Open Word

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Verse 31. Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Verse 32. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt— a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them, ” Verse 33. “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. Verse 34. No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

PSALM

Psalm 51:1-12

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

PSALM

Psalm 119:9-16

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.

I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.

I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.

I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 5:5-10

Verse 5. So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” Verse 6. And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Verse 7. During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Verse 8. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. Verse 9. And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him Verse 10. and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

GOSPEL

John 12:20-33

Verse 20. Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. Verse 21. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Verse 22. Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus. Verse 23. But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Verse 24. Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Verse 25. Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Verse 26. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. Verse 27. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. Verse 28. Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Verse 29. The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him. Verse 30. In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours. Verse 31. Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. Verse 32. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.” Verse 33. He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.