Thursday, March 23, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Friday, March 24, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Friday, March 24, 2023
Psalm 130; Ezekiel 33:10-16; Revelation 11:15-19

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 130
Mercy and redemption
De profundis

1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;
      LORD, hear my voice; *
    let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.


2 If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, *
    O LORD, who could stand?


3 For there is forgiveness with you; *
    therefore you shall be feared.


4 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; *
    in his word is my hope.


5 My soul waits for the LORD,
      more than watchmen for the morning, *
    more than watchmen for the morning.


6 O Israel, wait for the LORD, *
    for with the LORD there is mercy;


7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *
    and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.


Heavenly Father, from the very depth of our being, we pray to You. Sometimes we pray with shame and sorrow for our sins, knowing that You have forgiven us, but still feeling deep remorse for having failed You. At other times we pray joyfully, with words and feelings of praise welling up from the bottom of our hearts. We want to express our love for You, knowing that our thoughts will always inadequately express the reverence Your holiness deserves. By Your Spirit help us to pray in ways that honor You through Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray,
“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.”

Ezekiel 33:10-16
The word of God: repent and live


33:10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ 13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. 14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— 15 if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. 16 None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

Revelation 11:15-19
The word of God: thanksgiving and singing


11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:  
“The kingdom of the world has become
      the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
      and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:  
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
      the One who is and who was,
   because you have taken your great power
      and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
      and your wrath has come.
   The time has come for judging the dead,
      and for rewarding your servants the prophets
   and your people who revere your name,
      both great and small—
   and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

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 Friday, March 24, 2023
Psalm 130; Ezekiel 33:10-16; Revelation 11:15-19

The Morning Prayer for Friday, March 24, 2023

 

The Morning Prayer
Friday, March 24, 2023


For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
Habakkuk 2:3, NIV


Dear Father in heaven, in quietness we come to you and ask you for your Spirit. We ask this especially for the time of waiting still required of us as we hope and strive for light to come into all hearts, for light to shine where there is so much death. We must not despair of our inner life even when life around us rages as if it would suck us down into its whirlpool with no way out. But you will guard us. Watch over us, we pray, also in hours of temptation, so that we may remain under your care. Watch over us so that we have hope and joy in you, assured that your goal for us all is true life from above, a life of resurrection. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Friday, March 24, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Friday, March 24, 2023


Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our sin has earned us death. Either you pay it and forfeit your life, or Jesus pays it and gives you eternal life (Matt. 16:25, 26)—you make the choice. All of our good works cannot earn us a place in heaven. Our only hope is to receive the free gift that Jesus Christ has purchased for us on the Cross (John 3:16–18).

Read all of Romans Chapter 6

Listen to Romans Chapter 6

Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

The Lenten Prayer for Friday, March 24, 2023

 

40 Days of Lenten Prayers
Day 27 — Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent


Loving God of forgiveness, I come before you humbled and sad in the face of my own repeated failings. I hold out my hands as a petitioner would, asking for mercy. It is then that I feel you reach out and take my hand in your loving grasp.

Thank you for the love you pour out on me so lavishly.

Help me to follow more closely in the path you have set for me, the path of your Son. Amen.