Kassiani, Poet and Hymnographer, 865

The Collect:

Rite I:
O God of boundless mercy, whose handmaiden Kassiani brought forth poetry and song: Inspire in thy church a new song, that following her most excellent example, we may boldly proclaim the truth of thy Word, even Jesus Christ, our Savior and Deliverer. Amen.

Rite II:
O God of boundless mercy, whose handmaiden Kassiani brought forth poetry and song: Inspire in your church a new song, that following her most excellent example, we may boldly proclaim the truth of your Word, even Jesus Christ, our Savior and Deliverer. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 2:1–10

¹ Hannah prayed and said,
‘My heart exults in the Lord;
   my strength is exalted in my God.
My mouth derides my enemies,
   because I rejoice in my victory. 

² ‘There is no Holy One like the Lord,
   no one besides you;
   there is no Rock like our God. 
³ Talk no more so very proudly,
   let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
   and by him actions are weighed. 
⁴ The bows of the mighty are broken,
   but the feeble gird on strength. 
⁵ Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
   but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
   but she who has many children is forlorn. 
⁶ The Lord kills and brings to life;
   he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 
⁷ The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
   he brings low, he also exalts. 
⁸ He raises up the poor from the dust;
   he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes
   and inherit a seat of honour.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
   and on them he has set the world. 

⁹ ‘He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
   but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
   for not by might does one prevail. 
¹⁰ The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered;
   the Most High will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
   he will give strength to his king,
   and exalt the power of his anointed.’

Psalm: Psalm 57:6-11 

⁶ Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *
and your glory over all the earth.
⁷ My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *
I will sing and make melody.
⁸ Wake up, my spirit;
awake, lute and harp; *
I myself will waken the dawn.
⁹ I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; *
I will sing praise to you among the nations.
¹⁰ For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
¹¹ Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *
and your glory over all the earth.

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 7:29-35 

²⁹ I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, ³⁰ and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, ³¹ and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

³² I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; ³³ but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, ³⁴ and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband. ³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 4:30–34

³⁰He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; ³²yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

³³With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; ³⁴he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. 

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