Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14

¹The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ²He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. ³He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” ⁴Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. ⁵Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

⁷So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” ¹⁰I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

¹¹Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ ¹²Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,” says the LORD.

• Sit in the tomb with Jesus.
• Embrace this time of grief and loss.
• Remember the hope of faithfulness.
• Receive God’s presence.

Response Psalm 143:1-12

¹   Hear my prayer, O LORD;
          give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
          answer me in your righteousness.
²   Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
          for no one living is righteous before you.

³   For the enemy has pursued me,
          crushing my life to the ground,
          making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
sup>4   Therefore my spirit faints within me;
          my heart within me is appalled.

⁵   I remember the days of old,
          I think about all your deeds,
          I meditate on the works of your hands.
⁶   I stretch out my hands to you;
          my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.                    Selah

⁷   Answer me quickly, O LORD;
          my spirit fails.
     Do not hide your face from me,
          or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
⁸   Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
          for in you I put my trust.
     Teach me the way I should go,
          for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹   Save me, O LORD, from my enemies;
          I have fled to you for refuge.
¹⁰  Teach me to do your will,
          for you are my God.
     Let your good spirit lead me
          on a level path.

¹¹  For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life.
          In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
¹²  In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
          and destroy all my adversaries,
          for I am your servant

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, March 30, 2024, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4A
Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Response Psalm 46:1-11

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
Response Psalm16:1-11

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Response Exodus 15:1B-13, 17-18

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Response Isaiah 12:2-6

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6
Response Psalm 19:1-14

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Response Psalm 143:1-12

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
Response Psalm 98:1-9

Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
Response Psalm 114:1-8

Gospel Mark 16:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2024 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.

As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28

²⁴I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. ²⁵I will sprinkle clean water upon y7ou, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. ²⁶A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. ²⁸Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

• Sit in the tomb with Jesus.
• Embrace this time of grief and loss.
• Remember the hope of faithfulness.
• Receive God’s presence.

Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

^42:1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
          so my soul longs for you, O God.
²   My soul thirsts for God,
          for the living God.
     When shall I come and behold
          the face of God?
³   My tears have been my food
          day and night,
     while people say to me continually,
          “Where is your God?”

⁴   These things I remember,
          as I pour out my soul:
     how I went with the throng,
          and led them in procession to the house of God,
     with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
          a multitude keeping festival.
⁵   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help ⁶and my God.

     My soul is cast down within me;
          therefore I remember you
     from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
          from Mount Mizar.

⁷   Deep calls to deep
          at the thunder of your cataracts;
     all your waves and your billows
          have gone over me.
⁸   By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
          and at night his song is with me,
          a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹   I say to God, my rock,
          “Why have you forgotten me?
     Why must I walk about mournfully
          because the enemy oppresses me?”
¹⁰  As with a deadly wound in my body,
          my adversaries taunt me,
     while they say to me continually,
          “Where is your God?”

¹¹  Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help and my God.

^43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
          against an ungodly people;
     from those who are deceitful and unjust
          deliver me!
²   For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
          why have you cast me off?
     Why must I walk about mournfully
          because of the oppression of the enemy?

   O send out your light and your truth;
          let them lead me;
     let them bring me to your holy hill
          and to your dwelling.

⁴   Then I will go to the altar of God,
          to God my exceeding joy;
     and I will praise you with the harp,
          O God, my God.

⁵   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help and my God.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, March 30, 2024, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4A
Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Response Psalm 46:1-11

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
Response Psalm16:1-11

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Response Exodus 15:1B-13, 17-18

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Response Isaiah 12:2-6

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6
Response Psalm 19:1-14

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Response Psalm 143:1-12

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
Response Psalm 98:1-9

Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
Response Psalm 114:1-8

Gospel Mark 16:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2024 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.

As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6

^8:1   Does not wisdom call,
          and does not understanding raise her voice?
²   On the heights, beside the way,
          at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³   beside the gates in front of the town,
          at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
⁴   “To you, O people, I call,
          and my cry is to all that live.
⁵   O simple ones, learn prudence;
          acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
⁶   Hear, for I will speak noble things,
          and from my lips will come what is right;
⁷   for my mouth will utter truth;
          wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸   All the words of my mouth are righteous;
          there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

¹⁹  My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
          and my yield than choice silver.
²⁰  I walk in the way of righteousness,
          along the paths of justice,
²¹  endowing with wealth those who love me,
          and filling their treasuries.”

^9:4b    To those without sense she says,
⁵   “Come, eat of my bread
          and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶   Lay aside immaturity, and live,
          and walk in the way of insight.”

• Sit in the tomb with Jesus.
• Embrace this time of grief and loss.
• Remember the hope of faithfulness.
• Receive God’s presence.

Response Psalm 19:1-14

¹   The heavens are telling the glory of God;
          and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
²   Day to day pours forth speech,
          and night to night declares knowledge.
³   There is no speech, nor are there words;
          their voice is not heard;
⁴   yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
          and their words to the end of the world.

     In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵   which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
          and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
⁶   Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
          and its circuit to the end of them;
          and nothing is hidden from its heat.

⁷   The law of the LORD is perfect,
          reviving the soul;
     the decrees of the LORD are sure,
          making wise the simple;

⁸   the precepts of the LORD are right,
          rejoicing the heart;
     the commandment of the LORD is clear,
          enlightening the eyes;
⁹   the fear of the LORD is pure,
          enduring for ever;
     the ordinances of the LORD are true
          and righteous altogether.
¹⁰  More to be desired are they than gold,
          even much fine gold;
     sweeter also than honey,
          and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹  Moreover by them is your servant warned;
          in keeping them there is great reward.
¹²  But who can detect their errors?
          Clear me from hidden faults.
¹³  Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
          do not let them have dominion over me.
     Then I shall be blameless,
          and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
          be acceptable to you,
          O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, March 30, 2024, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4A
Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Response Psalm 46:1-11

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
Response Psalm16:1-11

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Response Exodus 15:1B-13, 17-18

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Response Isaiah 12:2-6

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6
Response Psalm 19:1-14

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Response Psalm 143:1-12

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
Response Psalm 98:1-9

Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
Response Psalm 114:1-8

Gospel Mark 16:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2024 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.

