not because of my righteous dealing but because of Your loving heart.

CONFESSION
Lord, You appeared to Manoah and his barren wife to tell them that she would now conceive a son, Samson, dedicated to Your purposes. I acknowledge that You have a plan for all of us. Your appearances to Manoah’s wife joined her husband to her, and Your plan for Samson of necessity involved his parents. I admit that I do not recognize when the plan You have for me involves linking my individual life path with others’. I confess that, when You make Yourself known to me, I do not reach out to other fellow believers, when You have said it is not good for us to be alone. I affirm the need I have for community, fellowship and mutual upbuilding.

THANKSGIVING
Dear God, You teach me to know that I pass from death to life every time I love another as You have loved me. I thank You for showing me that Love is the key to life. I perceive Your love in Your Son’s laying down of His life for me, and so You sanctify all suffering. I thank You for showing me that Love is not just a word or an emotion, but also deed and truth. I am strengthened and renewed in the truth that You are greater than my own heart, so that when my heart condemns me for past mistakes, I can let go of that guilt, seek and trust in You more, and rest in Your assurance. You want me to ask of You, so that, in Your love, You can give me more.

SUPPLICATION
Lord Jesus Christ, You have invited me to Your holy meal—not just at the end of time, but right now, every day in this life. I ask You not to rescind Your invitation just because I make excuses not to be with You. Do not let me use the excuse of buying new land when You are the only Ground of All Being. Do not let me use the excuse of yoking myself to my work, as if I could go labor somewhere else apart from You. Do not let me use the excuse of marriage, as if I could put another person above You, my true Lover. Go out into the streets and lanes of my heart, and call me back to Your house, which will always have as much room as Your infinite love.

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