Bible Readings May, 2021

May 2, 2021---Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

This Sunday’s image of how the risen Christ shares his life with us is the image of the vine.  Christ the vine 

and we the branches are alive in each other, in the mystery of mutual abiding that we read of in the gospel and 

the first letter of John.  Baptism makes us a part of Christ’s living and life-giving self and makes us alive with Christ’s life.  As the vine brings food to the branches, Christ feeds us at his table.  We are sent out to bear fruit 

for the life of the world.

Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live.  Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

The First Reading---Acts 8:26-40

Led by the Spirit, Philip encounters an Ethiopian official who is returning to his African home after having been to

 Jerusalem to worship.  Philip uses their encounter to proclaim the gospel to him.  Upon coming to faith in Jesus, the 

Ethiopian is baptized by Philip.

²⁶Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) ²⁷So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” ³⁰So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. ³²Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. ³³In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” ³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” ³⁸He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. ³⁹When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

 

Psalm 22:25-31

 

²⁵From the Lord comes my praise in the great congregation;

 my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 

²⁶The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

 those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever! 

²⁷All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; 

and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 

²⁸For dominion belongs to the Lord, 

and he rules over the nations. 

²⁹To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;

 before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. 

³⁰Posterity will serve him; 

future generations will be told about the Lord, 

³¹and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,

 saying that he has done it. 

 

New Testament Reading---1 John 4:7-21

We love God and others because God first loved us.  We cannot say we love God who we have not seen, while hating fellow Christians, who we regularly see.  Love toward God is to be matched by love toward others because the essence of God is love.

⁷Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ¹⁰In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. ¹³By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. ¹⁵God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. ¹⁶So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. ¹⁷Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. ¹⁹We love because he first loved us. ²⁰Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. ²¹The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. 

 

Gospel Reading---John 15:1-8

On the night of his arrest, Jesus taught his disciples about the relationship they would have with him.  Thos who abide in his word and love would bear fruit, for apart from him, they could do nothing.

Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. ²He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

May 9, 2021---Sixth Sunday of Easter

This Sunday’s image of the life the risen Christ shares with us is the image of friendship.  We are called to serve others as Jesus came to serve; but for John’s gospel, the image of servanthood is too hierarchical, too distant, tocapture the essence of life with Christ.  Friendship captures the love, the joy, the deep mutuality of the relationship into which Christ invites us.  The Greeks believed that true friends are willing to die for each other.  This is the mutual love of Christian community commanded by Christ and enabled by the Spirit.

Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond 

      understanding.  Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all 

      things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,     one God, now and forever.  Amen

The First Reading---Acts 10:44-48

While Peter shares the good news of Jesus with a Gentile soldier and his family, the Holy Spirit comes upon them.  Recognizing

 that the Spirit works inclusively in the lives of both Jews and Gentiles, Peter commands that these Gentiles also be baptized in

 the name of Jesus Christ.

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. ⁴⁵The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, ⁴⁶for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

 

Psalm 98

 

¹O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.

             His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 

²The Lord has made known his victory;

             he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 

³He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. 

            All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 

⁴Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

             break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

⁵Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

             with the lyre and the sound of melody. 

⁶With trumpets and the sound of the horn

             make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

⁷Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

             the world and those who live in it. 

⁸Let the floods clap their hands;

             let the hills sing together for joy 

⁹at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. 

            He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. 

 

 

New Testament Reading—1 John 5:1-6

God’s children believe that Jesus is the Messiah and love God by keeping God’s commandments. 

 Thus the world is conquered not through military might but through love and faith.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, ⁴for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. ⁵Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. 

 

Gospel Reading---John 15:9-17

On the night of his arrest, Jesus delivers a final testimony to his disciples to help them in the days ahead.  Here, he repeats

 the most important of all his commands, that they love one another.

⁹ Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ¹²“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. ¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

 

 

May 17, 2021---Seventh Sunday of Easter

The gospel for Easter’s seventh Sunday is always taken from the long prayer Jesus prays for his followers               in  John’s gospel on the night before his death, and always includes Jesus’ desire that his followers will be one as   he and the Father are one.  This oneness is not mere doctrinal agreement or institutional unity, but mutual  abiding, interpenetrating life, mutual love and joy.  This oneness is the work of the Spirit whom we have received but also await.  Come, Holy Spirit!

Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  Gracious and glorious God, you have chosen us as your own, and by the powerful name of Christ you protect us from evil.  By your Spirit transform us and your beloved world, that we may find joy in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The First Reading---Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

In the days between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost, Peter oversees the process whereby one of the members of the community of believers is chosen to be the twelfth apostle, in order to fill the vacancy created by Judas’ treachery and death.

¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, ¹⁶“Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— ¹⁷for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” ²¹So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” ²³So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

 

Psalm 1

¹Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, 

or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 

²but their delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law they meditate day and night. 

³They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season,

 and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 

⁴The wicked are not so, 

but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 

⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 

⁶for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

 but the way of the wicked will perish. 

