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<DIV><BR>The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 14
(also called Mothering Sunday in many places), 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,
Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OLD TESTAMENT: Joshua 5: 9 - 12
(RCL)<BR>
Joshua 5: 9a, 10 - 12 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Josh 4:19 (NRSV) The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of
the first month, and they camped in Gil'gal on the east border of Jericho. 20
Those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in
Gil'gal, 21 saying to the Israelites, "When your children ask their parents in
time to come, "What do these stones mean?' 22 then you shall let your children
know, "Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.' 23 For the LORD your
God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, as the
LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we crossed
over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD
is mighty, and so that you may fear the LORD your God forever." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>9 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace
of Egypt." And so that place is called Gil'gal to this day. <BR>10 While the
Israelites were camped in Gil'gal they kept the passover in the evening on the
fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the
passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes
and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the
land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of
Ca'naan that year. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>PSALM 32 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 32:1 (NRSV) Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, <BR>whose
sin is covered. <BR>2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,
<BR>and in whose spirit there is no deceit. <BR>3 While I kept silence, my body
wasted away <BR>through my groaning all day long. <BR>4 For day and night your
hand was heavy upon me; <BR>my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
[Se'lah] <BR>5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, <BR>and I did not hide my
iniquity; <BR>I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," <BR>and
you forgave the guilt of my sin. [Se'lah] <BR>6 Therefore let all who are
faithful <BR>offer prayer to you; <BR>at a time of distress, the rush of mighty
waters <BR>shall not reach them. <BR>7 You are a hiding place for me; <BR>you
preserve me from trouble; <BR>you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
[Se'lah] <BR>8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; <BR>I
will counsel you with my eye upon you. <BR>9 Do not be like a horse or a mule,
without understanding, <BR>whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
<BR>else it will not stay near you. <BR>10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
<BR>but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD. <BR>11 Be glad in
the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, <BR>and shout for joy, all you upright in
heart. </DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 34: 1 - 8 (Can. BAS)<BR>Psalm 34: 1 - 6
(Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; <BR>his praise shall
continually be in my mouth. <BR>2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; <BR>let
the humble hear and be glad. <BR>3 O magnify the LORD with me, <BR>and let us
exalt his name together. <BR>4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, <BR>and
delivered me from all my fears. <BR>5 Look to him, and be radiant; <BR>so your
faces shall never be ashamed. <BR>6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the
LORD, <BR>and was saved from every trouble. <BR>7 The angel of the LORD encamps
<BR>around those who fear him, and delivers them. <BR>8 O taste and see that the
LORD is good; <BR>happy are those who take refuge in him. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the
above.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 21
(RCL)<BR>
2 Corinthians 5: 17 - 21 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2Cor 5:16 (NRSV) From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human
point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we
know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us
the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the
world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the
message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God
is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be
reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so
that in him we might become the righteousness of God. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>GOSPEL: Luke 15: 1 - 3, 11b - 32
(RCL)<BR>
Luke 15: 1 - 3, 11 - 32 (Can. BAS, Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 15:1 (NRSV) Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to
listen to him. 2 And the Phar'isees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,
"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." <BR>3 So he told them this
parable: </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>11 Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of
them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will
belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the
younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he
squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a
severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who
sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself
with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But
when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread
enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to
my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of
your hired hands." ' 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was
still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put
his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, "Father, I have
sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.' 22 But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe--the best
one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And
get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son
of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began
to celebrate. <BR>25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and
approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves
and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, "Your brother has come, and your
father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'
28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to
plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I
have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command;
yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my
friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property
with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then the father said
to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we
had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has
come to life; he was lost and has been found.'" <BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Chad Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, Vermont USA<BR><A
href="mailto:chadwohl@satucket.com">chadwohl@satucket.com</A><BR><A
href="mailto:cwohlers@bridgew.edu">cwohlers@bridgew.edu</A><BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>