The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of
Sergius
Abbot of Holy Trinity, Moscow, 1392 September 25

Ecclesiasticus 39:1-9
Matthew 13:47-52
Psalm 34:1-8 or
Psalm 33:1-5,20-21

The Preface of a Saint (2)

O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Sergius of Moscow, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ecclesiasticus 39:1-9

He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,

and is concerned with prophecies;

he preserves the sayings of the famous

and penetrates the subtleties of parables;

he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs

and is at home with the obscurities of parables.

He serves among the great

and appears before rulers;

he travels in foreign lands

and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.

He sets his heart to rise early

to seek the Lord who made him,

and to petition the Most High;

he opens his mouth in prayer

and asks pardon for his sins.

If the great Lord is willing,

he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;

he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own

and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.

The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge,

as he meditates on his mysteries.

He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,

and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant.

Many will praise his understanding;

it will never be blotted out.

His memory will not disappear,

and his name will live through all generations.

Psalm 34:1-8 Page 627, BCP

Benedicam Dominum

1

I will bless the LORD at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

2

I will glory in the LORD; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.

3

Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
let us exalt his Name together.

4

I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.

5

Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.

6

I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.

7

The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.

8

Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!

or

Psalm 33:1-5,20-21 Page 626, BCP

Exultate, justi

1

Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; *
it is good for the just to sing praises.

2

Praise the LORD with the harp; *
play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.

3

Sing for him a new song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.

4

For the word of the LORD is right, *
and all his works are sure.

5

He loves righteousness and justice; *
the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth.

20

Our soul waits for the LORD; *
he is our help and our shield.

21

Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.

Matthew 13:47-52

Jesus told his disciples, "The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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