Proper 26
Week of the Sunday closest to November 2

Collect:
Almighty and merciful God, of whose only thy gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may run without stumbling to obtain thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 6:1-9
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Second Lesson: Hebrews 7:23-28
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Psalm: 119:1-16

  1. Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
    who walk in the law of the LORD!
  2. Happy are they who observe his decrees *
    and seek him with all their hearts!
  3. Who never do any wrong, *
    but always walk in his ways.
  4. You laid down your commandments, *
    that we should fully keep them.
  5. Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
    that I might keep your statutes!
  6. Then I should not be put to shame, *
    when I regard all your commandments.
  7. I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
    when I have learned your righteous judgments.
  8. I will keep your statutes; *
    do not utterly forsake me.
  9. How shall a young man cleanse his way? *
    By keeping to your words.
  10. With my whole heart I seek you; *
    let me not stray from your commandments.
  11. I treasure your promise in my heart, *
    that I may not sin against you.
  12. Blessed are you, O LORD; *
    instruct me in your statutes.
  13. With my lips will I recite *
    all the judgments of your mouth.
  14. I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *
    than in all manner of riches.
  15. I will meditate on your commandments *
    and give attention to your ways.
  16. My delight is in your statutes; *
    I will not forget your word.

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore