The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
THE COLLECT
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord: Grant your people grace to renounce gladly the
vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love
of you delight in your whole creation with perfect joy; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Genesis 1:20–22a, 24–26a, 28, 31a
And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds
fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So, God created the great sea
monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters
swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God
blessed them. …And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every
kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it
was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of
every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw
that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make humankind.” …God blessed
them…God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
CANTICLE: Canticle 12
A Song of Creation Benedicite, omnia opera Domini II
The Earth and Its Creatures Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills, and all that grows upon the earth,*
sing praise and give honor for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
SECOND LESSON: Wisdom 11:24–12:1
For you love all things that exist and detest none of the things that you have
made, for you would not have made anything if you had hated it.
How would anything have endured if you had not willed it? Or how would
anything not called forth by you have been preserved? You spare all things, for
they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living. For your immortal spirit is in
all things.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Luke 12.22-32 People: Glory to You Lord Christ
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is
more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens:
they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet
God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And
can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then
you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about
the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet
I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of
these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today
and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe
you— you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat
and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations
of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that
you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be
given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