[Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTH SUNDAY in LENT

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 31 
(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.


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
chadwohl at satucket.com
Woodbury, VT   USA