[Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTH SUNDAY in LENT

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 10 (also 
called Mothering Sunday in many places), according to the Revised Common 
(RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of 
England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New 
Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the 
ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this 
day.



OLD TESTAMENT:   Joshua 5: 9 - 12   (RCL)
                                   Joshua 5: 9a, 10 - 12   (Roman Catholic)

Josh 4:19 (NRSV) The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of 
the first month, and they camped in Gil'gal on the east border of Jericho. 
20 Those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan, Joshua set 
up in Gil'gal, 21 saying to the Israelites, "When your children ask their 
parents in time to come, "What do these stones mean?' 22 then you shall let 
your children know, "Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.' 23 
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you 
crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for 
us until we crossed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know 
that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may fear the LORD your 
God forever."

9 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace 
of Egypt." And so that place is called Gil'gal to this day.
10 While the Israelites were camped in Gil'gal they kept the passover in the 
evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On 
the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the 
land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day 
they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; 
they ate the crops of the land of Ca'naan that year.


PSALM 32   (RCL)

Psal 32:1 (NRSV) Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. [Se'lah]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. [Se'lah]
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. [Se'lah]
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.


32   Beati quorum     (ECUSA BCP)

1   Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
  and whose sin is put away!


2   Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
  and in whose spirit there is no guile!

3   While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
  because of my groaning all day long.

4   For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
  my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

5   Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
  and did not conceal my guilt.

6   I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
  Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

7   Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in
  time of trouble; *
  when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

8   You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *
  you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

9   “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you
  should go; *
  I will guide you with my eye.

10   Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *
  who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
  or else they will not stay near you.”

11   Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
  but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.

12   Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
  shout for joy, all who are true of heart.



Psalm 34: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD,
and was saved from every trouble.

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the 
above.


NEW TESTAMENT:  2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 21   (RCL)
                                    2 Corinthians 5: 17 - 21   (Roman 
Catholic)

2Cor 5:16 (NRSV) From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point 
of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know 
him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new 
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has 
given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was 
reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against 
them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are 
ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we 
entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he 
made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the 
righteousness of God.


GOSPEL:   Luke 15: 1 - 3, 11b - 32   (RCL)
                    Luke 15: 1 - 3, 11 - 32   (Roman Catholic)

Luke 15:1 (NRSV) Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to 
listen to him. 2 And the Phar'isees and the scribes were grumbling and 
saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 So he told them this parable:

11 Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of 
them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that 
will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days 
later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, 
and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had 
spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he 
began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the 
citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He 
would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; 
and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, "How 
many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I 
am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to 
him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer 
worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' 20 
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his 
father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms 
around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, "Father, I have 
sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called 
your son.' 22 But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a 
robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals 
on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and 
celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost 
and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the 
house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked 
what was going on. 27 He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father 
has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 28 
Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to 
plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years 
I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your 
command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might 
celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has 
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for 
him!' 31 Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all 
that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this 
brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been 
found.'"


Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass.   USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu