Proper 22, Closest to October 5

Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Genesis 2:18-24
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called `woman,'for she was taken out of man."

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Second Lesson: Hebrews 2:(1-8)9-18
(We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet."

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him.) Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,

"I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."

And again,

"I will put my trust in him."

And again he says,

"Here am I, and the children God has given me."

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Psalm: 8

1. O LORD our Governor, *
   how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2. Out of the mouths of infants and children *
   your majesty is praised above the heavens.
3. You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
   to quell the enemy and the avenger.
4. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
   the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
5. What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
   the son of man that you should seek him out?
6. You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
   you adorn him with glory and honor;
7. You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
   you put all things under his feet:
8. All sheep and oxen, *
   even the wild beasts of the field,
9. The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
   and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
10. O LORD our Governor, *
    how exalted is your Name in all the world!

or

Psalm 128

1. Happy are they all who fear the LORD, *
   and who follow in his ways!
2. You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *
   happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
3. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *
   your children like olive shoots round about your table.
4. The man who fears the LORD *
   shall thus indeed be blessed.
5. The LORD bless you from Zion, *
   and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days
   of your life.
6. May you live to see your children's children; *
   may peace be upon Israel.

Gospel: Mark 10:2-9
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"

"What did Moses command you?" he replied.

They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away."

"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.' `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible