The Introit
You have loved righteousness and hated | wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your com- | panions.
My heart overflows with a | pleasing theme;
I address my verses | to the king.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
You have loved righteousness and hated | wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your com- | panions.
The Collect of the Day
O Almighty God, by whose grace and power Your holy martyr Lucia triumphed over suffering and remained ever faithful unto death, grant us, who now remember her with thanksgiving, to be so true in our witness to You in this world that we may receive with her new eyes without tears and the crown of light and life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
St. Lucy, 16th century, artist/maker unknown, Italy, from the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Gradual
You have loved righteousness and hated | wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your com- | panions.
The Epistle
2 Corinthians 10:17-11:2
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Saint Lucy in a Floral Border, before 1620, published by Justus Sadeler, Southern Netherlands from the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Holy Gospel
Matthew 13:44-52
Alleluia. Grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. Alleluia.
[Jesus said,] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”