THE TRINITY SUNDAY. The Gospel. John iii. 1-15. HERE was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him: "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him." Jesus answered, and said unto him: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, excer man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom God." Nicodemus saith unto him, "How can man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the spirit.” Nicodemus answered, and said unto him: "How can these things be?" Jesus answered, and said unto him: "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." The Epistle. Rom. xi. 33-36. THE depth of the riches both of the wisdom his judgments, and his ways past finding out! for who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? FOR OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM, ARE ALL THINGS: TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER, Amen. THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. THE The Gospel. Luke xvi. 19 -31. HERE was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried, and said: "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame," But Abraham said, "Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence." Then he said, "I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: for I have five brethren ; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." Abraham saith unto him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said, "Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent." And he said unto him, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." The Epistle. 1 John iv. 16————21. AND we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath tor ment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a lyar : For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. The Gospel. Luke xiv. 26————-24. HEN said he unto him, "A certain man made TH a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper-time to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife; and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the. halt, and the blind. And the servant said, lord it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. M The Epistle. 1 John iii. 13- -18. He Who ARVEL not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. that loveth not his brother abideth in death. soever hateth his brother, is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue ; but in deed and in truth. THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. The Gospel. Lake xv. 1-10. HEN drew near unto him, all the publicans Tand and sinners for to hear him. And the Phari sees and scribes murmured, saying: "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." And he spake this parable unto them, saying: "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he cometh home he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them: rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. Either what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently 'till she find it? and when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying: rejoice with me: for I have found the piece which I had lost. LIKEWISE I SAT UNTO YOU, THERE IS JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER THAT REPENTETH. The Epistle. 1 Pet. v. 6—————1ł. UMBLE yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you: To him be glory and deninion for ever and ever. Amen. |