The Collects

The Collect of Saint Matthew 

O ALMIGHTY God, 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 God, world without end. Amen. 

Collect of Trinity XIV 

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Lesson

1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21

And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. 

Here endeth the Lesson

Psalm

Psalm 119:1-16 

1 BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way, and walk in the law of the LORD. 

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, * and seek him with their whole heart; 

3 Even they who do no wickedness, * and walk in his ways. 

4 Thou hast charged * that we shall diligently keep thy commandments. 

5 O that my ways were made so direct, * that I might keep thy statutes! 

6 So shall I not be confounded, * while I have respect unto all thy commandments. 

7 I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart, * when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness. 

8 I will keep thy statutes; * O forsake me not utterly. 

9 WHEREWITHAL shall a young man cleanse his way? * even by ruling himself after thy word. 

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee; * O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments. 

11 Thy word have I hid within my heart, * that I should not sin against thee. 

12 Blessed art thou, O LORD; * O teach me thy statutes. 

13 With my lips have I been telling * of all the judgments of thy mouth. 

14 I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, * as in all manner of riches. 

15 I will talk of thy commandments, * and have respect unto thy ways. 

16 My delight shall be in thy statutes, * and I will not forget thy word. 

Epistle 

2 Corinthians iv. 1. 

THEREFORE seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Here endeth the Epistle.

GOSPEL

St. Matthew ix. 9. 

AND as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.