Wednesday in Easter

FIRST READING

Isaiah 65:17-25

Verse 17. For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Verse 18. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. Verse 19. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. Verse 20. No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. Verse 21. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Verse 22. No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. Verse 23. They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD — they and their descendants with them. Verse 24. Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Verse 25. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,”

PSALM

Psalm 80

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rally Your mighty power and come to save us.

Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people?

You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears.

You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.

Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it.

You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches.

It sent out its branches to the Sea, and its shoots toward the River.

Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.

Return, O God of Hosts, we pray! Look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine—

the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself.

Your vine has been cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.

Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand, on the son of man You have raised up for Yourself.

Then we will not turn away from You; revive us, and we will call on Your name.

Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts; cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

SECOND READING

John 14:18-31

Verse 18. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Verse 19. In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. Verse 20. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Verse 21. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” Verse 22. Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” Verse 23. Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Verse 24. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me. Verse 25. All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. Verse 26. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. Verse 27. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. Verse 28. You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. Verse 29. And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. Verse 30. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. Verse 31. But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.[’’]