When we prosper save us from pride

When compared with the society I live in, I would very definitely not be thought of as prosperous, and certainly don’t live in a house anything like the one pictured above. My circumstances would probably be closer to the next line in this Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity — “when we are needy save us from despair”.

But, if the comparison is made with many millions of people around the world who live in a different society, I could be considered prosperous — I’m sitting here in front of a reasonably good computer; accessing the internet, which certainly isn’t free; I drive a car, not a particularly new one, but a car nevertheless; I know what I’m having for dinner later, and it won’t be especially difficult to prepare; and I’ve eaten a reasonably substantial lunch today; I have drinking water on tap; etc etc — I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture.

I think it’s all too easy for many of us to forget about the comparison talked about in the second paragraph, and only think about that in the first. I know, for myself, that that is something I do. So I’m usually much closer to the “despair” than the “pride”. But this Collect reminds us that both are wrong; and that we should put our trust in God alone. A great “ideal”, but not so easy to achieve.

In the book of Additional Collects, there are one or two prayers in each season that are designated to be suitable for use instead of that set for the day. This week’s is one such prayer. I guess that highlights the importance of what we’re praying for, ie learning to trust more in God, and also acknowledges the difficulty of doing so — especially for those of us in the developed world.

Let us, this week, at least, really pray this prayer:

Lord God,
your Son left the riches of heaven
and became poor for our sake:
when we prosper save us from pride,
when we are needy save us from despair,
that we may trust in you alone;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Additional Collect for The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council