TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
(LAST SUNDAY IN THE CHURCH YEAR)
The INTROIT (Jer.29:11,12,14;Ps.85:1)
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord: thoughts of peace and not of evil. Then shall ye call upon Me and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you: and I will turn your captivity and gather you from all nations and from all places. Lord, Thou hast been favorable unto Thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
The COLLECT
Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy people from their offenses, that from the bonds of our sins which by reason of our frailty we have brought upon us we may be delivered by Thy bountiful goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
The FIRST LESSON Isaiah 65:17-19 (NKJV)
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
THE GRADUAL (Ps.45:13-15; Rev.21:2)
P:/C: The King's daughter shall be brought unto the King: the virgins, her companions that follow her, shall be brought unto Thee.
P:/C: With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King's palace. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
P:/C: I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven: prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Hallelujah!
THE EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NKJV)
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
The SENTENCE for the Season (Ps. 119:124)
P:/C: Hallelujah! O Lord, deal with Thy servant according unto Thy mercy and teach me Thy statutes. I am Thy servant, give me understanding: that I may know Thy testimonies. Hallelujah!
The HOLY GOSPEL St. Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV)
And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out."
But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves."
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!"
But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you."
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.