Fifth Sunday in Lent

Collect:
O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:31-34
"The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,"
declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."

Second Lesson: Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."
And he says in another place,

"You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm: 51

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.

Gospel: John 12:20-33
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore