The Collect of the Day "collects" the major theme of a given Sunday morning running through the psalm(s) and Scripture readings.  The major theme ought also be reflected in the hymns, especially the Hymn of the Day.  A couple of weeks ago I noticed something that you could only notice if you are in church every Sunday:  the Collects over quite a number of weeks all had the same overarching theme from Sunday to Sunday.  This was true going back to early August, through this past Sunday (as the apex), and will also be true--for the final time--this coming Sunday.  Each of these Collects mentioned in one fashion or another the theme of "following Jesus."

In early August the Collect was worded in this way in the request portion of the prayer:  "Grant that we may walk by faith and not by sight, in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ..."  The request portion for the following Sundays is as follows:

* "give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His way; through Jesus Christ..."

* "lead us now and always into the feast of Your Son, Jesus Christ..."

* "teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility..."

* "grant us courage and strength to take up the cross and follow Him, who lives and reigns..."

This past Sunday the "following theme" was rendered quite explicit, in accord with the readings, in words addressed to Jesus directly (somewhat unusual for a Collect):  "Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd, without whom nothing is secure.  Rescue and *preserve us* that we may not be lost forever but follow You, rejoicing in the way that leads to eternal life; for You live and reign..." 

The Collect for this coming Sunday, coming after the apex reached in this past Sunday's Collect, closes out this overarching theme of following Jesus in these words:  "O Lord, keep Your Church in Your perpetual mercy; and because without You we cannot but fall, *preserve us* from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ..."  Notice also the tie-in back to the previous Collect in the emphasis on what life would be without God or Jesus (see underlined phrases above), and the request to *be preserved* in both prayers, one addressed to Jesus, the other to the Father.

The entire long Pentecost season has to do with discipleship in the Church and following Jesus.  The last seven weeks have underscored that seasonal theme and helped us look for it in the various Scripture readings, particularly the Gospel reading from Luke.  This is especially appropriate when considering that from the very beginning of the Pentecost season the readings from Luke's Gospel have been from that section which deals with Jesus making His way toward Jerusalem, His suffering and death on the cross, and thereby our salvation.