[Propertalk] READINGS for EASTER VIGIL - part 2

[Charles Wohlers]

Baruch 3: 9 - 15, 3: 32 - 4: 4

Bar 3:9 Hear the commandments of life, O Israel;
give ear, and learn wisdom!
10 Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies,
that you are growing old in a foreign country,
that you are defiled with the dead,
11 that you are counted among those in Hades?
12 You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.
13 If you had walked in the way of God,
you would be living in peace forever.
14 Learn where there is wisdom,
where there is strength,
where there is understanding,
so that you may at the same time discern
where there is length of days, and life,
where there is light for the eyes, and peace. 
15 Who has found her place?
And who has entered her storehouses?

32 But the one who knows all things knows her,
he found her by his understanding.
The one who prepared the earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;
33 the one who sends forth the light, and it goes;
he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;
34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;
he called them, and they said, "Here we are!"
They shone with gladness for him who made them.
35 This is our God;
no other can be compared to him.
36 He found the whole way to knowledge,
and gave her to his servant Jacob
and to Israel, whom he loved.
37 Afterward she appeared on earth
and lived with humankind. 
4:1 She is the book of the commandments of God,
the law that endures forever.
All who hold her fast will live,
and those who forsake her will die.
2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her;
walk toward the shining of her light.
3 Do not give your glory to another,
or your advantages to an alien people.
4 Happy are we, O Israel,
for we know what is pleasing to God. 


Proverbs 8: 1 - 8, 19 - 21, 9: 4b - 6   (alt. for Baruch reading, above)

Prov 8:1 (NRSV) Does not wisdom call, 
and does not understanding raise her voice? 
2 On the heights, beside the way, 
at the crossroads she takes her stand; 
3 beside the gates in front of the town, 
at the entrance of the portals she cries out: 
4 "To you, O people, I call, 
and my cry is to all that live. 
5 O simple ones, learn prudence; 
acquire intelligence, you who lack it. 
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, 
and from my lips will come what is right; 
7 for my mouth will utter truth; 
wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; 
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 

19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, 
and my yield than choice silver. 
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, 
along the paths of justice, 
21 endowing with wealth those who love me, 
and filling their treasuries. 

9:4 In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, 
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, 
and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, 
and its circuit to the end of them; 
and nothing is hid from its heat. 


Psalm 19

Psal 19:1 (NRSV) The heavens are telling the glory of God; 
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 
2 Day to day pours forth speech, 
and night to night declares knowledge. 
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; 
their voice is not heard; 
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, 
and their words to the end of the world. 
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, 
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, 
and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, 
and its circuit to the end of them; 
and nothing is hid from its heat. 
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, 
reviving the soul; 
the decrees of the LORD are sure, 
making wise the simple; 
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, 
rejoicing the heart; 
the commandment of the LORD is clear, 
enlightening the eyes; 
9 the fear of the LORD is pure, 
enduring forever; 
the ordinances of the LORD are true 
and righteous altogether. 
10 More to be desired are they than gold, 
even much fine gold; 
sweeter also than honey, 
and drippings of the honeycomb. 
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; 
in keeping them there is great reward. 
12 But who can detect their errors? 
Clear me from hidden faults. 
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; 
do not let them have dominion over me. 
Then I shall be blameless, 
and innocent of great transgression. 
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
be acceptable to you, 
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. 


