third sunday of lent

Sunday, February 24

Opening Prayer

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen. — Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem

Psalm 119:57-88 TNIV

You are my portion, LORD;
I have promised to obey your words.

I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways 
      
and have turned my steps to your statutes.

I will hasten and not delay 
      
to obey your commands.

Though the wicked bind me with ropes, 
      
I will not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks 
      
for your righteous laws.

I am a friend to all who fear you, 
      
to all who follow your precepts.

The earth is filled with your love, LORD; 
      
teach me your decrees.

Do good to your servant
according to your word, LORD.

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, 
      
for I trust your commands.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, 
      
but now I obey your word.

You are good, and what you do is good; 

teach me your decrees.

Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, 
      
I keep your precepts with all my heart.

Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, 
      
but I delight in your law.

It was good for me to be afflicted 
      
so that I might learn your decrees.

The law from your mouth is more precious to me 
      
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, 
      
for I have put my hope in your word.

I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, 
      
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

May your unfailing love be my comfort, 
      
according to your promise to your servant.

Let your compassion come to me that I may live, 
      
for your law is my delight.

May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.

May those who fear you turn to me, 
      
those who understand your statutes.

May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, 
      
that I may not be put to shame.

My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.

My eyes fail, looking for your promise; 
      
I say, “When will you comfort me?”

Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, 
      
I do not forget your decrees.

How long must your servant wait? 
      
When will you punish my persecutors?

The arrogant dig pits to trap me, 
      
contrary to your law.

All your commands are trustworthy; 
      
help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.

They almost wiped me from the earth, 
      
but I have not forsaken your precepts.

In your unfailing love preserve my life, 
      
that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

John 4.43-54 NRSV

When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country). When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival. Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Reading

It is good to be last not first,

Pending the present distress;

It is good to hunger and thirst,

So it be for righteousness.

It is good to spend and be spent,

It is good to watch and to pray:

Life and Death make a goodly Lent

So it leads us to Easter Day.

      —Christina Rossetti