THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 INTROIT Dominus fortitudo. Psalm 28. THE Lord is the strength of his people, and he is the wholesome defence of his Anointed: O Lord, save thy people, and give thy blessing unto thine inheritance: feed them, and set them up for ever. Ps ibid. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord, my God, think no scorn of me: lest, if thou make as though thou hearest not, I become like unto them that go down into the pit. V. Glory be.

COLLECT. O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

First Lesson:  Sirach 15:15-20 [15]

If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. [16] He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. [17] Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.  [18] For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything; [19] his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every deed of man. [20] He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and he has not given any one permission to sin.

Psalm 119:1-8

[1] Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
[2] Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
[3] who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
[4] Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently.
[5] O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes!
[6] Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all thy commandments.
[7] I will praise thee with an upright heart, when I learn thy righteous ordinances.
[8] I will observe thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly!

Glory be to the Father…………………….

EPISTLE. Romans 6:3-11 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GRADUAL. Ps. 90 Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last: and be gracious unto thy servants. V. Lord, thou hast been our refuge: from one generation to another. Alleluia, alleluia. V. Ps 31 In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion: deliver me in thy righteousness: bow down thine ear to me, make haste to deliver me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. St. Matthew 5:20-26 20 Jesus said unto his disciples: except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

OFFERTORY. Ps. 17. To hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not: incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words: shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, O Lord, thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee.