O almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from
the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist: Grant us
grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of
riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth
and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 2 Cor. iv. 1.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received
mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word
of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if
our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves
but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus
sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. ix. 9.
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew,
sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow
me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus
sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came,
and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees
saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with
publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto
them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are
sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.
SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS _September_ 29.