Alcuin of York, Deacon, 804

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, who didst raise up thy servant Alcuin as a beacon of learning: Shine in our hearts, we pray, that we may also show forth thy praise in our own generation, for thou hast called us out of darkness and into thy marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, who raised up your servant Alcuin as a beacon of learning: Shine in our hearts, we pray, that we may also show forth your praise in our own generation, for you have called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

¹ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Psalm: Psalm 107:1-8 

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
and his mercy endures for ever.
² Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
³ He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
⁴ Some wandered in desert wastes; *
they found no way to a city where they might dwell.
⁵ They were hungry and thirsty; *
their spirits languished within them.
⁶ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He put their feet on a straight path *
to go to a city where they might dwell.
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.

Second Lesson: Titus 2:1-3 

¹ But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. ² Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

³ Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behaviour, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good,

Gospel: Matthew 13:24–30

²⁴He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. ²⁶So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. ²⁷And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” ²⁸He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” ²⁹But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. ³⁰Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’