15th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Welcome to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church! On September 1, 2024, we will celebrate the 15th Sunday after Pentecost with a Rite 2 Mass at 9 am. This service provides us a sacred space to worship, reflect on God’s Word, and commit ourselves anew to walking in His ways.

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Readings for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

Moses said: So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.

Psalm: Psalm 15

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Epistle: James 1:17-27

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Reflection on the Readings

This Sunday’s readings challenge us to reflect deeply on the nature of true righteousness. In Deuteronomy, Moses urges the Israelites to adhere closely to God’s commandments, emphasizing the wisdom and discernment of living according to God’s laws. This passage reminds us of the importance of being faithful to God’s teachings and passing them on to future generations.

Psalm 15 offers a portrait of the kind of life pleasing to God—one marked by integrity, truthfulness, and justice. It serves as a guide for how we are to live if we wish to dwell in the presence of the Lord.

James challenges us to be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers,” challenging us to put our faith into action. According to James, true religion shows how we care for those in need and maintain our integrity.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus confronts the Pharisees about their focus on external rituals at the expense of inner purity. He emphasizes that what truly defiles a person comes from within—our thoughts, intentions, and actions. This passage invites us to examine our hearts and cultivate a spirit of love and righteousness that aligns with God’s will.

Hymns for the Service

The singing of these hymns will enrich our worship:

• Opening Hymn: “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” (423)
• Sequence Hymn: “Take My Life and Let it Be” (707)
• Closing Hymn: “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” (660)

These hymns will help us praise God’s eternal wisdom and seek His guidance as we strive to live out our faith.

Join Us in Worship

We invite you to attend Rite 2 Mass at 9 a.m. in person at 116 E Chandler Blvd or through our live stream. As we gather, let us open our hearts to God’s Word, seeking to be transformed by His teachings and inspired to live lives of true righteousness. Whether you are a regular attendee or new to our community, you are welcome at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

Let us unite to worship, learn, and grow in our faith, walking humbly with God. See you on Sunday! If you want reminders, please join our Sunday email list.

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