Proper 9
week of the Sunday closest to July 6

Collect
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 your 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.

First Lesson: Isaiah 66:10-16
"Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
all you who love her;
rejoice greatly with her,
all you who mourn over her.
For you will nurse and be satisfied
at her comforting breasts;
you will drink deeply
and delight in her overflowing abundance."

For this is what the LORD says:

"I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
and dandled on her knees.
As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

When you see this, your heart will rejoice
and you will flourish like grass;
the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants,
but his fury will be shown to his foes.
See, the LORD is coming with fire,
and his chariots are like a whirlwind;
he will bring down his anger with fury,
and his rebuke with flames of fire.
For with fire and with his sword
the LORD will execute judgment upon all men,
and many will be those slain by the LORD.

Second Lesson: Galatians 6:(1-10)14-18
(Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.)

14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Psalm:66

1. Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
   sing the glory of his Name;
   sing the glory of his praise.
2. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! *
   because of your great strength your enemies
   cringe before you.
3. All the earth bows down before you, *
   sings to you, sings out your Name."
4. Come now and see the works of God, *
   how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
5. He turned the sea into dry land,
   so that they went through the water on foot, *
   and there we rejoiced in him.
6. In his might he rules for ever;
   his eyes keep watch over the nations; *
   let no rebel rise up against him.
7. Bless our God, you peoples; *
   make the voice of his praise to be heard;
8. Who holds our souls in life, *
   and will not allow our feet to slip.
9. For you, O God, have proved us; *
   you have tried us just as silver is tried.
10. You brought us into the snare; *
    you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
11. You let enemies ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and water; *
    but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
12. I will enter your house with burnt-offerings
    and will pay you my vows, *
    which I promised with my lips
    and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
13. I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts
    with the smoke of rams; *
    I will give you oxen and goats.
14. Come and listen, all you who fear God, *
    and I will tell you what he has done for me.
15. I called out to him with my mouth, *
    and his praise was on my tongue.
16. If I had found evil in my heart, *
    the Lord would not have heard me;
17. But in truth God has heard me; *
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
18. Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *
    nor withheld his love from me.

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12,16-20
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

16"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore