Saturday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Numbers 20:22-29

Verse 22. After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. Verse 23. And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Verse 24. “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Verse 25. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. Verse 26. Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.” Verse 27. So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. Verse 28. After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. Verse 29. When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty 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

John 3:1-13

Verse 1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. Verse 2. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” Verse 3. Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ” Verse 4. “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” Verse 5. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Verse 6. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Verse 7. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ Verse 8. The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Verse 9. “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. Verse 10. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? Verse 11. Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. Verse 12. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? Verse 13. No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven— the Son of Man.