The Lessons Appointed for Use on the
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Year B BCP

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:(1-4)5-10
John 12:20-33
Psalm 51 or 51:11-16

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt-- a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Psalm 51 or 51:11-16 Page 656-657, BCP

Miserere mei, Deus

1

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; *
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

2

Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.

3

For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.

4

Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.

5

And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment.

6

Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother's womb.

7

For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

8

Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

9

Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.

10

Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.

11

Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.

12

Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.

13

Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

14

I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.

15

Deliver me from death, O God, *
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
O God of my salvation.

16

Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

17

Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.

18

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

19

Be favorable and gracious to Zion, *
and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

20

Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,
with burnt-offerings and oblations; *
then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar.

Hebrews 5:(1-4)5-10

[Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.]

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

"You are my Son,

today I have begotten you";

as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,

according to the order of Melchizedek."

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

John 12:20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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