Ezekiel 36: 24 - 28

Ezek 36:24 (NRSV) I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 


Psalm 42 & 43

Psal 42:1 (NRSV) As a deer longs for flowing streams, 
so my soul longs for you, O God. 
2 My soul thirsts for God, 
for the living God. 
When shall I come and behold 
the face of God? 
3 My tears have been my food 
day and night, 
while people say to me continually, 
"Where is your God?" 
4 These things I remember, 
as I pour out my soul: 
how I went with the throng, 
and led them in procession to the house of God, 
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, 
a multitude keeping festival. 
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, 
and why are you disquieted within me? 
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 
my help 6 and my God. 
My soul is cast down within me; 
therefore I remember you 
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, 
from Mount Mi'zar. 
7 Deep calls to deep 
at the thunder of your cataracts; 
all your waves and your billows 
have gone over me. 
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, 
and at night his song is with me, 
a prayer to the God of my life. 
9 I say to God, my rock, 
"Why have you forgotten me? 
Why must I walk about mournfully 
because the enemy oppresses me?" 
10 As with a deadly wound in my body, 
my adversaries taunt me, 
while they say to me continually, 
"Where is your God?" 
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, 
and why are you disquieted within me? 
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 
my help and my God. 
43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause 
against an ungodly people; 
from those who are deceitful and unjust 
deliver me! 
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; 
why have you cast me off? 
Why must I walk about mournfully 
because of the oppression of the enemy? 
3 O send out your light and your truth; 
let them lead me; 
let them bring me to your holy hill 
and to your dwelling. 
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, 
to God my exceeding joy; 
and I will praise you with the harp, 
O God, my God. 
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, 
and why are you disquieted within me? 
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 
my help and my God. 


Ezekiel 37: 1 - 14

Ezek 37:1 (NRSV) The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD." 
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 
11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act," says the LORD. 


Psalm 143

Psal 143:1 (NRSV) Hear my prayer, O LORD; 
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; 
answer me in your righteousness. 
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant, 
for no one living is righteous before you. 
3 For the enemy has pursued me, 
crushing my life to the ground, 
making me sit in darkness like those long dead. 
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; 
my heart within me is appalled. 
5 I remember the days of old, 
I think about all your deeds, 
I meditate on the works of your hands. 
6 I stretch out my hands to you; 
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. [Se'lah] 
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; 
my spirit fails. 
Do not hide your face from me, 
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, 
for in you I put my trust. 
Teach me the way I should go, 
for to you I lift up my soul. 
9 Save me, O LORD, from my enemies; 
I have fled to you for refuge.  
10 Teach me to do your will, 
for you are my God. 
Let your good spirit lead me 
on a level path. 
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life. 
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble. 
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, 
and destroy all my adversaries, 
for I am your servant. 


Zephaniah 3: 14 - 20

Zeph 3:14 (NRSV) Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; 
shout, O Israel! 
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, 
O daughter Jerusalem! 
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, 
he has turned away your enemies. 
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; 
you shall fear disaster no more. 
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 
Do not fear, O Zion; 
do not let your hands grow weak. 
17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, 
a warrior who gives victory; 
he will rejoice over you with gladness, 
he will renew you in his love; 
he will exult over you with loud singing 
18 as on a day of festival. 
I will remove disaster from you, 
so that you will not bear reproach for it. 
19 I will deal with all your oppressors 
at that time. 
And I will save the lame 
and gather the outcast, 
and I will change their shame into praise 
and renown in all the earth. 
20 At that time I will bring you home, 
at the time when I gather you; 
for I will make you renowned and praised 
among all the peoples of the earth, 
when I restore your fortunes 
before your eyes, says the LORD. 


Psalm 98

Psal 98:1 (NRSV) O sing to the LORD a new song, 
for he has done marvelous things. 
His right hand and his holy arm 
have gotten him victory. 
2 The LORD has made known his victory; 
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness 
to the house of Israel. 
All the ends of the earth have seen 
the victory of our God. 
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; 
break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, 
with the lyre and the sound of melody. 
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn 
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. 
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 
the world and those who live in it. 
8 Let the floods clap their hands; 
let the hills sing together for joy 
9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming 
to judge the earth. 
He will judge the world with righteousness, 
and the peoples with equity. 


Romans 6: 3 - 11

Roma 6:3 (NRSV) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 


Psalm 114

Psal 114:1 (NRSV) When Israel went out from Egypt, 
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 
2 Judah became God's sanctuary, 
Israel his dominion. 
3 The sea looked and fled; 
Jordan turned back. 
4 The mountains skipped like rams, 
the hills like lambs. 
5 Why is it, O sea, that you flee? 
O Jordan, that you turn back? 
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? 
O hills, like lambs? 
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, 
at the presence of the God of Jacob, 
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, 
the flint into a spring of water. 


Year B (2015):
Mark 16: 1 - 8

Mark 16:1 (NRSV) When the sabbath was over, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 
And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. 


Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, MA USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20150329/cf515e2f/attachment.htm>