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October 25: Tabitha (Dorcas) of Joppa

The Collect of the Day

Tabitha (Dorcas) of Joppa

Most Holy God, who did raise from the dead your servant Tabitha to display your power and confirm that your Son is Lord; Grant unto us your grace, that, aided by her prayers and example, we may be given a new life in you, to do works pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Tabitha (Dorcas) of Joppa

Most Holy God, who didst raise from the dead thy servant Tabitha to display thy power and confirm that thy Son is Lord; Grant unto us thy grace, that, aided by her prayers and example, we may be given a new life in thee, to do works pleasing in thy sight; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Tabitha, also known by her Greek name Dorcas, already had a reputation for being a woman of good works and charity before Peter arrived in Joppa to preach the Gospel. (Acts 9:36) The Scriptures mention that many widows had benefitted from her work in making them clothes. Their desire to show Peter examples was both a testament to her charity and perhaps also the level of craftsmanship with which she made them.

Perhaps due to the reputation that the apostles had as wonder workers, when Tabitha died her friends called for Peter to come see her. This story is likely intended to recall the story of Jesus healing the young girl in Luke 8:41–56 when Jesus performed a similar miracle. This miracle of life performed for Tabitha through Peter caused many in the town to believe in Jesus. It, like many miracles recorded in Acts, was a confirmation that the message was true and that the apostles did indeed speak for God.

She is also mentioned by Basil of Caesarea as an example of charity and good works, and as a role model for other widows: “A widow who enjoys sufficiently robust health should spend her life in works of zeal and solicitude, keeping in mind the words of the Apostle and the example of Dorcas.”

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

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Psalm

1Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

2Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *and they meditate on his law day and night.

3They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *everything they do shall prosper.

4It is not so with the wicked; *they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

5Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.

6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *but the way of the wicked is doomed.

Gospel

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Acts 9:36–42

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Matthew 25:1–13

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.