Richard of Chichester, Bishop, 1253

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty and most merciful God, who callest thy people to thyself, we pray that, following the example of thy bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see thy Son Jesus Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty and most merciful God, who calls your people to yourself, we pray that, following the example of your bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see your Son Jesus Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: Proverbs 16:16-20 

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their way preserve their lives.
¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
    and happy are those who trust in the Lord.

Psalm: Psalm 101:1-4 

¹ I will sing of mercy and justice; *
to you, O Lord, will I sing praises.
² I will strive to follow a blameless course;
oh, when will you come to me? *
I will walk with sincerity of heart within my house.
³ I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; *
I hate the doers of evil deeds;
they shall not remain with me.
⁴ A crooked heart shall be far from me; *
I will not know evil.

Second Lesson: Jude 17–25

¹⁷But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸for they said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.’ ¹⁹It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. ²⁰But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²²And have mercy on some who are wavering; ²³save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, 25 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 3:7–14

⁷John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’

¹⁰And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ ¹¹In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ ¹²Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ ¹³He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ ¹⁴Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’

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