The Daily Lectionary for Saturday, May 20, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Psalm 93; 2 Kings 2:13-15; John 8:21-30
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 93
God reigns above the floods
Dominus regnavit

The LORD is King;
    he has put on splendid apparel; *
  the LORD has put on his apparel
    and girded himself with strength.

He has made the whole world so sure *
  that it cannot be moved;

Ever since the world began, your throne has been established; *
  you are from everlasting.

The waters have lifted up, O LORD,
    the waters have lifted up their voice; *
  the waters have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the sound of many waters,
    mightier than the breakers of the sea, *
  mightier is the LORD who dwells on high.

Your testimonies are very sure, *
  and holiness adorns your house, O LORD,
    for ever and for evermore.

O God, our Father, we honor and worship You as the true King over all nations on Earth and over worlds throughout the universe. You made all that exists, and all that exists owes their reality and purpose to You. And yet, many have rebelled against You and Your holy rule over all. From time to time, we too have disregarded Your laws, we too have sinned, we too have fallen into temptation and have brought disgrace to You, our King. Forgive us for our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, empower us to serve You with a heart of love for You and others. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and hear us now as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Savior:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Kings 2:13-15
The spirit rests on Elisha

Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

John 8:21-30
Jesus speaks of going to the Father

Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for Saturday, May 20, 2023
Psalm 93; 2 Kings 2:13-15; John 8:21-30