Tuesday, April 4, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Wednesday, April 5, 2023 — Wednesday of Holy Week

 

The Daily Lectionary
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Wednesday of Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Isaiah 50:4-9a
The servant is vindicated by God

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
     to know the word that sustains the weary.
  He wakens me morning by morning,
     wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
     I have not been rebellious,
     I have not turned away.

6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
     my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
  I did not hide my face
     from mocking and spitting.

7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
     I will not be disgraced.
  Therefore have I set my face like flint,
     and I know I will not be put to shame.

8 He who vindicates me is near.
     Who then will bring charges against me?
     Let us face each other!
  Who is my accuser?
     Let him confront me!

9a It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
      Who will condemn me?


A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 70
Be pleased O God to deliver me
Deus, in adjutorium

1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *
    O LORD, make haste to help me.


2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed
      and altogether dismayed; *
    let those who take pleasure in my misfortune
      draw back and be disgraced.


3 Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back, *
    because they are ashamed.


4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *
    let those who love your salvation say for ever,
      “Great is the LORD!”


5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; *
    come to me speedily, O God.


6 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
    O LORD, do not tarry.


O Lord, we trust in You and Your lovingkindness to save us from all of our enemies, those within and those without. Defend and protect our loved ones, and fill them with love and trust in You, even as we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
“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.”

Hebrews 12:1-3
Look to Jesus who endured the cross


12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

John 13:21-32
Jesus foretells his betrayal


13:21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

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 Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Wednesday of Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

The Morning Prayer for Wednesday, April 5, 2023

 

The Morning Prayer
Wednesday, April 5, 2023


Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8, NIV


Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for this day and for all the loving kindness you pour out on us. May we continue to receive your help and your protection. Bless us in whatever we are allowed to do in your service, that it may always be done in love to all people. Watch over us this night and be with us. May your will be done throughout the world, so that at last all confusion may come to an end, Satan’s work may be destroyed, and your children may shout for joy that your will is being done on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Wednesday, April 5, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Wednesday, April 5, 2023


2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Do you think that God would have us relieve someone’s hunger but not show them how to be saved from the fires of hell? Is it enough to give a drink of water or clothe someone without ever taking the opportunity to present the gospel? Of course not. If the love of Christ compels us to provide for people’s earthly needs, how much more will His love cause us to show them the way to forgiveness and eternal life—their greatest need?

The Lenten Prayer for Wednesday, April 5, 2023

 

40 Days of Lenten Prayers
Day 37 — Wednesday of Holy Week


My savior, do you invite me to share in the glory of the resurrection? Please stay with me as I struggle to see how accepting the crosses of my life will free me from the power of the one who wants only to destroy my love and trust in you. Help me to be humble and accepting like your son, Jesus. I want to turn to you with the same trust he had in your love. Save me, Lord. Only you can save me. Amen.

Travel the World from Home — A Joyous Crossing For All God’s People

 

The Holy Land:
Connecting the Land with Its Stories

A Joyous Crossing For All God’s People

Season 3 — Episode 8

How does Jesus’ own baptism affect our own baptism into God’s family today?

The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories” Season 3 is a nine-episode series hosted by Dr. John (Jack) Beck that takes you to the Jordan River Valley systems to experience the land, the culture, and the customs that surround the sacred stories of the Bible.

In the eighth episode of “The Holy Land” Season 3, Dr. Jack Beck uses the Jordan River to help us understand more about how Jesus’ transition through baptism makes it possible for us to transition from old to new creations.



Season 3 — Episode 8 | A Joyous Crossing For All God’s People