|
Today is September 21st , Trinity 18.
Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
First Reading: Proverbs 3.13-18
Happy are those who find
wisdom, and those who get understanding,
for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than
gold. She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and
honour. Her ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her
fast are called happy.
Psalm 119.65-72
You have dealt graciously / with your /
servant: according / to your / word, O / Lord.
O
teach me true under/standing and / knowledge: for I have / trusted in / your
com/mandments.
Before I was afflicted I / went a/stray:
but / now I / keep your / word.
You are gracious / and do / good: O / Lord, / teach me your / statutes.
The proud have / smeared me with / lies:
but I will keep your commandments / with
my / whole / heart.
Their heart has become / gross with / fat:
but my de/light is / in your / law.
It is good for me that I have / been af/flicted:
that / I may / learn your / statutes.
The law of your mouth is / dearer to / me:
than a / hoard of / gold and / silver.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4.1-6
God in his mercy has
given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged. We put aside all secret and shameful deeds;
we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light
of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good
conscience. For if the gospel we preach
is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. They do not believe, because their minds have
been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing
the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the
glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. For it is not ourselves that we preach; we
preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus'
sake. The God who said, "Out of
darkness the light shall shine!" is the same God who made his light shine
in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of
Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 9.9-13
As Jesus was
walking along, he saw a man called
Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got
up and followed him. And as he sat at
dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with
him and his disciples. When the
Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with
tax-collectors and sinners?' But when
he heard this, he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. Go and learn what
this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have come to call not the
righteous but sinners.'
Post Communion Prayer
Gracious God, your Son Jesus Christ fed
the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom: renew your
people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your
true and living bread; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever Amen
|
