A Western Rite Orthodox Daily Office for 12/4/2022

(1928 BCP, 1892 Psalter, elements from Anglican Breviary)010210x

Evening Prayer for Second Sunday in Advent

Use 1943 Lectionary Use 1928 Lectionary

Opening Sentence

Watch ye, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. St. Mark xiii, 35, 36.

Opening Versicles & Invitatory

℣. O Lord, open thou our lips.
℟. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
℣. O God, make speed to save us.
℟. O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

℣. Praise ye the Lord.
℟. The Lord's Name be praised.

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed

Behold, the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven, * with power and great glory, alleluia.

PSALM 25. Ad te, Domine, levavi

¹  UNTO thee, O LORD, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee:
O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me.
²   For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed:
but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion.
³   Show me thy ways, O LORD:
and teach me thy paths.
⁴   Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me:
for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long.
⁵   Call to remembrance, O LORD, thy tender mercies:
and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.
⁶   O remember not the sins and offences of my youth:
but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O LORD, for thy goodness.
⁷   Gracious and righteous is the LORD:
therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
⁸   Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment:
and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way.
⁹   All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth:
unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
¹⁰   For thy Name's sake, O LORD:
be merciful unto my sin; for it is great.
¹¹   What man is he that feareth the LORD:
him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
¹²   His soul shall dwell at ease:
and his seed shall inherit the land.
¹³   The secret of the LORD is among them that fear him:
and he will show them his covenant.
¹⁴   Mine eyes are ever looking unto the LORD:
for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
¹⁵   Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me:
for I am desolate, and in misery.
¹⁶   The sorrows of my heart are enlarged:
O bring thou me out of my troubles.
¹⁷   Look upon my adversity and misery:
and forgive me all my sin.
¹⁸   Consider mine enemies, how many they are:
and they bear a tyrannous hate against me.
¹⁹   O keep my soul, and deliver me:
let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee.
²⁰   Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me:
for my hope hath been in thee.
²¹   Deliver Israel, O God:
out of all his troubles.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

Behold, the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven, * with power and great glory, alleluia.

Sion is our strong city ; a Saviour will God appoint within her for walls and bulwarks; * God, even our God is with us ; open now the gate for Emmanuel, alleluia.

PSALM 26. Judica me, Domine

¹  BE thou my Judge, O LORD, for I have walked innocently:
my trust hath been also in the LORD, therefore shall I not fall.
²   Examine me, O LORD, and prove me:
try out my reins and my heart.
³   For thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes:
and I will walk in thy truth.
⁴   I have not dwelt with vain persons:
neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful.
⁵   I have hated the congregation of the wicked:
and will not sit among the ungodly.
⁶   I will wash my hands in innocency, O LORD:
and so will I go to thine altar;
⁷   That I may show the voice of thanksgiving:
and tell of all thy wondrous works.
⁸   LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house:
and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
⁹   O shut not up my soul with the sinners:
nor my life with the blood-thirsty;
¹⁰   In whose hands is wickedness:
and their right hand is full of gifts.
¹¹   But as for me, I will walk innocently:
O deliver me, and be merciful unto me.
¹²   My foot standeth right:
I will praise the LORD in the congregations.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

Sion is our strong city ; a Saviour will God appoint within her for walls and bulwarks; * God, even our God is with us ; open now the gate for Emmanuel, alleluia.

Lo, at the appointed time the Lord will manifest himself to the sight of mankind, and then shall he speak and not lie: * though he tarry, wait for him, because he will surely come ; he will not tarry long, alleluia.

Behold, the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven, * with power and great glory, alleluia.

Psalm 119. XII. In aeternam, Domine
⁸⁹  O LORD, thy word:
endureth for ever in heaven.
⁹⁰   Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another:
thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
⁹¹   They continue this day according to thine ordinance:
for all things serve thee.
⁹²   If my delight had not been in thy law:
I should have perished in my trouble.
⁹³   I will never forget thy commandments:
for with them thou hast quickened me.
⁹⁴   I am thine, O save me:
for I have sought thy commandments.
⁹⁵   The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me:
but I will consider thy testimonies.
⁹⁶   I see that all things come to an end:
but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Psalm 119. XIII. Quomodo dilexi!
⁹⁷  LORD, what love have I unto thy law:
all the day long is my study in it.
⁹⁸   Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies:
for they are ever with me.
⁹⁹   I have more understanding than my teachers:
for thy testimonies are my study.
¹⁰⁰   I am wiser than the aged:
because I keep thy commandments.
¹⁰¹   I have refrained my feet from every evil way:
that I may keep thy word.
¹⁰²   I have not shrunk from thy judgments:
for thou teachest me.
¹⁰³   O how sweet are thy words unto my throat:
yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth!
¹⁰⁴   Through thy commandments I get understanding:
therefore I hate all evil ways.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

Behold, the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven, * with power and great glory, alleluia.

Sion is our strong city ; a Saviour will God appoint within her for walls and bulwarks; * God, even our God is with us ; open now the gate for Emmanuel, alleluia.

The Lessons

Here beginneth the 21st verse of the 16th Chapter of Judges

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 3rd Chapter of Amos

Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Here endeth the First Lesson.

Office Hymn

Hymn: Conditor Alme Siderum

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people's everlasting Light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death an universe,
Hast found the med'cine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruin'd race.

Thou cam'st, the Bridegroom of the bride.
As drew the world to even-tide :
Proceeding from a Virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At whose dread Name, majestick now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things celestial thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O thou, whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From ev'ry insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honour, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally. Amen.

Here beginneth the 27th verse of the 6th Chapter of Luke

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 2nd Chapter of 1 Thessalonians

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Here endeth the Second Lesson.

Second Canticle

The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55

They have taken † away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him: * if thou have borne him hence tell me, alleluia; and I will take him away, alleluia.

MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, * and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, * as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

They have taken † away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him: * if thou have borne him hence tell me, alleluia; and I will take him away, alleluia.

The Apostles' Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
The holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints:
The Forgiveness of sins:
The Resurrection of the body:
And the Life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
℣. Let us pray.

℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.		℣. Kyrie eleison
℟. Christ, have mercy upon us.	or	℟. Christe eleison
℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.		℣. Kyrie eleison

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

℣. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
℟. And grant us thy salvation.
℣. O Lord, save the State.
℟. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
℣. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
℟. And make thy chosen people joyful.
℣. O Lord, save thy people.
℟. And bless thine inheritance.
℣. Give peace in our time, O Lord.
℟. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
℣. O God, make clean our hearts within us.
℟. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

The Collect of the Day

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-day.

A Collect for Peace

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants the peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of all enemies, may pass our time in
rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our
Savior. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against Perils

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The General Thanksgiving

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

2 Cor. xiii. 14.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

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