Sarah, Theodora, and Syncletica of Egypt, Desert Mothers, 4th-5th century

The Collect:

Rite I:
Fix our hearts on thee, O God, in pure devotion, that aided by the example of thy servants Sarah, Theodora, and Syncletica, the vain pursuits of this world may have no hold upon us, and that by the consuming fire of thy Spirit, we may be changed into the image and likeness of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with thee and the same Spirit be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Rite II:
Fix our hearts on You, O God, in pure devotion, that aided by the example of your servants Sarah, Theodora, and Syncletica, the vain pursuits of this world may have no hold upon us, and that by the consuming fire of your Spirit, we may be changed into the image and likeness of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with you and the same Spirit be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Proverbs 9:1–6

¹ Wisdom has built her house,
    she has hewn her seven pillars.
² She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
    she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
    from the highest places in the town,
⁴ ‘You that are simple, turn in here!’
    To those without sense she says,
⁵ ‘Come, eat of my bread
    and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Lay aside immaturity, and live,
    and walk in the way of insight.’

Psalm: Psalm 119:65–72

⁶⁵ O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *
       according to your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me discernment and knowledge, *
       for I have believed in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, *
       but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸ You are good and you bring forth good; *
       instruct me in your statutes.
⁶⁹ The proud have smeared me with lies, *
       but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
⁷⁰ Their heart is gross and fat, *
       but my delight is in your law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *
       that I might learn your statutes.
⁷² The law of your mouth is dearer to me *
       than thousands in gold and silver.

Second Lesson: James 4:1-10 

¹ Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? ² You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, ‘God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? ⁶ But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says,

‘God opposes the proud,
    but gives grace to the humble.’

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Gospel: Mark 12:18–27

¹⁸Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, ¹⁹‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. ²⁰There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; ²¹and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; ²²none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. ²³In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.’

²⁴Jesus said to them, ‘Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? ²⁵For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ²⁶And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? ²⁷He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.’

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