Collect: The Sixth Sunday After Epiphany

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in your weakness we can do nothing good without you, give me the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 30: 15-20, . . . Moses presents the people with their choice: love and obey the Lord and find life, or turn away to other gods and know death.

(or Sirach 15: 15-20) . . . man instruction in responsibility of human beings for their own actions.

Psalm 119:1-8 . . . a delight in the Lord’s statues, seeking to keep all the Lord’s commandments.

1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 . . . an admonishment for bickering and division

Matthew 5: 21-37 . . . a concern about the heart of human behavior.

Rev. Rachel May, Pastor of Boulevard United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia, preaches a sermon called “Deal with It,” based on Matthew 5:21-37. May struggles with the prohibition against “swearing falsely,” and finds in it–and in murder, adultery, and divorce–an unwillingness to deal with conflict. “So, deal with it,” Jesus says. “Just deal with it.”

A written commentary on the whole “Sermon on the Mount,” including  and explanation of each the Beatitude,  by GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL