Saturday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Ezekiel 36:8-15

Verse 8. But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and bear fruit for My people Israel, for they will soon come home. Verse 9. For behold, I am on your side; I will turn toward you, and you will be tilled and sown. Verse 10. I will multiply the people upon you — the house of Israel in its entirety. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. Verse 11. I will fill you with people and animals, and they will multiply and be fruitful. I will make you as inhabited as you once were, and I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Verse 12. Yes, I will cause My people Israel to walk upon you; they will possess you, and you will be their inheritance, and you will no longer deprive them of their children. Verse 13. For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,’ Verse 14. therefore you will no longer devour men or deprive your nation of its children, declares the Lord GOD. Verse 15. I will no longer allow the taunts of the nations to be heard against you, and you will no longer endure the reproach of the peoples or cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord GOD.”

PSALM

Psalm 130

A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!

O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.

And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity.

SECOND READING

Luke 24:44-53

Verse 44. Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Verse 45. Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Verse 46. And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, Verse 47. and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Verse 48. You are witnesses of these things. Verse 49. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Verse 50. When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Verse 51. While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. Verse 52. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, Verse 53. praising God continually in the temple.