Daily Readings
SUNDAY, March 18, 2018 (Passion Sunday)
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
Opening Sentence
Jesus said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
Prayer of the Day (Collect)
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Confession and Forgiveness
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves; and we sorrow for these wrongful acts and omissions from the bottom of our hearts. We humbly and fully repent all of our misdeeds, and pray that for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, you will have mercy on us and forgive us, not by our merits, but by that grace that He has granted those who confess his name. And we pray that you will be in our heart and walk with us, that we might sin no more. Amen.
The Lessons
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34
A New Covenant
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
The Response: Psalm 51:1-13 Miserere mei, Deus
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; *or
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.3 For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.4 Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.5 And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment.6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother's womb.7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.10 Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.12 Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.13 Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Psalm 119:9-16 In quo corrigit?
9 How shall a young man cleanse his way? *
By keeping to your words.10 With my whole heart I seek you; *
let me not stray from your commandments.11 I treasure your promise in my heart, *
that I may not sin against you.12 Blessed are you, O Lord; *
instruct me in your statutes.13 With my lips will I recite *
all the judgments of your mouth.14 I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *
than in all manner of riches.15 I will meditate on your commandments *
and give attention to your ways.16 My delight is in your statutes; *
I will not forget your word.
The Epistle: Hebrews 5:5-10
5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Gospel: John 12:20-33
Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
Jesus Speaks about His Death
27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Here ends the Lessons
Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Closing Prayer
Let us not forget you as we go forth into the world this day, blessed Lord; may our every word be a prayer, and our every act be testimony to your love and truth, and may we know your presence every second of this day and the week to come. Amen.
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
“This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
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