THE 21ST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY (NOV. 16TH)

THE WORD HEALS, THE WORD CONQUERS

✠ THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JAMES OF JERUSALEM ✠

ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE WEST

THE 21st SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

✠ THE PREPARATION ✠

INTROIT — In voluntate tua

Antiphon.

O LORD, the whole world is in thy power, and there is no man that can gainsay thee: for thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven: thou art Lord of all things.

Psalm.

Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way, and walk in the law of the Lord.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

✠ THE COLLECTS ✠

Let us pray.

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace: that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty and Everlasting God, who didst strengthen thy servant Leo to defend the faith and to uphold the truth of thy holy Incarnation: Grant that thy Church, steadfast in the confession of this mystery, may ever rejoice in the unity of thy Son, who was made man for our salvation; that we, following his holy example, may withstand the wiles of heresy, and ever hold fast to the Apostolic Faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God: that the devout observance of this festival of Thy blessed Martin, Thy Confessor and Bishop, may be profitable unto us for our advancement in all godliness and holiness, and for the attainment of everlasting salvation; and may St. Martin pray for us before Thy throne in heaven, so that we might be given grace to follow his example of love and obedience to Thee. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who didst give grace unto Thy servants, Patriarch Markos (Yahballaha) and Monk Bar Sauma, to serve Thy Church in the East and West, enlightening the world to Thy work in China, the faithfulness of the Church under Islamic domination, and the power of Thy Gospel to the kings of the Medieval West; Grant that, by the power of their examples and saintly intercessions, we may strive to be like them, bold in the face of persecution and joyful in the call of service; So that with Thy saints we might praise Thee forever and ever. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who hast made Gregory Palamas to be a light and pillar of the Byzantine Church; help us to be as he was, illumined by the light of Thy uncreated glory, bold to resist the heresy of scholasticism, and able to return the Western Church to the fullness of Apostolic Faith through our brilliant reflection of Thy saving grace; and may Gregory intercede for us in Heaven, so that we may partake in Thy Divine Nature and finish the course that is set before us. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen!

ALMIGHTY GOD, by Whose grace the Abbess Hilda wast endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to lead as a wise mother for the nuns of her monastery: Raise up these gifts in us, that we, following after her example, may build up one another in love to the benefit of Thy Holy Church; and may we ever be held at the prayers of St. Hilda for us before Thy heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD ✠

✠ OLD TESTAMENT LESSON ✠

Numbers 22:20–35

And God came unto Balaam at night and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them; but the word that I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. He was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside into the field, and Balaam smote her, to turn her into the way. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

The angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me; and the ass saw me and turned from me these three times. Unless she had turned, surely now I would also have slain thee and saved her alive. Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Moab.

V. The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

✠ FIRST NEW TESTAMENT LESSON ✠

Philippians 3:7–21

What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule and mind the same thing.

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample; for many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

V. The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

✠ SECOND NEW TESTAMENT LESSON (HOLY EPISTLE) ✠

Ephesians 6:10–20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; 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 armour 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, take 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.

Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and pray for me also, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.

V. The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

✠ GRADUAL ✠

O LORD, thou hast been our refuge, from one generation to another.

Alleluia, alleluia.

V. When Israel came out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among the strange people.

Alleluia.

✠ HOLY GOSPEL ✠

St. John 4:46–54

V. The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John.

R. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him and besought him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him and went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend, and they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth; and he himself believed, and his whole house. This again is the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

V. The Gospel of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

R. Praise be to thee, Lord Christ.

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST ✠

OFFERTORY

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God. And Satan sought to tempt him; and power was given him by the LORD over his possessions and over his flesh; and he destroyed all his substance and his sons, and he smote his flesh with sore boils.

SECRET

WE BESEECH thee, O Lord, that these holy mysteries may in such wise bestow upon us thy heavenly healing, that our hearts may thereby be cleansed from all their iniquities.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMMUNION

My soul hath longed for thy salvation, and I have a good hope because of thy word. When wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me? They persecute me falsely; O be thou my help, O Lord my God.

POSTCOMMUNION

O LORD, who dost vouchsafe to feed us with these holy gifts: grant, we beseech thee, that we may be ever rendered worthy of the same, by walking obediently after thy commandments.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.