Commontide
Proper 27
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
BCP 2019, p. 622
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Composed in 1661 by Bishop John Cosin of Durham for the 1662 revision of the Book of Common Prayer, the first English prayer book to provide a collect for a sixth Sunday after Epiphany, this prayer draws its language almost entirely from 1 John 3, petitioning that we purify ourselves in hope of being made like Christ at his return. In 1979 it was moved to its current late-autumn position, where the lectionary begins its turn toward Advent.