Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities,
and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand
to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 16.
Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals
of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. viii. 1.
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed
him. And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth
his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And
immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him,
See thou tell no man, but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto
them. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto
him a centurion beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant
lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus
saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered
and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under
my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I
say unto this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he
cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus
heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I
say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west,
and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the
kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast
out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou
hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed
in the self-same hour.