Holy Saturday: Ninth Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, 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 98:1-9
1 O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gained him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He 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.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
9 at 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.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, April 8, 2023, the Great Vigil of Easter (Year A)
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) 2023 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.
