Wednesday March 9, 2022
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Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Collect Creator of the universe, the light of your glory shines in the darkness of our lives. Make us attentive to your presence, prompt us to serve you and be ever eager to follow in the steps of the one who is our true light, Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. Come, let us worship.
The Proclamation of the Word-
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 9:13-21 (NRSV)
Furthermore, the Lord said to me, ‘I have seen that this people is indeed a stubborn people. Let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and more numerous than they.’So I turned and went down from the mountain, while the mountain was ablaze; the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. Then I saw that you had indeed sinned against the Lord your God, by casting for yourselves an image of a calf; you had been quick to turn from the way that the Lord had commanded you. So I took hold of the two tablets and flung them from my two hands, smashing them before your eyes. Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin you had committed, provoking the Lord by doing what was evil in his sight. For I was afraid that the anger that the Lord bore against you was so fierce that he would destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also. The Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him, but I interceded also on behalf of Aaron at that same time. Then I took the sinful thing you had made, the calf, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it thoroughly, until it was reduced to dust; and I threw the dust of it into the stream that runs down the mountain.
Psalm 119:49-72 (Book of Alternative Services page 871):
Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant, * because you have given me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my trouble, * that your promise gives me life.
51 The proud have derided me cruelly, * but I have not turned from your law.
52 When I remember your judgements of old, * O Lord, I take great comfort.
53 I am filled with a burning rage, * because of the wicked who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been like songs to me wherever I have lived as a stranger.
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord, * and dwell upon your law.
56 This is how it has been with me, * because I have kept your commandments.
Heth
57 You only are my portion, O Lord; * I have promised to keep your words.
58 I entreat you with all my heart, * be merciful to me according to your promise.
59 I have considered my ways * and turned my feet toward your decrees.
60 I hasten and do not tarry * to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, * I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, * because of your righteous judgements.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you * and of those who keep your commandments.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; * instruct me in your statutes.
Teth
65 O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, * according to your word.
66 Teach me discernment and knowledge, * for I have believed in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, * but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and you bring forth good; * instruct me in your statutes.
69 The proud have smeared me with lies, * but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is gross and fat, * but my delight is in your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, * that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is dearer to me * than thousands in gold and silver.
God, as your only Son revealed you still at work in your creation, so through Christ your living Word enable us to know your love and to share it with others. We ask this in his name. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word-
2nd Reading: Hebrews 3:12-19 (NRSV)
Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? But with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Gospel Reading: John 2:23 – 3:15 (NRSV)
When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. May the grace of God uphold you, the peace of God surround you, the love of God flow from you and the strength of God protect and bring you safely through this day. Amen.