Tuesday in Easter — Open Word

FIRST READING

Proverbs 3:5-12

Verse 5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; Verse 6. in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Verse 7. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Verse 8. This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Verse 9. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops; Verse 10. then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Verse 11. My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; Verse 12. for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

PSALM

Psalm 102:1-17

A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.

Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.

For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears

because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.

My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.

But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor — the appointed time has come.

For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.

So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.

For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.

SECOND READING

Acts 7:44-56

Verse 44. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. Verse 45. And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, Verse 46. who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. Verse 47. But it was Solomon who built the house for Him. Verse 48. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: Verse 49. ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? Verse 50. Has not My hand made all these things?’ Verse 51. You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. Verse 52. Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers — Verse 53. you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.” Verse 54. On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him. Verse 55. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Verse 56. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”