Sunday, March 3^rd, 2019

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany (Green) OR Transfiguration Sunday (White)

Readings
SIRACH 27:4-7 OR ISAIAH 55:10-13; PSALM 92:1-4, 11-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-58; LUKE 6:39-49

Collect
Almighty God,
grant us the Spirit to think and do always
those things that are right,
that we who can do nothing good without you,
may live according to your holy will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF SIRACH
When a sieve is shaken, the refuse appears; so do a person's faults when he speaks. The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a person is in his conversation. Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so a person's speech discloses the cultivation of his mind. Do not praise anyone before he speaks, for this is the way people are tested.
SIRACH 27:4-7

Or

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
ISAIAH 55:10-13

Psalm
PSALM
REFRAIN The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning and of your faithfulness in the night season;

On the psaltery, and on the lyre, and to the melody of the harp. R

For you have made me glad by your acts, O Lord; and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands. R

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God; R

They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be green and succulent;

That they may show how upright the Lord is, my rock, in whom there is no fault. R
PSALM 92:1-4, 11-14

Second Reading
A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS
Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-58

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO LUKE
Jesus also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour's eye. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."
LUKE 6:39-49

Prayer over the Gifts
Merciful God,
your word inspires us to bring an offering of our love.
May we always be ready to work according to your will.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Prayer After Communion
Faithful God,
as we are nourished by heavenly food,
may we live according to your will
and show the fruits of your love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.