Saturday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Verse 1. To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: Verse 2. a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, Verse 3. a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, Verse 4. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, Verse 5. a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, Verse 6. a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, Verse 7. a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, Verse 8. a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

PSALM

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling— my refuge, the Most High—

no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent.

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent.

“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him.

When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

SECOND READING

John 12:27-36

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. Verse 34. The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Verse 35. Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. Verse 36. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.