Color: White
The COLLECT
Spirit of life and mighty One of light, open our eyes that we may recognize the bounty of blessings which Thou hast bestowed upon us, and grant that through our appreciation of that which is temporal we may be brought at length to that which is eternal. Praise be to Thee for the wonder of the fire that bringeth warmth and brightness to the world and to our mind; praise be to Thee for the freshness of air that bloweth where it listeth as the image of Thy most holy Spirit; praise be to Thee for the rich earth, the sustainer of all that lives; praise be to Thee for water that refreshes the earth in stillness and in storm; praise be to Thee for the courage of the heroes, the example of the saints and the splendor of all noble deeds; for the memory of our true home above the shadows of this world, and for the hope of our return to Thy kingdom of life and light everlasting. Amen.
The LESSON
The Lesson is taken from the Book of the Psalms of David:
Ye shall stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. At morning and at even. O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and show ourselves glad in Him with psalms. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands prepared the dry land. He is the Lord our God: and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord: I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and look up. I will sing of Thy power: and will praise Thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning. In the evening and morning and at noonday will I call: and He shall hear my voice. The tenderness of the Lord is new every morning: Great, O Lord, is Thy faithfulness.
The GOSPEL
The Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Philip:
There is a glory that is higher than glory, there is a power which is above power. Because of this the perfect things are open to us, and the hidden things of the truth; and the holy things of the holy ones are revealed, and the bridal chamber invites us in. Insofar as it is hidden, wickedness is indeed brought to naught, but it is not taken away from the midst of the seed of the Holy Spirit; they are slaves of wickedness. But when it is revealed, then the perfect light will pour out on everyone. And all those who are in it will receive. Then the slaves will be free, and the captives delivered.
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Color: White; Intent: Divine Guidance
The Collect
Holy Father of the Light, who dost ever show Thyself to the wise men in every age, we ask for such zeal in the pursuit of Gnosis as may help us to lead all longing souls to Thy Light; O Thou ever shining and guiding star of wisdom and holiness, to Whom we present our gifts of devotion and adoration now and forevermore. Amen.
The Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the writings of the Gnostic Fathers:
When the Christ appeared among the Aeons of Light, and the chaos was dispersed and perfectly pacified, all the sons and daughters of wisdom sang hymns with great joy to the Father, sharing much delight. With one will and purpose the entire Fullness of the Aeons — Christ and the Spirit were well pleased and the Father imposed His seal upon all. And this is the most perfect beauty and Star of the Pleroma, a perfect fruit, Jesus who was also named Savior and Christ and Word and All, because he is from all.
The Gospel
The Gospel is taken from the Book of the Gospel of Truth:
Therefore he who is Gnostic is truly a being from above. When he is called he hears; he answers; he directs himself to Him who calls him and returns to Him; he apprehends how he is called. By possessing Gnosis, he carries out the will of Him who called him and seeks to do what pleases Him. He receives the repose. He who thus possesses knowledge knows whence he comes and whither he goes. He understands as someone who makes himself free and awakens from the drunkenness wherein he lived and returns to himself.
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Homilies for the Holy Epiphany by Bishop Stephan Holler
Homily for the Holy Epiphany by Bishop Steven Marshall
February 2
Color: Violet for Blessing of Candles; White for the Eucharist
Intent: Kindling of the Light in Darkness
The Collect
O Lord of Light and Lady of Love, eternal, ineffable mystery of the Godhead, grant that enlightened by the flame of consciousness, we may successfully journey into the far and glorious kingdom beyond the aeons, and join the great flame as sparks flying upwards. Amen.
The Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
The Gospel
The Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one. His disciples said: Show us the place where thou art, for it is necessary for us to seek it. He said to them: Whoever has ears let him hear. Within a man of light there is light and he lights the whole world. When he does not shine, there is darkness. Jesus said: Love thy brother as thy soul, guard him as the apple of thine eye.
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Homilies for Candlemas by Bishop Stephan Hoeller
Homily for Candlemas by Bishop Steven Marshall