THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

THE COLLECT.

LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 1 Corinthians 1. 4.

I THANK my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the witness of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who also shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE GOSPEL. St Mark 12. 28.

AND one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment; and the second is like it, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is better than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one dared to ask him any question. And Jesus answered and said, while he was teaching in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David? For David himself saith by the Holy Spirit,

The LORD said unto my lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David himself calleth him his lord; how then can he be his son? And the common people heard him gladly.