Augustine of Canterbury

Reading for the Feast of

Saint Augustine of Canterbury
according to the use of the Episcopal Church

May 26

2 Corinthians 5:17-20a
Luke 5:1-11
Psalm 66:1-8 or
Psalm 103:1-4, 13-18

The Collect
O Lord our God, by your Son Jesus Christ you called your apostles and sent them forth to preach the Gospel to the nations; We bless your holy Name for your servant Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, whose labors in propagating your Church among the English people we commemorate today; and we pray that all whom you call and send may do your will, and bide your time, and see your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading

2 Corinthians 5:17-20a
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.

Psalm 66:1-8
Jubilate Deo

1: Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
sing the glory of his Name;
sing the glory of his praise.
2: Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! *
because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.
3: All the earth bows down before you, *
sings to you, sings out your Name."
4: Come now and see the works of God, *
how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
5: He turned the sea into dry land,
so that they went through the water on foot, *
and there we rejoiced in him.
6: In his might he rules for ever;
his eyes keep watch over the nations; *
let no rebel rise up against him.
7: Bless our God, you peoples; *
make the voice of his praise to be heard;
8: Who holds our souls in life, *
and will not allow our feet to slip.

Psalm 103:1-4, 13-18
Benedic, anima mea

1: Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
and forget not all his benefits.
3: He forgives all your sins *
and heals all your infirmities;
4: He redeems your life from the grave *
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
13: As a father cares for his children, *
so does the LORD care for those who fear him.
14: For he himself knows whereof we are made; *
he remembers that we are but dust.
15: Our days are like the grass; *
we flourish like a flower of the field;
16: When the wind goes over it, it is gone, *
and its place shall know it no more.
17: But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever on those who fear him, *
and his righteousness on children's children;
18: On those who keep his covenant *
and remember his commandments and do them.

The Gospel

Luke 5:1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.