Preface of a Saint (1)

The Collect

O God, who gave grace to your servant Florence Nightingale to bear your healing love into the shadow of death: Grant to all who heal the same virtues of patience, mercy, and steadfast love, that your saving health may be revealed to all; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament

Jeremiah 30:12–17

Thus says the Lord:

Your hurt is incurable,
your wound is grievous.

There is no one to uphold your cause,
no medicine for your wound, no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you;

for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy,
the punishment of a merciless foe,

because your guilt is great,
because your sins are so numerous.

Why do you cry out over your hurt?
Your pain is incurable.

Because your guilt is great,
because your sins are so numerous,
I have done these things to you.

Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured,
and all your foes, everyone of them, shall go into captivity;

those who plunder you shall be plundered,
and all who prey on you I will make a prey.

For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,

says the Lord,

because they have called you an outcast:
“It is Zion; no one cares for her!”

The Psalm

Psalm 73:23–29

Quam bonus Israel!

23 I am always with you; *
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You will guide me by your counsel, *
and afterwards receive me with glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? *
and having you I desire nothing upon earth.

26 Though my flesh and my heart should waste away, *
God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 Truly, those who forsake you will perish; *
you destroy all who are unfaithful.

28 But it is good for me to be near God; *
I have made the Lord God my refuge.

29 I will speak of all your works *
in the gates of the city of Zion.

The Gospel

Luke 10:29-37

Wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, `Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

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