Saturday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Lamentations 3:55-66

Verse 55. I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit. Verse 56. You heard my plea: “Do not ignore my cry for relief.” Verse 57. You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not be afraid.” Verse 58. You defend my cause, O Lord; You redeem my life. Verse 59. You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me; vindicate my cause! Verse 60. You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me. Verse 61. O LORD, You have heard their insults, all their plots against me — Verse 62. the slander and murmuring of my assailants against me all day long. Verse 63. When they sit and when they rise, see how they mock me in song. Verse 64. You will pay them back what they deserve, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. Verse 65. Put a veil of anguish over their hearts; may Your curse be upon them! Verse 66. You will pursue them in anger and exterminate them from under Your heavens, O LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 31:9-16

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.

For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends — they flee when they see me on the street.

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me by Your loving devotion.

SECOND READING

Mark 10:32-34

Verse 32. As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him: Verse 33. “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles, Verse 34. who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”