Óscar Romero, Archbishop and Martyr, 1980, and the Martyrs of El Salvador

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, who didst call thy servant Óscar Romero to be a voice for the voiceless poor, and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope: Grant that we inspired by his sacrifice and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador, may without fear or favor witness to thy Word who abides, thy Word who is Life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be praise and glory now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, you called your servant Óscar Romero to be a voice for the voiceless poor, and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope: Grant that we, inspired by his sacrifice and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador, may without fear or favor witness to your Word who abides, your Word who is Life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be praise and glory now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Kings 21:1–19

¹Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. ²And Ahab said to Naboth, ‘Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.’ ³But Naboth said to Ahab, ‘The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.’ ⁴Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, ‘I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.’ He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.

⁵His wife Jezebel came to him and said, ‘Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?’ ⁶He said to her, ‘Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, “Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it”; but he answered, “I will not give you my vineyard.” ’ ⁷His wife Jezebel said to him, ‘Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’

⁸So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. ⁹She wrote in the letters, ‘Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; ¹⁰seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him to death.’ ¹¹The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, ¹²they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. ¹³The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, ‘Naboth cursed God and the king.’ So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. ¹⁴Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, ‘Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.’

¹⁵As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, ‘Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.’ ¹⁶As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

¹⁷Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: ¹⁸Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. ¹⁹You shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: Have you killed, and also taken possession?’ You shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.’

Psalm: Psalm 31:15-24

¹⁵ My times are in your hand; *
       rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
       and from those who persecute me.
¹⁶ Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
       and in your loving-kindness save me.”
¹⁷ Lord, let me not be ashamed for having called upon you; *
       rather, let the wicked be put to shame;
       let them be silent in the grave.
¹⁸ Let the lying lips be silenced which speak against
                             the righteous, *
       haughtily, disdainfully, and with contempt.
¹⁹ How great is your goodness, O Lord!
   which you have laid up for those who fear you; *
       which you have done in the sight of all
       for those who put their trust in you.
²⁰ You hide them in the covert of your presence from those
                             who slander them; *
       you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
²¹ Blessed be the Lord! *
       for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a
                             besieged city.
²² Yet I said in my alarm,
   “I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes.” *
       Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty
       when I cried out to you.
²³ Love the Lord, all you who worship him; *
       the Lord protects the faithful,
       but repays to the full those who act haughtily.
²⁴ Be strong and let your heart take courage, *
       all you who wait for the Lord.

Gospel: John 12:20–26

²⁰Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ ²²Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.

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