384. Friday after Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord, chasten us, and give us truth
in our heart of hearts. Amen.
Mark 7, 6-13. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men: For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
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“This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” This is true of those who go to church, read their prayers, partake of holy communion, and lead decent lives; yet are dead, and ignorant of their danger, and have knowledge neither of sin nor of grace, and will not admit the necessity of repentance and a new birth. Dear reader, hear these words of the Lord, and examine yourself in their light! There are thousands of such among us; and they rob themselves of eternal salvation. Even among those who are regarded as patterns of piety there are doubtless many whose judgment is pronounced in these words: “They honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” They associate with believers, receive “the brethren” in their houses, and have a way of speaking with unction and of looking devout, but they are without the daily knowledge of sin and the grace of the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from sin. Neither do they know that charity which “seeketh not her own,” and which “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things”; but they are severe in pronouncing judgment on those whom they call the children of the world; give short measure; are willing to profit at the expense of others; drive hard bargains, and make it unpleasant to have any dealings with them; are blind to the faults of their own set, and fairly shine with self-complacency. Such people are the greatest pest of the church; the upright must suffer, and the name of God is blasphemed for their sake. Let none think that truly pious men are like those above described, and let none cast a stone at his brother; but rather let each examine himself as in the sight of God! — These words of the Lord are for the admonition of us all. You know that your flesh is a snare always, and that out of it come many evil things. You must watch, and obey the Spirit, if your life is to please God and be for the edification of man. Shun all hypocrisy as the worst of Satan’s belongings; and exterminate all falsehood in yourselves! I do not advise you to abstain from using the word of God and from doing good until you shall be able to do it in a perfectly proper spirit; but I must say to each one of you: Lay to heart the word of God, and obey it; obey it as the word of God, in the fear of God and with honest heart; and set men a good example! Let them see that it is charity which speaks and acts in you; the charity which never is petty, but generous and rich; never censorious, but high-minded and merciful; and bear in mind that your conduct must bear witness of Jesus!
Help us, O God, that our hearts may fear thee, and that we may in truth honor thee. Grant us grace to live in true holiness, in holy charity; that they who revile our good conversation in Christ may be put to shame, and repent, and praise thee. Amen.*
Whate’er we do, where’er we go,
Let love our sonship prove:
Our lives the fire celestial show,
Our thoughts and words be love.
O deign to send the love of thee
From highest heaven above;
For then our life thy praise shall be,
When all our life is love.
[suggested tune: St. Agnes (TLH 361; listen here)]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.