5th Sunday in Lent (Year: C)
Date: Sunday, April 07th, 2019, 11:00
Old Testament: Isa. 43:16-21
Psalms: Ps. 126
16This is what the LORD says- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,
17who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
20The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Isaiah 43:16-21 (NIV)
Epistle: Philip. 3:4-14
1When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
2Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
5Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
6He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Psalms 126 (NIV)
Gospel: John 12:1-8
4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:4-14 (NIV)
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. "
6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
John 12:1-8 (NIV)