Wednesday, April 5^th, 2023

Wednesday in Holy Week (Red)

Readings
ISAIAH 50:4-9A; PSALM 70; HEBREWS 12:1-3; JOHN 13:21-32

Collect
Lord God,
your Son our Saviour gave his body to be whipped
and turned his face for men to spit upon.
Give your servants grace to accept suffering for his sake,
confident of the glory that will be revealed,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens - wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
ISAIAH 50:4-9A

Psalm
REFRAIN O Lord, make haste to help me.

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.

Let those who seek my life be ashamed and altogether dismayed; let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and be disgraced. R

Let those who say to me "Aha!" and gloat over me turn back, because they are ashamed.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation say for ever, "Great is the Lord!" R

But as for me, I am poor and needy; come to me speedily, O God.

You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. R
PSALM 70

Second Reading
A READING FROM THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
HEBREWS 12:1-3

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO JOHN
Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples the - one whom Jesus loved - was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival"; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once."
JOHN 13:21-32

Prayer over the Gifts
God of glory,
may our worship this day
fix the eyes of our faith on Jesus,
the pioneer and perfecter of our new humanity,
who is seated at the right hand of your throne,
now and for ever.

Prayer After Communion
God our help,
your Son was betrayed by one who called himself a friend.
May we who call him Lord
ever remain his faithful people,
for he lives and reigns with you now and for ever.