The Sunday called
Sexagesima, or the Second Sunday before Lent.
Psalm
24
Domini est terra
THE earth is the Lord’s, and all that therein is : the compass of the
world, and they that dwell therein.
2. For he hath founded it upon the seas : and prepared it upon the
floods.
3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord : or who shall rise up in
his holy place?
4. Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart : and that hath not
lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour.
5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord : and righteousness from
the God of his salvation.
6. This is the generation of them that seek him : even of them that
seek thy face, O Jacob.
7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors : and the King of glory shall come in.
8. Who is the King of glory : it is the Lord strong and mighty, even
the Lord mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors : and the King of glory shall come in.
10. Who is the King of glory : even the Lord of hosts, he is the King
of glory.
The Collect.
O LORD God, who seest that
we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy
power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old
Testament Reading: Isaiah 50.4-9
Psalter:
Psalm 33, 93 | 139
Epistle
Reading: 2 Corinthians 11.19-12.9
Gospel
Reading: St. Luke 8.4-15
Toon: “This Collect is not a straight translation of the old Latin
Collect. It was edited to remove a reference to the Apostle Paul. The petition
originally asked, "Mercifully grant that by the protection of the teacher
of the Gentiles we may be fortified against all adversities". The
Reformers of the 16th century did not allow any prayer to the saints, any
request of saints to pray for us, or the treating of a saint as if he were a
guardian angel. Thus they changed "by the protection of the teacher of the
Gentiles" to "by thy power".
Yet they retained the Epistle, 2 Corinthians 11:19-31, which contains
St Paul's descriptions of the variety of sufferings he had endured for the
Gospel. In this physical and mental pain he could, if he wished, have boasted
for the pain was much more than any other apostle or evangelist had experienced,
and it was for the sake of Christ. Yet he did not believe that this pain and
tribulation was the basis for his acceptance with God. It was part of his
willing service of Christ Jesus.
It is a very difficult thing, even for saints, not to put any trust in
the things that they do. For most of us it is a natural thing and certainly a
temptation to think that there is virtue before God and man in the really good
things that we think we do. Especially is this so if what we do brings us
persecution or suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
God sees all and everything! To him all hearts are open and all desires
known and from him no secrets are hid. He is watchful and persuades us by many
means (the example of Paul, the instruction in Scripture and so on) to trust only
in him for he alone is the source of all life, power, knowledge and wisdom.
Therefore, we pray that we shall be defended from all adversity be it
in the form of testings or temptations, pain or suffering, trial or
tribulation, the desires of the flesh or the wiles of the devil. "When I
am weak then I am strong" said the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:10). Only as we
know our own weakness and rest in God's strength are we making progress towards
Christian maturity. In order rightly to approach Lent and benefit from its
disciplines, we surely need to learn this lesson.
The Gospel for this week is the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. And
the purpose of this is to place before Christians the goal of being so
receptive to the word of God in all situations, and at all times, that they, in
an honest and good heart, bring forth fruit with patience” (http://www.pbs.org.uk/the-bcp/sexagesima).
Saint Matthias’s Day
(24 February)
Psalm 140
Eripe me, Domine
DELIVER me, O Lord, from the evil man : and preserve me from the wicked
man.
2. Who imagine mischief in their hearts : and stir up strife all the day
long.
3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent : adders’ poison is
under their lips.
4. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly : preserve me from
the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.
5. The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with
cords : yea, and set traps in my way.
6. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God : hear the voice of my
prayers, O Lord.
7. O Lord God, thou strength of my health : thou hast covered my head
in the day of the battle.
8. Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord : let not his
mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.
9. Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them : that
compass me about.
10. Let hot burning coals fall upon them : let them be cast into the
fire and into the pit, that they never rise up again.
11. A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth : evil shall
hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.
12. Sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor : and maintain the
cause of the helpless.
13. The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name : and the just
shall continue in thy sight.
The Collect
Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy
faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles; Grant
that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and
guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old Testament
Reading: 1 Samuel 2.27-35
Psalter:
Psalm 15
Epistle
Reading: Acts 1.15-26
Gospel
Reading: St. Matthew 11.25-30
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