Birgitta of Sweden, Mystic, 1373

The Collect:

Rite I:
O God, who beholdest all things and whose judgment is always mercy; by the example of thy servant Birgitta of Sweden, give to us in this life the vision of thy kingdom, where Jesus Christ is all and in all, that we might pattern our earthly lives on things heavenly, where our lives art hid with the same Christ in thee; who with him and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
O God, who beholds all things and whose judgment is always mercy; by the example of your servant Birgitta of Sweden, give to us in this life the vision of your kingdom, where Jesus Christ is all and in all, that we may pattern our earthly lives on things heavenly, where our lives are hidden with Christ in you; who with him and the Holy Spirit live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 28:3–19

³Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had expelled the mediums and the wizards from the land. ⁴The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. ⁵When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, not by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. ⁷Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ His servants said to him, ‘There is a medium at Endor.’

⁸So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went there, he and two men with him. They came to the woman by night. And he said, ‘Consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.’ ⁹The woman said to him, ‘Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?’ ¹⁰But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ‘As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.’ ¹¹Then the woman said, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ He answered, ‘Bring up Samuel for me.’ ¹²When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!’ ¹³The king said to her, ‘Have no fear; what do you see?’ The woman said to Saul, ‘I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.’ ¹⁴He said to her, ‘What is his appearance?’ She said, ‘An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.’ So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.

¹⁵Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’ Saul answered, ‘I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; so I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.’ ¹⁶Samuel said, ‘Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷The Lord has done to you just as he spoke by me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbour David. ¹⁸Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you today.¹⁹Moreover, the Lord will give Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the Lordwill also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.’

Psalm: Psalm 12

¹ Help me, Lord, for there is no godly one left; *
       the faithful have vanished from among us.
² Everyone speaks falsely with his neighbor; *
       with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.
³ Oh, that the Lord would cut off all smooth tongues, *
       and close the lips that utter proud boasts!
⁴ Those who say, “With our tongue will we prevail; *
       our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
⁵ “Because the needy are oppressed,
    and the poor cry out in misery, *
       I will rise up,” says the Lord,
       “and give them the help they long for.”
⁶ The words of the Lord are pure words, *
       like silver refined from ore
       and purified seven times in the fire.
⁷ O Lord, watch over us *
       and save us from this generation for ever.
⁸ The wicked prowl on every side, *
       and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2–11

² When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ ⁴ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. ⁶ And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written,

       “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
           who will prepare your way before you.”

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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