Scripture Readings
Second Isaiah describes the new Exodus, the return from exile in Babylon. God shows who he is by freeing Israel, and by preparing and caring for them during their return journey. Because of this wonderful event his servant Israel will no longer need to remember their Exodus from Egypt. The exodus is a repeated pattern: Israel continues doing wrong. But the Lord forgave Israel’s many sins, which led to their exile, and will continue to do so, because “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine”.
Writing from prison, Paul shares his hopes, fears and convictions with the Philippians. His previous righteousness under the Law seems worthless in comparison with the great gift of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord, and the righteousness that God gives through our faith in Christ. Possessed by Christ, he keeps his eye on the final goal of living in God’s new world.
The story of the woman caught in adultery is found in different places in various manuscripts: it fits better with Luke’s gospel, but here in John’s gospel it matches the changing mood. This chapter opens with people trying to stone a woman, but ends with them seeking to stone Jesus. Jesus has shown them God’s wisdom, different from men’s wisdom.
Psalm Response: What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.
Isaiah 43: 16-21 Psalm 125(126) Phil 3: 8-14 John 8: 1-11
Scripture Readings 13th March 2016 5th Sunday of Lent, Year A (Alternative)
Ezekiel was a priest exiled with the Jews to Babylon in 597 BC. The Jews had lost their king, land, and Temple, and all seemed lost for them as a nation. Ezekiel’s messages during the exile were encouraging, giving hope that the nation would rise and live again, like a field full of dry bones coming to life. But this will be the Lord’s doing, for the sake of his name, which they have profaned by their idolatry.
Writing to the Jewish Christians in Rome, Paul has been puzzling over our human condition: “I do not do the good that I want, but I do the evil that I hate”. Mortal flesh is weak. “But God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh” so that the Son’s Spirit might give us the strength to live according to His Spirit. Paul’s conclusion: with Christ’s Spirit in us we are given life reconciled with God both now and in bodily resurrection after death.
These foretastes of resurrection prepare us for John’s description of the Raising of Lazarus, the third of the three beautiful Lenten readings from John, which are surely too dramatically detailed to be abbreviated? Perhaps we should sit and ponder how difficult it is to believe, and how difficult it was for Martha to open the tomb?
Psalm Response: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Ezek 37:12-14 Ps 129 Rom 8:8-11 Jn 11:1-45
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