Gregory the Great, Bishop and Theologian, 604

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty and merciful God, who didst raise up Gregory of Rome to be a servant of the servants of God, and didst inspire him to send missionaries to preach the Gospel to the English people: Preserve in thy church the catholic and apostolic faith they taught, that thy people, being fruitful in every good work, may receive the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty and merciful God, you raised up Gregory of Rome to be a servant of the servants of God, and inspired him to send missionaries to preach the Gospel to the English people: Preserve in your church the catholic and apostolic faith they taught, that your people, being fruitful in every good work, may receive the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Genesis 18:1–15

¹The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. ²He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. ³He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. ⁴Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ ⁶And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ ⁷Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. ⁸Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

⁹They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ ¹⁰Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. ¹¹Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. ¹²So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’ ¹³The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” ¹⁴Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ ¹⁵But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’

Psalm: Psalm 57

¹ Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,
   for I have taken refuge in you; *
       in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge
       until this time of trouble has gone by.
² I will call upon the Most High God, *
       the God who maintains my cause.
³ He will send from heaven and save me;
   he will confound those who trample upon me; *
       God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.
⁴ I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; *
       their teeth are spears and arrows,
       their tongue a sharp sword.
⁵ They have laid a net for my feet,
   and I am bowed low; *
       they have dug a pit before me,
       but have fallen into it themselves.

⁶ Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *
       and your glory over all the earth.
⁷ My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *
       I will sing and make melody.
⁸ Wake up, my spirit;
  awake, lute and harp; *
       I myself will waken the dawn.
⁹ I will confess you among the peoples, O LORD; *
       I will sing praise to you among the nations.
¹⁰ For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *
       and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
¹¹ Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *
       and your glory over all the earth.

Gospel: Mark 10:42-45

⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

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