As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11

¹   Ho, everyone who thirsts,
          come to the waters;
     and you that have no money,
          come, buy and eat!
     Come, buy wine and milk
          without money and without price.
²   Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
          and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
     Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
          and delight yourselves in rich food.
³   Incline your ear, and come to me;
          listen, so that you may live.
     I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
          my steadfast, sure love for David.
⁴   See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
          a leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵   See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
          and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
     because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
          for he has glorified you.

⁶   Seek the LORD while he may be found,
          call upon him while he is near;
⁷   let the wicked forsake their way,
          and the unrighteous their thoughts;
     let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,
          and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸   For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
          nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
⁹   For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
          so are my ways higher than your ways
          and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰  For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
          and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
     making it bring forth and sprout,
          giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹  so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
          it shall not return to me empty,
     but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
          and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

• Sit in the tomb with Jesus.
• Embrace this time of grief and loss.
• Remember the hope of faithfulness.
• Receive God’s presence.

Response Isaiah 12:2-6

²   Surely God is my salvation;
          I will trust, and will not be afraid,
     for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might;
          he has become my salvation.

³With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴And you will say
in that day:
     Give thanks to the LORD,
          call on his name;
     make known his deeds among the nations;
          proclaim that his name is exalted.

⁵   Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
          let this be known in all the earth.
⁶   Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
          for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, March 30, 2024, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4A
Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Response Psalm 46:1-11

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
Response Psalm16:1-11

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Response Exodus 15:1B-13, 17-18

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Response Isaiah 12:2-6

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6
Response Psalm 19:1-14

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Response Psalm 143:1-12

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
Response Psalm 98:1-9

Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
Response Psalm 114:1-8

Gospel Mark 16:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2024 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.

As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21

^14:10As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD. ¹¹They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? ¹²Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” ¹³But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. ¹⁴The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”

¹⁵Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. ¹⁶But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. ¹⁷Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. ¹⁸And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.”

¹⁹The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. ²⁰It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

²¹Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. ²²The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. ²³The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. ²⁴At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. ²⁵He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.”

²⁶Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” ²⁷So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. ²⁸The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. ²⁹But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

³⁰Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. ³¹Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

^15:20Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. ²¹And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

• Sit in the tomb with Jesus.
• Embrace this time of grief and loss.
• Remember the hope of faithfulness.
• Receive God’s presence.

Response Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18

^1b  “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; 
          horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. 
²   The LORD is my strength and my might, 
          and he has become my salvation; 
     this is my God, and I will praise him, 
          my father&rsquos God, and I will exalt him. 
³   The LORD is a warrior; 
          the LORD is his name.

⁴   “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea; 
          his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea. 
⁵   The floods covered them; 
          they went down into the depths like a stone. 
⁶   Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power — 
          your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. 
⁷   In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries; 
          you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble. 
⁸   At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, 
          the floods stood up in a heap; 
          the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. 
⁹   The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, 
          I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. 
          I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.’ 
¹⁰  You blew with your wind, the sea covered them; 
          they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

¹¹  “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? 
          Who is like you, majestic in holiness, 
          awesome in splendor, doing wonders? 
¹²  You stretched out your right hand, 
          the earth swallowed them.

¹³  “In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed; 
          you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

¹⁷  You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession, 
          the place, O LORD, that you made your abode, 
           the sanctuary, O LORD, that your hands have established. 
¹⁸   The LORD will reign forever and ever.”

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, March 30, 2024, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4A
Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Response Psalm 46:1-11

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
Response Psalm16:1-11

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Response Exodus 15:1B-13, 17-18

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Response Isaiah 12:2-6

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6
Response Psalm 19:1-14

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Response Psalm 143:1-12

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
Response Psalm 98:1-9

Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
Response Psalm 114:1-8

Gospel Mark 16:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2024 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.

As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18

¹After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ²He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” ³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. ⁴On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. ⁵Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” ⁶Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. ⁷Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

⁹When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. ¹¹But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹²He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴So Abraham called that place “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

¹⁵The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, ¹⁶and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, ¹⁸and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”

• Sit in the tomb with Jesus.
• Embrace this time of grief and loss.
• Remember the hope of provision.
• Receive God’s blessing.

Response Psalm 16:1-11

¹   Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 
²   I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; 
          I have no good apart from you.”

³   As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, 
          in whom is all my delight.

⁴   Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; 
          their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out 
          or take their names upon my lips.

⁵   The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; 
          you hold my lot. 
⁶   The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; 
          I have a goodly heritage.

⁷   I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; 
          in the night also my heart instructs me. 
⁸   I keep the LORD always before me; 
          because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; 
          my body also rests secure. 
¹⁰  For you do not give me up to Sheol, 
          or let your faithful one see the Pit.

¹¹  You show me the path of life. 
          In your presence there is fullness of joy; 
          in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, March 30, 2024, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4A
Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Response Psalm 46:1-11

Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
Response Psalm16:1-11

Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Response Exodus 15:1B-13, 17-18

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Response Isaiah 12:2-6

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21;9:4B-6
Response Psalm 19:1-14

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
Response Psalm 42:1-11 AND 43:1-5

Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Response Psalm 143:1-12

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
Response Psalm 98:1-9

Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
Response Psalm 114:1-8

Mark 16:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2024 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.

As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.