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Second Sunday in Lent |
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The Narrow Door and the Lament
of Jerusalem |
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have
gone astray from thy ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and
steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of thy Word,
Jesus Christ thy Son; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen
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Lesson - Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 |
Gods Covenant With Abram
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Fear
not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram
said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless, and the
heir of my house is Elie'zer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Behold, thou
hast given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir."
And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your
heir; your own son shall be your heir." And he brought him outside and said,
"Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them."
Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the
LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. And he said to him, "I am
the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chalde'ans, to give you this land to
possess." But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess
it?" He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three
years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." And he
brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over against the
other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down
upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep
sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him. When
the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a
flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a
covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the
river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphra'tes, the land of the
Ken'ites, the Ken'izzites, the Kad'monites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites,
the Reph'aim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gir'gashites and the
Jeb'usites."
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Epistle - Philippians 3:17--4:1 |
Pressing Toward the Goal
Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an
example in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even
with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is
destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with
minds set on earthly things. But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it
we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to
be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject
all things to himself. Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my
joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
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Gospel - Luke 13:(22-30)31-35 |
The Narrow Door
He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying
toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved
be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many,
I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the
householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside
and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I
do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and
drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I
tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers
of iniquity!' There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you
yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north
and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last
who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
The Lament of Jerusalem
At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here,
for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox,
'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the
third day I finish my course. Nevertheless I must go on my way today and
tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should
perish away from Jerusalem.' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets
and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your
children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would
not! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me
until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'" |
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