The Book of Common Prayer Table of
contents
The Twentieth Sunday after
Trinity
The Collect
O Almighty and most
merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee,
from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body
and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldest
have done; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle
Ephesians 5.15-21
See then that ye
walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time,
because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to
yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for
all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of
God.
The Gospel
St. Matthew 22.1-14
Jesus said, The
kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage
for his son; and sent forth his servants to call them that were
bidden to the wedding; and they would not come. Again, he sent
forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I
have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and
all things are ready; come unto the marriage. But they made light
of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his
merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them
spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was
wroth; and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers,
and burnt up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding
is ready, but they who were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore
into the high-ways, and as many as ye shall find bid to the
marriage. So those servants went out into the high-ways, and
gathered together all, as many as they found, both bad and good;
and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came
in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a
wedding-garment. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in
hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then
said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him
away, and cast him into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.