The Twenty-third Day after Pentecost
THE COLLECT
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant
us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may
embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 65:17-25
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not
be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am
creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I
will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of
weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant
that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one
who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a
hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for
like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long
enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for
calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as
well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The
wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the
serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy
mountain, says the Lord.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
PSALM: Canticle 9
Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore, you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day, you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
EPISTLE: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep
away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the
tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought
to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat
anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night
and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do
not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even
when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to
work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere
busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort
in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Luke 21:5-19 People: Glory to You Lord Christ
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with
beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that
you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all
will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what
will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you
are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The
time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not
follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various
places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs
from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute
you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be
brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an
opportunity to testify. So, make up your minds not to prepare your defense in
advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents
will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents
and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will
perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