Deacon:  Wisdom. Stand up. Hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:   Peace to you all. 

People:  And to your spirit.

Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [14:16-24]

People:  Glory to You Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:   Listen.

Deacon:

At that time, Jesus said,

‘There was a man who held a great feast, and he invited a large number of people. 

‘When the time came for the feast, he sent his servant to say to those invited, “Come now, everything is ready.”

‘But all of them started to make excuses.

‘The first said, “I have bought a piece of land, and must attend to it. Please accept my apologies.”

‘Another said, “I have bought five pair of oxen, and am going to see what they are like. Please accept my apologies.”

‘And another said, “I have just married, and am unable to come.”

‘The servant returned to his master, and reported all.

‘The lord became enraged and said to his servant, “Then go out into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame”.

‘The servant then said, “Sir your orders have been carried out, and there is still room.”

‘So the master said to his servant, “Go to the highways and the laneways, and require people to come in, to make sure my house is full.”  

‘“Surely, I tell you, not one of those who was invited will enjoy my feast”.’

People: Glory to You Lord, Glory to You.