If A Man Called Jesus Ever Looked Me In the Eye: Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Welcome to the weekly Ordinary Time Daybook devotional post for the 24 weeks between Pentecost and Advent. Ordinary Time is the longest season of the church calendar - a season of working and resting with Christ as he brings God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
You can read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Ordinary Time.
LOOK: Christ and the Lepers, Diocesan Museum of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising - Source
LISTEN: A Gospel Number, Over the Rhine - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
READ: Ruth 1:1-19a; Psalm 113; 2 Timothy 2:1-15; Luke 17:11-19
Daily Readings for the Week of the Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost*:
Monday (10/10) Psalm 1-3; Psalm 4, 7; Micah 7:1-7; Acts 26:1-23; Luke 8:26-39
Tuesday (10/11) Psalm 5-6; Psalm 10-11; Jonah 1:1-17a; Acts 26:24-27:8; Luke 8:40-56
Wednesday (10/12) Psalm 119:1-24; Psalm 12-14; Jonah 1:17-2:10; Acts 27:9-26; Luke 9:1-17
Thursday (10/13) Psalm 18:1-20; Psalm 18:21-50; Jonah 3:1-4:11; Acts 27:27-44; Luke 9:18-27
Friday (10/14) Psalm 16-17; Psalm 22; Acts 28:1-16; Luke 9:28-36 + Sirach 1:1-10; 18-27**
Saturday (10/15) Psalm 20, 21:1-7; Psalm 110:1-5, 116, 117; Acts 28:17-31; Luke 9:37-50 + Sirach 3:17-31**
**The Apocrypha: What Is It? Why do Anglicans Read It?
PRAY: Collect for Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost, the Book of Common Prayer
O God, our refuge and strength, true source of all godliness: Graciously hear the devout prayers of your Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
DO: On October 4, the Church celebrates the life of Saint Francis of Assissi. I’ve been reading a new-to-me book about him for the last two weeks and am amazed again at his life and faith. What a gift to the entire world!
I’ve been especially drawn to his extravagant and earthy love for the outcasts living in the leper colonies near his home in 12th-century Italy. His commitment to love all creatures—especially the poor— was so fierce that he touched every leper he met, kissed their feet, and shared their food and drink. There are accounts of some of the lepers he touched being healed, but that doesn’t seem to be Francis’ main concern. He seemed most of all compelled to let these lowest of the low in society know that they are completely and wholly loveable. Today’s Gospel account reminds us where Francis found the source of this embodied love—the life of Jesus.
Several of the church’s favorite hymns , prayers, and blessings across denominational liturgies can be traced back to Francis. Today, read Canticle of the Sun (or Praise of the Creatures), preferably outside in a place where you can say it out loud without feeling too silly. I suspect Francis would encourage us to just get over feeling silly anyway!
Saint Francis of Assisi (1182–1226)
(You can also read this prayer in a beautifully-illustrated IG post from A Rocha International.)
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.
Some of our favorite books celebrating St. Francis.
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*Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year C of the Book of Common Prayer 2019 (Anglican Church of North America). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 2)