Phoebe, Deacon

The Collect:

Rite I:
Eternal God, who didst raise up Phoebe as a deacon in thy church and minister of thy Gospel; Grant unto us the same grace, that aided by her prayers and example, we too may take the Gospel unto the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Eternal God, who raised up Phoebe as a deacon in your church and minister of your Gospel; Grant us that same grace that, assisted by her prayers and example, we too may take the Gospel to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ezekiel 2:1-7 

2 He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. ² And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. ³ He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. ⁴ The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them. ⁶ And you, O mortal, do not be afraid of them, and do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words, and do not be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house.

Psalm: Psalm 40:4-10 

⁴ Happy are they who trust in the Lord! *
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
⁵ Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
⁶ Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
but they are more than I can count.
⁷ In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
(you have given me ears to hear you);
⁸ Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
and so I said, “Behold, I come.
⁹ In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
‘I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.’”
¹⁰ I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O Lord, you know.

Second Lesson: Romans 16:1–7

¹I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, ²so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.

³Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, ⁴and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. ⁶Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you. ⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Gospel: Luke 22:24–27

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. ²⁵ But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶ But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

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