Monday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

1 Kings 17:17-24

Verse 17. Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him. Verse 18. “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?” Verse 19. But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Verse 20. Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” Verse 21. Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” Verse 22. And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived. Verse 23. Then Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive,” Elijah declared. Verse 24. Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth.”

PSALM

Psalm 143

A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.

Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.

My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands.

I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.

Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD; I flee to You for refuge.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.

And in Your loving devotion, cut off my enemies. Destroy all who afflict me, for I am Your servant.

SECOND READING

Acts 20:7-12

Verse 7. On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight. Verse 8. Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. Verse 9. And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead. Verse 10. But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!” Verse 11. Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed. Verse 12. And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.