Easter 4 Sermons and Commentary

THE COLLECT.
O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people, that they may love the things which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. S. James 1. 17
EVERY good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will he brought us to birth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and residue of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

THE GOSPEL. S. John 16. 5
JESUS said unto his disciples, Now I go my way to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

INTROIT. Ps 98:1-4
Ant. O SING unto the Lord a new song; / for he hath done marvellous things.
2 With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, / hath he gotten himself the victory.
3 The Lord declared his salvation: / his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the nations.
4 He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel; / and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
Glory be. Repeat Antiphon.

GRADUAL. Ps 118:15-18
THE voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous: / the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: / the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
17 I shall not die, but live, / and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord hath chastened and corrected me; / but he hath not given me over unto death.

* During Eastertide, Alleluia is said twice before the psalm portion, and once after the last verse. It may be said after each verse.

Additional Propers for Eucharistic Devotions