[Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTH SUNDAY in LENT
Charles Wohlers
charles.wohlers at verizon.net
Sun Mar 27 21:14:39 EDT 2011
The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, April 3, 2011,
according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic,
Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All
readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the
Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E and Canadian lectionaries
are identical to the RCL for this day.
The Church of England alternates are appropriate if Mothering Sunday is
celebrated.
OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Samuel 16: 1 - 13 (all but Roman Catholic)
1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6 - 7, 10 - 13a (Roman
Catholic)
1Sam 16:1 (NRSV) The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over
Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with
oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Beth'lehemite, for I have
provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If
Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with
you, and say, "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the
sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for
me the one whom I name to you." 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and
came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and
said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to
sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the
sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the
sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eli'ab and thought, "Surely the LORD's
anointed is now before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not
look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have
rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8 Then Jesse called
Abin'adab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD
chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Sham'mah pass by. And he said, "Neither
has the LORD chosen this one." 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before
Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." 11
Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains
yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse,
"Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 12 He
sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was
handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." 13 Then
Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his
brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day
forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ra'mah.
Exodus 2: 1 - 10 (alt. for C of E)
Exod 2:1 (NRSV) Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite
woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a
fine baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she
got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she
put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river.
4 His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.
5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her
attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and
sent her maid to bring it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child. He was
crying, and she took pity on him. "This must be one of the Hebrews'
children," she said. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I
go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" 8
Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Yes." So the girl went and called the
child's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child and nurse
it for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and
nursed it. 10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter,
and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, "because," she said, "I
drew him out of the water."
1 Samuel 1: 20 - 28 (alt. for C of E)
1Sam 1:20 (NRSV) In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him
Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."
21 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the
yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she
said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that
he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there forever; I will
offer him as a nazirite for all time." 23 Her husband Elkanah said to her,
"Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only-may the
LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until
she weaned him. 24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along
with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She
brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25
Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And
she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was
standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I
prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to him. 28
Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given to
the LORD."
She left him there for the LORD.
PSALM 23 (all)
Psal 23:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff--
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.
23 Dominus regit me (ECUSA BCP)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those
who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 34: 11 - 20 (alt for C of E)
Psal 34:11 (NRSV) Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Which of you desires life,
and covets many days to enjoy good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
Psalm 127: 1 - 3 (alt for C of E)
Psal 127:1 (NRSV) Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.
3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Note: Verse numbering in the Common Worship Psalter differs from the above.
NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians 5: 8 - 14 (RCL, Roman Catholic)
Ephe 5:1 (NRSV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and
live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be
mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Entirely out of place is
obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5
Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy
(that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the
wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be
associated with them. 8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you
are light. Live as children of light-- 9 for the fruit of the light is found
in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing
to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but
instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people
do secretly; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for
everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
"Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
2 Corinthinans 1: 3 - 7 (alt. for C of E)
2Cor 1:3 (NRSV) {Paul's Thanksgiving after Affliction} Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of
all consolation, 4 who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be
able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with
which we ourselves are consoled by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of
Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through
Christ. 6 If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and
salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you
experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also
suffering. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in
our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
Colossians 3: 12 - 17 (alt for C of E)
Colo 3:12 (NRSV) As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with
one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each
other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above
all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed
you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with
gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
GOSPEL: John 9: 1 - 41 (RCL)
John 9: 1 (2 - 5) 6 - 9 (10 - 12) 13 - 17 (18 - 33) 34 -
38 (Roman Catholic)
John 9:1 (NRSV) As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His
disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he
was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned;
he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4 We must
work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no
one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva
and spread the mud on the man's eyes, 7 saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool
of Silo'am" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able
to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began
to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some were saying,
"It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept
saying, "I am the man." 10 But they kept asking him, "Then how were your
eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on
my eyes, and said to me, "Go to Silo'am and wash.' Then I went and washed
and received my sight." 12 They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do
not know."
13 They brought to the Phar'isees the man who had formerly been blind. 14
Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15
Then the Phar'isees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He
said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." 16 Some
of the Phar'isees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe
the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such
signs?" And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, "What
do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a
prophet."
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his
sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19
and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does
he now see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and
that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees,
nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for
himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for
the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the
Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said,
"He is of age; ask him."
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they
said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He
answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that
though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him, "What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I have told you already,
and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want
to become his disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his
disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to
Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." 30 The man
answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes
from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to
sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32
Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of
a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
34 They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to
teach us?" And they drove him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said,
"Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 He answered, "And who is he, sir?
Tell me, so that I may believe in him." 37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen
him, and the one speaking with you is he." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe."
And he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so
that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."
40 Some of the Phar'isees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we
are not blind, are we?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would
not have sin. But now that you say, "We see,' your sin remains.
Luke 3: 33 - 35 (alt for C of E)
Luke 2:33 (NRSV) And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was
being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother
Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts
of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
John 19: 25 - 27 (alt for C of E)
John 19:25 (NRSV) And that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his
mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus
saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said
to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple,
"Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own
home.
Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass. USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
More information about the Propertalk
mailing list