In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
This is the word of the Lord.
2 Timothy 4.1–8
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
John 12.24–32
Post Communion
God our Redeemer,
whose Church was strengthened
by the blood of your martyr Janani Luwum:
so bind us, in life and death, to Christ’s sacrifice
that our lives, broken and offered with his,
may carry his death and proclaim his resurrection in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
18 February
Colman of Lindisfarne
Bishop
Scotland: Commemoration
If celebrated otherwise, Common of Bishops
Colman was a monk of Iona, like Aidan and Finan, whom he succeeded as bishop of Lindisfarne. At a critical time in the disagreement between the Celtic and Roman traditions about the date of Easter and other usages, which led to the Synod of Whitby, Colman led the Celtic party. However, at the Synod the Northumbrian king was persuaded by Wilfrid’s arguments in favour of the Roman usage. Colman resigned his See and retired first to Iona and then to Ireland, where he died on this day in the year 676. Bede gives a glowing account of his person and ministry.
18 February
John of Fiesole and Andrei Rublev
John of Fiesole (Fra Angelico), Priest, and Andrei Rublev, Religious, Painters
Wales: V
If celebrated otherwise, Common of any Saint
John of Fiesole was born near the end of the fourteenth century in Tuscany. In 1407 he became a Dominican friar, taking the name John, and was ordained. After decorating the walls of the friary at Fiesole, his ministry became one of visual preaching through his great skills as a painter of human figures. He was nicknamed Fra Angelico (Brother Angel) because of the beauty of the faces, human and angelic, that he painted. He died at Rome in 1455.
Andrei Rublev was born in Russia, probably in the 1360s, and was a monk at the monastery of St Sergius. He became a painter of frescoes and icons, and his name is associated with the painting of several great churches in the region around Moscow. He developed a new style, infusing his work with a gentleness and harmony at one with his spirituality, a style hugely influential in the Russian Church. He died around 1430, and was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988.
Today we remember Fra Angelico, Andrei Rublev, and all those whose ministry is exercised through their creativity and artistic skills.
Collect
Gracious Father,
who in the mystery of your Word made flesh
have given us a new and radiant vision of your splendour:
grant that after the example of John and Andrei
we may so contemplate your beauty in him
that we may point others here on earth
to those things which pass imagination;
we ask this through the same Jesus Christ our Lord
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be honour and glory,
now and for ever.
19 February
Thomas Burgess
Bishop, Teacher of the Faith
Wales: V
If celebrated otherwise, Common of Teachers
Thomas Burgess was born at Odiham in Hampshire in 1756. Ordained in 1784, he became a prebendary of Durham Cathedral ten years later. After his appointment as Bishop of St Davids in 1803 he began to reform his diocese, concentrating on improving the education and preparation for ministry of the clergy. His efforts culminated in the foundation of St David’s College, Lampeter in 1822. Although he never fully mastered the Welsh language, he encouraged the work of the literary and cultural movement led by ‘yr hen bersoniaid llengar’ (‘the old literary parsons’), who were busy rescuing and reviving the eisteddfod. Burgess was translated to Salisbury in 1825 and died there in 1837. Rowland Williams described him as ‘the best English Prelate the Principality ever saw.’
Collect
Almighty Father,
whose Son commanded us to pray
that labourers might be sent into the harvest:
grant that, following the example of your servant Thomas,
we may provide of our substance
for training those who will minister
in the name of him
who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever and ever.
20 February
Martin Luther
Reformer
Scotland: Commemoration
See 31 October
20 February
Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of Africa
Wales: V
If celebrated otherwise, Common of Missionaries
Today we remember all those who have witnessed