 

 

New Testament Reading---1 John 5:9-13

God has borne witness to the gift of Jesus Christ.  Whoever believes in the Son of God believes in the witness of God

 and has the promise of eternal life.

⁹If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. ¹⁰Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. ¹¹And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 

 

 

Gospel Reading---John 17:6-19

In this reading the church hears Jesus’ words on the night before his death.  This gospel reports the words of Jesus’ prayer, a prayer for his disciples and for all who would believe in him through their words. 

⁶”Lord, I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. ¹²While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. ¹⁴I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁵I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. 

 

May 24, 2021---Day of Pentecost

 

On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the Spirit, through whom and in whom the people of God are created 

and re-created.  Pentecost is sometimes called the church’s birthday, but might more appropriately be called 

its baptism day, since the gift of the Spirit is the fullness of baptism.  Ezekiel’s vision shows the Spirit 

 resurrecting and re-creating not just individuals but a whole people.  Romans makes it clear that God is in 

the process of re-recreating the entire cosmos; yet the Spirit is also at work in the intimate and personal way,

 praying in us “with sighs too deep for words” when we do not know how to pray.

The Prayer of the Day

 Mighty God, you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the world.  Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The First Reading---Acts 2:1-21

Originally Pentecost was a Jewish thanksgiving-type festival celebrated seven weeks after Passover.  On this particular Pentecost, however, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the entire community of believers just as Jesus had promised and the scriptures had prophesized.  Empowered by the Spirit, the entire community bears witness to God’s activity in multiple languages.

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.⁵Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” ¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o”clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ¹⁷‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. ¹⁸Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. ¹⁹And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. ²⁰The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. ²¹Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 

 

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

 

²⁴O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all;

 the earth is full of your creatures. 

²⁵Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there,

 living things both small and great. 

²⁶There go the ships, 

and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. 

²⁷These all look to you

 to give them their food in due season; 

²⁸when you give to them, they gather it up; 

when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 

²⁹When you hide your face, they are dismayed; 

when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 

³⁰When you send forth your spirit, they are created; 

and you renew the face of the ground. 

³¹May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

 may the Lord rejoice in his works— 

³²who looks on the earth and it trembles,

 who touches the mountains and they smoke. 

³³I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 

³⁴May my meditation be pleasing to him,

 for I rejoice in the Lord.

^35b Bless the Lord, O my soul.

             Praise the Lord!

 

 

New Testament Reading---Romans 8:22-27

By pouring the Holy Spirit into our hearts, God gives us the promised first fruit of eternal life so that we await God’s future in hope.  In the meantime, the Spirit also intercedes for us by carrying the prayers of our weak human hearts to God.

²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; ²³and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. ²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

Gospel Reading---John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

When speaking to his disciples before his death, Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “the Helper” and described the difference the Spirit would make in their lives and in the world.

²⁶Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. 

⁴ “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹about sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; ¹¹about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. ¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 

May 30, 2021---The Holy Trinity---First Sunday after Pentecost

 

When we say God is the triune God, we are saying something about who God is beyond, before, and after the      universe: that there is community within God.  Our experience of this is reflected in Paul’s words today.  When      we pray to God as Jesus prayed to his Abba (an everyday, intimate parental address), the Spirit prays within us, creating between us and God the same relationship Jesus has with the one who sent him.

Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One, and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three.  Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity, and bring us a last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  Amen.

 

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 6:1-8

This reading narrates Isaiah’s vision of the Lord surrounded by angels.  They sing “Holy, holy, holy,” a song the

 church sings at the beginning of the great thanksgiving.  This liturgical text invites the church and all creation to sing 

in praise of God’s glory.  That glory is God’s mercy toward sinners.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ²Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” ⁴The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. ⁵And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” ⁶Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” ⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” 

May 31, 2015---The Holy Trinity---First Sunday after Pentecost

 

Psalm 29

¹Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 

²Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;

 worship the Lord in holy splendor. 

³The voice of the Lord is over the waters

the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. 

⁴The voice of the Lord is powerful;

 the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 

⁵The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

 the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 

⁶He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

 and Sirion like a young wild ox. 

⁷The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 

⁸The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; 

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

⁹The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare;

 and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 

¹⁰The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; 

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 

¹¹May the Lord give strength to his people!

 May the Lord bless his people with peace! 

 

 

 

May 31, 2015---The Holy Trinity---First Sunday after Pentecost

 

The New Testament Reading---Romans 8:12-17

In describing the new life of faith, Paul refers to all three persons of the Trinity: the Spirit leads us to recognize that we are children of God the Father and sisters and brothers with Christ the Son.

¹²So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 

 

The Gospel Reading---John 3:1-17

Jesus’ miracles prompt Nicodemus to visit him in secrecy.  Jesus tells him about being born of the Spirit and about

 the Son who has been sent by God to save.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ²He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” ³Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” ⁴Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ ⁸The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”⁹Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.