The Introit

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud. Alle- | luia.*
Your face, LORD, do I seek; hide not your face from me. Alle- | luia.

The LORD is my light and my sal- | vation;
whom | shall I fear?*
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud. Alle- | luia.*
Your face, LORD, do I seek; hide not your face from me . Alle- | luia.

The Collect of the Day

O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 
The Valley in which the Children of Israel were Encamped, 1834, by James Baylie, English from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Valley in which the Children of Israel were Encamped, 1834, by James Baylie, English from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The First Lesson

Ezekiel 36:22-28

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

The Epistle

1 Peter 4:7-11 

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 
Christ Triumphant, 1827, by Ferdinand Ruscheweyh, German from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Christ Triumphant, 1827, by Ferdinand Ruscheweyh, German from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Holy Gospel

John 15:26-16:4

Alleluia. God reigns over the nations ; God sits on his holy throne. Alleluia. I will not leave you as orphans; I am going away, and I will come to you, and your hearts will rejoice. Alleluia.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.