For Fourth Sunday after Trinity Archbishop Cranmer created a Collect which he derived from the Gregorian Sacrementory. The theme is again the need for mankind to recognize the all-knowing God as the only way to overcome man’s sinful nature and the threats of the secular world upon the Christian faithful. It is useful to remember that the Greek word Theos (Strong’s Greek word # 2316), from which the Western world derived the term theology, literally means “the one who sees.”
O GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers,
that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright;
Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers,
and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle reading, Romans 13:1-7, is the last of four readings from Romans 12 and 13 in Epiphany season. St. Paul makes absolutely clear in the first verse that “there is no authority except from God.” In England in the early 18th C., the first verse in Basil Woodd’s hymn, Hail, Thou Source of Every Blessing [Hymn No. 49, St. Chrysostom Hymnal] the lyric declares: “Hail, Thou source of every blessing Sovereign Father of mankind; Gentiles now, Thy grave possessing, in Thy courts admission find. Grateful now we fall before Thee, in Thy Church obtain a place, Now by faith behold Thy glory, Praise Thy truth, adore Thy grace.” The St. Chrystom Hymnal is available through my Amazon Author Central page.
The Gospel reading, Matthew 8:1-13 is an account of two healings, the healing of the leper and of the Centurion’s servant. In the former case, the leper, an outcast under Jewish law, was healed immediately by Jesus’ touch. In the latter, the healing occurred some distance away and includes the phrase “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” The Collect, Epistle and Gospel reading are discussed an illustrated in Episode Three of the AIC video series, Epiphany: the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In the context of the healing the leper, an early 11th C. illumination in tempera and gold on parchment was used as Illustration # 52 and, in the context of the healing of the Centurion’s servant, as Illustration No. 53 in The Gospel of Matthew: Annotated & Illustrated, available through my Amazon Author Central page. My Podcast Homily for Fourth Sunday after Epiphany can be listened to or downloaded from the Podcast Homilies page.
As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!
Anglican Internet Church 
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