Divine Service for Wednesday of the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - Video and Sermon

Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer 

Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost                            July 16, 2025

 

Collect of the Day: O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

The Epistle is from Romans, the eighth chapter.                               Romans 8:18-23

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  This is the Word of the Lord.

Alleluia Verse: Alleluia. You have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Alleluia.

 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the sixth chapter.                          Luke 6:36-42

³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

³⁷ “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

³⁹ He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. ⁴¹ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. This is the Gospel of the Lord. 

 

Homily:  

O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. 

The Alleluia verse is from Psalm 9. In any age, these are remarkable statements of faith. The position and state of being “oppressed” and “in trouble” are not of our own doing. It is done by those who seek to take advantage of our weakness and exploit our inability to break free. The Psalmist speaks for those whose resources are insufficient to fend of the aggressor and propel them from their troubles. I think of economic oppression by forces beyond our ability to control. Or forced slavery because the army could not hold back the invaders, and you have been captured. I think of the myriad troubles that come when the crops fail, and the wells dry up due to lack of rain. Or the trouble that comes when a family member becomes gravely ill and all resources are exhausted securing care and potential healing. 

Where do we turn when are oppressed and troubled and there is no visible way out? We turn to the LORD, the Psalmist says. We turn to the LORD because he is our help.  

While the Apostle Paul’s living was not directly linked to raising food or lack of drinking water and he was relatively healthy, he did know plenty of suffering. He has been falsely accused, physically beaten, incarcerated, and shipwrecked amongst other things. Given his experiences, we know that he is not being glib when he states: ^18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

What is the basis of his hope for the future? When the Apostle uses the word “glory” he speaks of the splendor and majesty of God’s presence and God’s transformation. What assurance does the Apostle and Church have that anyone will be able to move beyond their present sufferings? 

The basis of our hope is Jesus Christ. Paul explains this mystery of faith to us in Romans 5 and 6. Jesus Christ brings peace to us. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross takes away our sins. We receive the gift of God’s forgiveness through our faith in Jesus as our Savior. Holy Baptism is the rite by which the Holy Spirit through the Word creates faith within us and we are given the promise of forgiveness and life eternal in the glory that will be revealed to us. 

Holy Baptism and the promises of Christ do not take away suffering, but they give us perspective. Suffering on this earth is transitory. The gift of God’s salvation through Christ is eternal. The eternal glory will be revealed to us. In the meantime, we hold on, we remain steadfast in our confession of faith so that we may be fully and completely set free from our bondage to corruption.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.