Friday in Easter — Open Word

FIRST READING

Isaiah 42:5-9

Verse 5. This is what God the LORD says— He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it: Verse 6. “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, Verse 7. to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. Verse 8. I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. Verse 9. Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

PSALM

Psalm 98

A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory.

The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations.

He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth — let your cry ring out, and sing praises!

Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp.

With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it.

Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy

before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

SECOND READING

Acts 10:34-43

Verse 34. Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, Verse 35. but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. Verse 36. He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Verse 37. You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: Verse 38. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. Verse 39. We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, Verse 40. God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen — Verse 41. not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. Verse 42. And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. Verse 43. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”