Open Word

FIRST READING

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Verse 1. The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. Verse 2. He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry. Verse 3. Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.” Verse 4. And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Verse 5. This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life. Verse 6. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath within you so that you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” Verse 7. So I prophesied as I had been commanded. And as I prophesied, there was suddenly a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. Verse 8. As I looked on, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Verse 9. Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!” Verse 10. So I prophesied as He had commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet — a vast army. Verse 11. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ Verse 12. Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Verse 13. Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. Verse 14. I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.’”

PSALM

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small.

There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season.

When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.

When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works.

He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder.

I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

John 20:19-23

Verse 19. It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. Verse 20. After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Verse 21. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” Verse 22. When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Verse 23. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”