The Collect

Loving God, who raises from every nation, people, tribe, and tongue witnesses to your glory: May we who celebrate your servant Samuel Azariah be strengthened by his witness to your love without concern for class or caste, that people of all languages and cultures might be drawn into your loving embrace, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 4:1-12

My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,
and do not keep needy eyes waiting.

Do not grieve the hungry,
or anger one in need.

Do not add to the troubles of the desperate,
or delay giving to the needy.

Do not reject a suppliant in distress,
or turn your face away from the poor.

Do not avert your eye from the needy,
and give no one reason to curse you;

for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
their Creator will hear their prayer.

Endear yourself to the congregation;
bow your head low to the great.

Give a hearing to the poor,
and return their greeting politely.

Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor;
and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.

Be a father to orphans,
and be like a husband to their mother;

you will then be like a son of the Most High,
and he will love you more than does your mother.

Wisdom teaches her children
and gives help to those who seek her.

Whoever loves her loves life,
and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.

The Psalm

Psalm 37:23-31 Page 635, BCP

Laetatus sum

23 Those who are blessed by God shall possess the land, *
but those who are cursed by him shall be destroyed.

24 Our steps are directed by the Lord; *
he strengthens those in whose way he delights.

25 If they stumble, they shall not fall headlong, *
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

26 I have been young and now I am old, *
but never have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread.

27 The righteous are always generous in their lending, *
and their children shall be a blessing.

28 Turn from evil, and do good, *
and dwell in the land for ever.

29 For the Lord loves justice; *
he does not forsake his faithful ones.

30 They shall be kept safe for ever, *
but the offspring of the wicked shall be destroyed.

31 The righteous shall possess the land *
and dwell in it for ever.

The Epistle

Acts 14:21-27

After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.

The Gospel

Luke 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.”

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.”