Dear Saints,
During this holiest of weeks, we follow Jesus as He ascends to Jerusalem even as He is descending into all human sin and suffering. Here are the readings and Collects from the Book of Common Prayer for each day of the week. I plan to post short meditations throughout the week on Facebook and on our website.
Grace and Peace,
Doug+
Readings for Holy Week
Monday
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 36:5-10
Hebrew 11:39-12:3
John 12:1-11 or Mk 14:3-9
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday
Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 71:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
John 12:37-38,42-50 or Mark 11:15-19
O Lord our God, whose blessed Son gave his back to be whipped and did not hide his face from shame and spitting: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday
Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 69:7-15,22-23
Hebrews 9:11-28
Matthew 26:1-5,14-25
Assist us mercifully with your grace, Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts by which you have promised us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Maundy Thursday
Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 78:14-25
1 Corinthians 11:23-26(27-34)
John 13:1-15 or Luke 22:14-30
Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Good Friday
Genesis 22:1-18
Psalm 22:1-11(12-21) or Psalm 40:1-14 or 69:1-23
Hebrews 10:1-25
John (18:1-40) 19:1-37
Almighty God, we beseech you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Saturday
Job 14:1-17
Psalm 130 or 31:1-5
1 Peter 4:1-8
Matthew 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42
O God of the living, on this day your Son our Savior descended to the place of the dead: Look with kindness on all of us who wait in hope for liberation from the corruption of sin and death, and give us a share in the glory of the children of God, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Holy Pascha (Easter)
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:14-17,22-24
Col 3:1-4
John 20:1-18
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by your life-giving Spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.