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Sunday, February 24, 2013 Second Sunday in Lent

The Word for Today

First Lesson: Genesis 15:1-12, 17, 18

15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:"Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance."  15:2 But Abram said,"O sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?" 15:3 Abram added,"Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!"  15:4 But look, the word of the Lord came to him:"This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir." 15:5 The Lord took him outside and said,"Gaze into the sky and count the stars– if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him,"So will your descendants be." 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.  15:7 The Lord said to him,"I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." 15:8 But Abram said,"O sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?"  15:9 The Lord said to him,"Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." 15:10 So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 15:11 When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.  15:12 When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. 15:17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts. 15:18 That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram:"To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River

Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then ^| shall I fear?* The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I ^| be afraid?

[2] When evildoers came upon me to eat ^| up my flesh,* it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stum- ^| bled and fell.

[3] Though an army should en- ^| camp against me,* yet my heart shall not ^| be afraid;

[4] and though war should rise ^| up against me,* yet will I put my ^| trust in him.

[5] One thing have I asked of the LORD; one ^| thing I seek;*
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days ^| of my life;

[6] to behold the fair beauty ^| of the LORD* and to seek him ^| in his temple.

[7] For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe ^| in his shelter;* he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high up- ^| on a rock.

[8] Even now he lifts ^| up my head* above my enemies ^| round about me.

[9] Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds ^| of great gladness;* I will sing and make music ^| to the LORD.

[10] Hearken to my voice, O LORD, ^| when I call;* have mercy on me and ^| answer me.

[11] You speak in my heart and say, ^| "Seek my face."* Your face, LORD, ^| will I seek.

[12] Hide not your ^| face from me,* nor turn away your servant ^| in displeasure.

[13] You have been my helper; cast me ^| not away;* do not forsake me, O God of ^| my salvation.

[14] Though my father and my moth- ^| er forsake me,* the LORD ^| will sustain me.

[15] Show me your ^| way, O LORD;*lead me on a level path, because ^| of my enemies.

[16] Deliver me not into the hand of my ^| adversaries,* for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those ^| who speak malice.

[17] What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness ^| of the LORD*in the land ^| of the living!

[18] Oh, tarry and await the LORD's pleasure; be strong, and he shall com- ^| fort your heart;* wait patiently ^| for the LORD.

Second Lesson: Philippians 3:17-4:1

3:17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. 3:18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven– and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 3:21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

4:1 So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

Holy Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

13:31 At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus,"Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you." 13:32 But he said to them,"Go and tell that fox,'Look, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. 13:33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossible that a prophet should be killed outside Jerusalem.' 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! 13:35 Look, your house is forsaken! And I tell you, you will not see me until you say,'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

NRSV Bible, copyright 1989. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Net Bible, copyright 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC. All rights reserved.