The Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings for Sexagesima Sunday are discussed and illustrated in Episode Two in the AIC Seasonal Video series, Gesima: the Sundays of Pre-Lent. The audio-only version in MP3 format of Episode Two is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Sexagesima Sunday is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A separate homily for Sexagesima Sunday-Morning Prayer, based on Psalm 33, the appointed Psalm for Sexagesima Sunday, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. Sexagesima Sunday is the second of three of the pre-Lenten period.
The Collect for the occasion is another original composition by Archbishop Cranmer for the 1549 B.C.P., based on the Gregorian Sacramentary (10th C.), honoring the 590-604 A.D. Roman Catholic Pope who introduced Ash Wednesday to the Christian calendar. The primary theme is God Almighty as the only true defender of the faithful. The Epistle reading, 2 Corinthians 11:19-31, is a variation on St. Paul’s theme of the importance of the Christian virtues, in this case “diligence.” St. Paul also relates a litany of the forms of persecution he suffered for his advocacy in the spread of the Gospels.
The Gospel reading, Luke 8:4-15, the second from St. Luke’s Gospel so far in A.D. 2026, is the Parable of the Sower. Other versions on the same subject are found in Mark 4:1-9, 13-20 and Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23. In St. Luke’s version the Parable and its explanation are part of a single narrative. The reference in Luke 8:10 to seeing, hearing and understanding in both the Old and New Testament contexts is also addressed in the full-page special text box on Page 36 of the AIC Bookstore Publication: The Gospel of Mark: Annotated & Illustrated. See more below.
For this Sexagesima Sunday blog post, the focus among the 22 AIC Bookstore Publications is another in the New Testament: Gospels series, The Gospel of Mark: Annotated & Illustrated. The AIC edition of the Gospel of Mark includes an illumination of the reading for the upcoming Quinquagesima Sunday, St. Matthew’s account of the Healing of the Blind Man of Jericho (illus. # 53). The book includes 86 illustrations from the 6th to the 20th C., including a spectacular pair of illuminations of the Three Women at the Empty Tomb and The Angel at the Empty Tomb, placed on opposite pages as they were in the original book. There are ten special text boxes: The Art of Illumination of Scripture; Guide to Reading the Gospel of Mark; Angels in the Gospel of Mark; The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of Mark; “The Son of Man” in the Gospel of Mark; “Heart” & “Understanding” in Scripture; The Twelve: Disciples or Apostles?’ “Ears to Hear” in the Old and New Testaments; The Christian Virtues and Their Opposites; Concepts of Time in the Gospel of Mark. 190 pages. $49.00. The volume is available through our Virtual Bookstore (my Amazon Author Central page).
Later this week or early next week there will be special Blog post on another AIC Bookstore Publication: Easter: the Resurrection of Our Lord in Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition (discussed in my 11/22/2025 Blog post (linked from the Archive column at right). I hope to establish a promotion through the Blaze system used by our site host, WordPress.com.
As always, thank you for your interest and support.
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