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The Twenty-First Sunday After Trinity
Intent: Perseverance
THE COLLECT
O Thou who art the everlasting essence of things, beyond space and time, and yet within them; Thou who transcendest yet pervadest all things; manifest Thyself to us, who feel after Thee, and seek after Thee in shades of ignorance. Give us the gift of perseverance, and stretch forth Thy hand to help us, who cannot without Thee come to Thee and reveal Thyself to us who seek nothing beside Thee.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians:
My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the adversary. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, watching thereunto with all perseverance.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Hymn of the Robe of Glory:
But all these things that befell me my parents saw and grieved for me; then was announced in our kingdom that all the people to our gate should hasten: kings and chiefs of Parthia and all the magnates of the East. Then they wove on my behalf a plan that I be not in Egypt forsaken; and they wrote me a letter and every great one wrote his name on it. 'From thy father the king of kings, and thy mother the queen of the East, and from thy brother, our viceroy, to thee, our son in Egypt, peace! Up and arise from thy sleep and hear the words of our letter! Remember thou art the son of kings; see the slavery and whom thou servest! Recollect the pearl for which thou didst hasten to Egypt! Think of thy brightness, and recall thy glorious mantle, which thou shalt wear as adornment and thy name be read in the list of Heroes; then with thy brother, our viceroy, thou shalt be in our kingdom!'
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