Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, March-24-2013 Palm Sunday

The Collect

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
Almighty and everliving God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Holy Week

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 45:21-25
²¹Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. ²²" Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. ²³I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. ²⁴He shall say, ' Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him. ²⁵In the LORD all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.'" -- NKJV - OR -

Isaiah 52:13-53:12
52:¹³ Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. ¹⁴ Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; ¹⁵ So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.53:¹ Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? ² For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. ³ He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. ⁴ Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. ⁹ And they made His grave with the wicked- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. ¹⁰ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. ¹¹ He shall see the labor of His soul,and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 22:1-21

1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
     and are so far from my cry
     and from the words of my distress?
2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
     by night as well, but I find no rest.
3Yet you are the Holy One, *
     enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
     they trusted, and you delivered them.
5They cried out to you and were delivered; *
     they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
     scorned by all and despised by the people.
7All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
     they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
     let him rescue him, if he delights in him."
9Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
     and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
10I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
     you were my God when I was still in my
     mother's womb.
11Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
     and there is none to help.
12Many young bulls encircle me; *
     strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13They open wide their jaws at me, *
     like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water;
     all my bones are out of joint; *
     my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;
     my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *
     and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
16Packs of dogs close me in,
     and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *
     they pierce my hands and my feet;
     I can count all my bones.
17They stare and gloat over me; *
     they divide my garments among them;
     they cast lots for my clothing.
18Be not far away, O LORD; *
     you are my strength; hasten to help me.
19Save me from the sword, *
     my life from the power of the dog.
20Save me from the lion's mouth, *
     my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
21I will declare your Name to my brethren; *
     in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

- OR -

Psalm 22:1-11

1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
     and are so far from my cry
     and from the words of my distress?
2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
     by night as well, but I find no rest.
3Yet you are the Holy One, *
     enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
     they trusted, and you delivered them.
5They cried out to you and were delivered; *
     they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
     scorned by all and despised by the people.
7All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
     they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
     let him rescue him, if he delights in him."
9Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
     and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
10I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
     you were my God when I was still in my
     mother's womb.
11Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
     and there is none to help.

New Testament Reading

Philippians 2:5-11
⁵Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

[Luke 22:39-71]
³⁹Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. ⁴⁰When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." ⁴¹And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, ⁴²saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." ⁴³Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ⁴⁵When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. ⁴⁶Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation." ⁴⁷And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. ⁴⁸But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" ⁴⁹When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" ⁵⁰And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him. ⁵²Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? ⁵³When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." ⁵⁴Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." ⁵⁷But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." ⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" ⁵⁹Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." ⁶⁰But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." ⁶²So Peter went out and wept bitterly. ⁶³Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. ⁶⁴And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?" ⁶⁵And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. ⁶⁶As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, ⁶⁷"If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. ⁶⁸And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. ⁶⁹Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." ⁷⁰Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." ⁷¹And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth." -- NKJV - OR -

Luke 23:1-49(50-56)
¹Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. ²And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." ³Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "It is as you say." ⁴So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man." ⁵But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place." ⁶When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. ⁷And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. ⁹Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. ¹⁰And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. ¹¹Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. ¹²That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other. ¹³Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; ¹⁵no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. ¹⁶I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" ¹⁷(for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). ¹⁸And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"- ¹⁹who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. ²⁰Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. ²¹But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" ²²Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go." ²³But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. ²⁵And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will. ²⁶Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. ²⁷And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. ²⁸But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' ³⁰Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' ³¹For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" ³²There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. ³³And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. ³⁴Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. ³⁵And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." ³⁶The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." ³⁸And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁹Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." ⁴⁰But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." ⁴³And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." ⁴⁴Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last. ⁴⁷So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" ⁴⁸And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. ⁴⁹But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (⁵⁰Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. ⁵¹He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵²This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. ⁵⁴That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. ⁵⁵And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. ⁵⁶Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. ) -- NKJV