The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of
Alcuin
Deacon, and Abbot of Tours, 804 May 20

Ecclesiasticus 39:1-9
Matthew 13:47-52
Psalm 37:3-6, 32-33 or
Psalm 112:1-9

Preface of a Saint(1)

Almighty God, in a rude and barbarous age you raised up your deacon Alcuin to rekindle the light of learning: Illumine our minds, we pray, that amid the uncertainties and confusions of our own time we may show forth your eternal truth; 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 37:3-6, 32-33 Page 633, BCP

Noli aemulari

3

Put your trust in the LORD and do good; *
dwell in the land and feed on its riches.

4

Take delight in the LORD, *
and he shall give you your heart's desire.

5

Commit your way to the LORD and put your trust in him, *
and he will bring it to pass.

6

He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *
and your just dealing as the noonday.

32

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, *
and their tongue speaks what is right.

33

The law of their God is in their heart, *
and their footsteps shall not falter.

or

Psalm 112:1-9 Page 755, BCP

Beatus vir

1

Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments!

2

Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3

Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness will last for ever.

4

Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

5

It is good for them to be generous in lending *
and to manage their affairs with justice.

6

For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

7

They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.

8

Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
until they see their desire upon their enemies.

9

They have given freely to the poor, *
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.

Matthew 13:47-52

Jesus said, "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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