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| "The Strike of the Lance" -- by James Tissot, PD-1923 |
FIRST
READING: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9
1 As
the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. Because
Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of
Egypt.
3
And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms:
and they knew not that I healed them.
4 I
will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I
will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I
put his meat to him that he might eat.
8
How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O
Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim?
my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.
9 I
will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to
destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the
midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.
PSALM:
Isaiah 12:2-6
2
Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not
fear: O because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is
become my salvation.
3
You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains:
4
And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his
name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name
is high.
5
Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this forth
in all the earth.
6
Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Zion: for great is he that
is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel.
SECOND
READING: Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
8 To
me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among
the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9
And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation
of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who
created all things:
10
That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the
principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,
11
According to the eternal purpose, which he made, in Christ Jesus our
Lord:
12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of
him.
14
For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15
Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named,
16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man,
17
That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and
founded in charity,
18
You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the
breadth, and length, and height, and depth:
19
To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge,
that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
GOSPEL:
John 19:31-37
31 Then the Jews, (because it was the parasceve,) that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that was a great sabbath day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.
33 But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.
37 And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.
