Preface of a Saint (2)

The Collect

Almighty God, we bless your Name for the witness of Frederick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of people to a deeper obedience to Christ: Strengthen us also to speak on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the way of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.

Old Testament

Isaiah 32:11–18

Tremble, you women who are at ease,
shudder, you complacent ones;

strip, and make yourselves bare,
and put sackcloth on your loins.

Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vine,

for the soil of my people
growing up in thorns and briers;

yes, for all the joyous houses
in the jubilant city.

For the palace will be forsaken,
the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower
will become dens forever,

the joy of wild asses,
a pasture for flocks;

until a spirit from on high is poured out on us,
and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.

The effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

The Psalm

Psalm 85:7–13

Benedixisti, Domine

7 Show us your mercy, O LORD, *
and grant us your salvation.

8 I will listen to what the LORD God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.

9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 The LORD will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

The Gospel

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

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