Part 33 (1/2)
THE COLLECT.
Grant, O merciful G.o.d, that as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
_Amen_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xi. 27, and part of Chapter xii.
In those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pa.s.s in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt at Judaea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xx. 20.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, wors.h.i.+pping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
| THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD | | _August_ 6.
| | THE COLLECT.
| | O almighty and everlasting G.o.d, whose blessed Son revealed | himself to his chosen Apostles when he was transfigured on the | holy mount, and amidst the excellent glory spake with Moses and | Elias of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem: | Grant to us thy servants that beholding the brightness of thy | countenance we may be strengthened to bear the cross; through | the same Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
| | THE EPISTLE. 2 St Peter i. 16.
| | We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known | unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were | eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from G.o.d the Father | honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the | excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
| And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with | him in the holy mount.
| | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xvii. 1.
| | After six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, | and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was | transfigured before them: and his face did s.h.i.+ne as the sun, | and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there | appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then | answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us | to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; | one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet | spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a | voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in | whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples | heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And | Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
| And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save | Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus | charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son | of man be risen again from the dead.
SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE _August_ 24.
THE COLLECT.
O almighty and everlasting G.o.d, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word: Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts v. 12.
By the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people: (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch: and of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them: and believers were the more added to the Lord, mult.i.tudes both of men and women:) insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter pa.s.sing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a mult.i.tude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke xxii. 24.
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lords.h.i.+p over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE _September_ 21.
THE COLLECT.
O almighty G.o.d, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist: Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one G.o.d, world without end. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 2 Cor. iv. 1.