Preface of a Saint (1)

The Collect

Draw the souls of your people into your love, O God, that like your servant Mechthild, we may yearn to be fully yours, for you know us better than we can know ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament

Song of Songs 3:1–5

Upon my bed at night
I sought him whom my soul loves;

I sought him, but found him not;
I called him, but he gave no answer.

"I will rise now and go about the city,
in the streets and in the squares;

I will seek him whom my soul loves."
I sought him, but found him not.

The sentinels found me,
as they went about in the city.

"Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"

Scarcely had I passed them,
when I found him whom my soul loves.

I held him, and would not let him go
until I brought him into my mother’s house,

and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles or the wild does:

do not stir up or awaken love
until it is ready!

The Psalm

Psalm 119:41–48

Et veniat super me

41 Let your loving-kindness come to me, O Lord, *
and your salvation, according to your promise.

42 Then shall I have a word for those who taunt me, *
because I trust in your words.

43 Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth, *
for my hope is in your judgments.

44 I shall continue to keep your law; *
I shall keep it for ever and ever.

45 I will walk at liberty, *
because I study your commandments.

46 I will tell of your decrees before kings *
and will not be ashamed.

47 I delight in your commandments, *
which I have always loved.

48 I will lift up my hands to your commandments, *
and I will meditate on your statutes.

The Gospel

Mark 8:22–26

Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

Return to The Lectionary Page