3rd Sunday in Lent

Collect: We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy majesty, to be our defense against all our enemies. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, etc.

The Introit. Ps. 25:14-15. (v 23-26) (Oculi mei) Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet out of the net: turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and in misery. Ps. 25:1. Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: my God, in thee have I trusted, let me not be confounded.

The Epistle: Ephesians 5:1-9. (Christians are to “walk in love,” which necessarily means that sin must be avoided. And not just sin as a concept, but sin as a reality of wrong choices made. Specific examples of such are named, much to our discomfort and shame. However, the grace of God is greater than any sin and thereby Christians can “walk as children of light.”)

Gradual Ps. 9:19-20. Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. While mine enemies are driven back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

Tract. Ps.123:1-3.

* Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens..

* Behold, even as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress: even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have me upon us.

* Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Gospel. St. Luke 11:14-28 (Christ casts out devils by His power as Son of God and thereby shows another sign that the Kingdom of God has come. We each have a clear choice, either to be with Him or not. He will without doubt strengthen and keep those who choose to be with Him.)

Offertory. Ps. 19:8, 10. The statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb: moreover thy servant keepeth them.  

Communion. Ps. 84:3-4. The sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be always praising thee.

 At the Divine Office

The Old Testament lessons in the Daily Office for the week to come are set out below:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Matins

Gen. 37:3-28, 36

Gen. 40

Gen. 41:1a,8,14-24

Gen. 41:25-40

Gen. 42:1-26,29a,35-38

Gen. 43:1-5,11-16,26-34

Vespers

Jer. 7:1-15

Jer. 7:21-29

Jer. 8:4-13

Jer. 9:2-16

Jer. 9:17-24

Jer. 10:1-13

               

Benedictus and Magnificat Antiphons

At 1st  Vespers: But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

At Matins: When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, all his goods are in peace.

At 2nd Vespers: A certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and cried, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But Jesus answered, Yea, rather, blessed are thy that hear the word of God, and keep it.