Friday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Daniel 12:5-13

Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. Verse 6. One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?” Verse 7. And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.” Verse 8. I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” Verse 9. “Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Verse 10. Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. Verse 11. And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12. Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. Verse 13. But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

PSALM

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

and gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Fools, in their rebellious ways, and through their iniquities, suffered affliction.

They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.

He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.

SECOND READING

Ephesians 1:7-14

Verse 7. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace Verse 8. that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Verse 9. And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ Verse 10. as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. Verse 11. In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, Verse 12. in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. Verse 13. And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth — the gospel of your salvation — you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Verse 14. who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.