Ninth Sunday after Trinity

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NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Sunday, August 18, 2019

Readings:
Lesson: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20
Psalm: 49
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:1-14
Gospel: Luke 16:1-15

ADORATION
Spirit of God, I praise You for the wisdom You place in my mouth, and the understanding You plant in my heart. I incline my ear to the parables You set forth in Scripture because, through them, You reveal the multitude of its riches, the multi-layered meanings of Your Word and Wisdom. You teach me that no human being can deliver or redeem another, and so I learn that You make me the equal of my neighbor in order to love and heal us both. I praise You for delivering my soul from the power of the grave—that is, from the pursuit of empty material success that is here today and gone tomorrow. I carry nothing away with me at my death, except Your presence, Your grace and Your love.

CONFESSION
Father, Your servant David prayed that his son Solomon would keep Your ways and build Your temple according to the plan David drafted. I confess that I do not pray for the next generation which will have to build upon the plans my generation has begun. I expect them to walk in the ways of Love without telling them of the greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty of that Love. I expect them to honor the Source of all good things without being a source of goodness myself. I want them to respect the Mystery of creation without teaching them that all things come from You. If I truly want an upright and perfect heart, then I acknowledge my need to direct my heart ever more to You.

THANKSGIVING
Lord, I thank You that it is not Your will for me to be in ignorance, but that You use the story of Israel to instruct me of Your way of love. As You baptized Your people of old in the cloud and sea, so also You immerse me in the breath of Your Spirit and the waters of Your knowledge. As You caused Israel to pass through the waters, so also You cause me to walk safely through waves of doubt and fear. As You provided them with food from heaven and water from the rock, so also You nourish me with the holy meal of Your Son and the rock of faith in Him. I thank You for Your faithfulness, that You do not give me more than I can handle, but that You are with me as my way to wholeness.

SUPPLICATION
Lord Jesus Christ, the unjust manager of Your story decreased his debtors’ bills, thereby making friends for himself by means of unrighteous wealth. When I am powerless to resist temptation, help me at least to decrease the amount of wrongdoing I participate in. Help me to turn situations of dishonesty and injustice into opportunities for redemption and integrity. Help me to use material resources that run out as a way to pursue heavenly truths that last through eternity. Help me never to be divided in my loyalty to You by serving false gods of riches and possessions, but rather to keep my heart fixed on the one Truth who, in His goodness and love, created those goods for my use.

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