THEOLOGICAL CLUE

Only the name of this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, gives any theological clue from the church year; the church is moving eschatologically and continues to anticipate the last times and the return of Christ. The Pentecost cycle/season is roughly one-fifth completed today, so there's a long way to go, as well as a long time to wait for the eschaton. The business of the church continues to be proclaiming "the Lord's death" - in worship, preaching, witnessing, and working - until he "comes again," as he said he would.

The Prayer of the Day (LBW)
Liturgical revision has completely overhauled the collect for this Sunday (perhaps it was thought to be unrealistic, as well as theologically inept: "Grant ... that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by…