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<DIV>The following are the readings for the Liturgy of the Passion on Palm
Sunday, March 20, 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>The readings are posted on our web site: <<A
href="http://satucket.com/lectionary">http://satucket.com/lectionary</A>>, in
RTF format, which can be read by all word processors.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 50: 4 - 9a (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV>
Isaiah 50: 4 - 7 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isai 50:4 (NRSV) The Lord GOD has given me </DIV>
<DIV>the tongue of a teacher, </DIV>
<DIV>that I may know how to sustain </DIV>
<DIV>the weary with a word. </DIV>
<DIV>Morning by morning he wakens-- </DIV>
<DIV>wakens my ear </DIV>
<DIV>to listen as those who are taught. </DIV>
<DIV>5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, </DIV>
<DIV>and I was not rebellious, </DIV>
<DIV>I did not turn backward. </DIV>
<DIV>6 I gave my back to those who struck me, </DIV>
<DIV>and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; </DIV>
<DIV>I did not hide my face </DIV>
<DIV>from insult and spitting. </DIV>
<DIV>7 The Lord GOD helps me; </DIV>
<DIV>therefore I have not been disgraced; </DIV>
<DIV>therefore I have set my face like flint, </DIV>
<DIV>and I know that I shall not be put to shame; </DIV>
<DIV>8 he who vindicates me is near. </DIV>
<DIV>Who will contend with me? </DIV>
<DIV>Let us stand up together. </DIV>
<DIV>Who are my adversaries? </DIV>
<DIV>Let them confront me. </DIV>
<DIV>9 It is the Lord GOD who helps me; </DIV>
<DIV>who will declare me guilty? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PSALM 31: 9 - 16 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 31:9 (NRSV) Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; </DIV>
<DIV>my eye wastes away from grief, </DIV>
<DIV>my soul and body also. </DIV>
<DIV>10 For my life is spent with sorrow, </DIV>
<DIV>and my years with sighing; </DIV>
<DIV>my strength fails because of my misery, </DIV>
<DIV>and my bones waste away. </DIV>
<DIV>11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, </DIV>
<DIV>a horror to my neighbors, </DIV>
<DIV>an object of dread to my acquaintances; </DIV>
<DIV>those who see me in the street flee from me. </DIV>
<DIV>12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; </DIV>
<DIV>I have become like a broken vessel. </DIV>
<DIV>13 For I hear the whispering of many-- </DIV>
<DIV>terror all around!-- </DIV>
<DIV>as they scheme together against me, </DIV>
<DIV>as they plot to take my life. </DIV>
<DIV>14 But I trust in you, O LORD; </DIV>
<DIV>I say, "You are my God." </DIV>
<DIV>15 My times are in your hand; </DIV>
<DIV>deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. </DIV>
<DIV>16 Let your face shine upon your servant; </DIV>
<DIV>save me in your steadfast love. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 22: 7 - 8, 16 - 19, 22 - 23 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 22:7 (NRSV) All who see me mock at me; </DIV>
<DIV>they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; </DIV>
<DIV>8 "Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- </DIV>
<DIV>let him rescue the one in whom he delights!" </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>16 For dogs are all around me; </DIV>
<DIV>a company of evildoers encircles me. </DIV>
<DIV>My hands and feet have shriveled; </DIV>
<DIV>17 I can count all my bones. </DIV>
<DIV>They stare and gloat over me; </DIV>
<DIV>18 they divide my clothes among themselves, </DIV>
<DIV>and for my clothing they cast lots. </DIV>
<DIV>19 But you, O LORD, do not be far away! </DIV>
<DIV>O my help, come quickly to my aid! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; </DIV>
<DIV>in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: </DIV>
<DIV>23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! </DIV>
<DIV>All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; </DIV>
<DIV>stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic Bibles is one greater then the
above.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: Philippians 2: 5 - 11 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV>
Philippians 2: 6 - 11 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Phil 2:5 (NRSV) Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
</DIV>
<DIV>6 who, though he was in the form of God, </DIV>
<DIV>did not regard equality with God </DIV>
<DIV>as something to be exploited, </DIV>
<DIV>7 but emptied himself, </DIV>
<DIV>taking the form of a slave, </DIV>
<DIV>being born in human likeness. </DIV>
<DIV>And being found in human form, </DIV>
<DIV>8 he humbled himself </DIV>
<DIV>and became obedient to the point of death-- </DIV>
<DIV>even death on a cross. </DIV>
<DIV>9 Therefore God also highly exalted him </DIV>
<DIV>and gave him the name </DIV>
<DIV>that is above every name, </DIV>
<DIV>10 so that at the name of Jesus </DIV>
<DIV>every knee should bend, </DIV>
<DIV>in heaven and on earth and under the earth, </DIV>
<DIV>11 and every tongue should confess </DIV>
<DIV>that Jesus Christ is Lord, </DIV>
<DIV>to the glory of God the Father. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>GOSPEL: Luke (22: 14 - 71) 23: 1 - 49 (50 - 56)
(RCL, Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 22:14 (NRSV) When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and
the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it
is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving
thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you
that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes." 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he
broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper,
saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21
But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For
the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom
he is betrayed!" 23 Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it
could be who would do this. </DIV>
<DIV>24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be
regarded as the greatest. 25 But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles
lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26
But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the
youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who
is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am
among you as one who serves. </DIV>
<DIV>28 "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and I confer on
you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat
and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. </DIV>
<DIV>31 "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when
once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 And he said to him,
"Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!" 34 Jesus said, "I tell
you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times
that you know me." </DIV>
<DIV>35 He said to them, "When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals,
did you lack anything?" They said, "No, not a thing." 36 He said to them, "But
now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who
has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you, this scripture
must be fulfilled in me, "And he was counted among the lawless'; and indeed what
is written about me is being fulfilled." 38 They said, "Lord, look, here are two
swords." He replied, "It is enough." </DIV>
<DIV>39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the
disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray
that you may not come into the time of trial." 41 Then he withdrew from them
about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing,
remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." 43 Then an angel
from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed
more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on
the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found
them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping?
Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial."</DIV>
<DIV>47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called
Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48
but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son
of Man?" 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked,
"Lord, should we strike with the sword?" 50 Then one of them struck the slave of
the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!"
And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests,
the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have
you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53 When I was with you
day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour,
and the power of darkness!" </DIV>
<DIV>54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high
priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled
a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among
them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and
said, "This man also was with him." 57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do
not know him." 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also
are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 59 Then about an hour later
still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a
Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!"
At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned
and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said
to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." 62 And he
went out and wept bitterly. </DIV>
<DIV>63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64
they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck
you?" 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him. </DIV>
<DIV>66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief
priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council.
67 They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." He replied, "If I tell you, you
will not believe; 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now
on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." 70 All
of them asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say that I
am." 71 Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it
ourselves from his own lips!" 23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought
Jesus before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man
perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying
that he himself is the Messiah, a king." 3 Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the
king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." 4 Then Pilate said to the chief
priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." 5
But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout
all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." </DIV>
<DIV>6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And
when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to
Her'od, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Her'od saw Jesus, he
was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he
had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9 He questioned
him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the
scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Her'od with his soldiers
treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him,
and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Her'od and Pilate became friends
with each other; before this they had been enemies. </DIV>
<DIV>13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the
people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting
the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found
this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Her'od, for
he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will
therefore have him flogged and release him." </DIV>
<DIV>18 Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release
Barab'bas for us!" 19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an
insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate,
wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21 but they kept shouting,
"Crucify, crucify him!" 22 A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he
done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore
have him flogged and then release him." 23 But they kept urgently demanding with
loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24 So
Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the
man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and
murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. </DIV>
<DIV>26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyre'ne, who was
coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it
behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were
women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to
them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for
yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they
will say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the
breasts that never nursed.' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains,
"Fall on us'; and to the hills, "Cover us.' 31 For if they do this when the wood
is green, what will happen when it is dry?" </DIV>
<DIV>32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death
with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they
crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by,
watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save
himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36 The soldiers also
mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the
King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him,
"This is the King of the Jews." </DIV>
<DIV>39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,
"Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him,
saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of
condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting
what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he
said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied,
"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." </DIV>
<DIV>44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three
in the afternoon, 45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple
was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into
your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When
the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this
man was innocent." 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this
spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.
49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from
Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. </DIV>
<DIV>50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a
member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from
the Jewish town of Arimathe'a, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of
God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took
it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no
one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was
beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they
saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared
spices and ointments. </DIV>
<DIV>On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, VT
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>