O almighty God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the
heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark: Give us grace,
that, being not like children carried away with every blast of
vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy
Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Ephes. iv. 7.
Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of
the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on
high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that
he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists,
and some Pastors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the saints
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ; till we all come, in the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure
of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be
no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in
love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted
by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body,
unto the edifying of itself in love.
THE GOSPEL. St John xv. 1.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch
in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more
fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto
you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except
ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit;
for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he
is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them,
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in
me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye
bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath
loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep
my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things
have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that
your joy might be full.
SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES'S DAY _May_ 1.