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Notable Feast Days this Week:

March 16 - Julian of Antioch, 302
March 17 - Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, 460
March 17 - Gertrude, Nivelles, 659
March 18 - Cyril of Jerusalem, 386
March 19 - Joseph, Husband of Mary (Western)
March 20 - Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, 687
March 20 - Martyrs of Mar Saba, 796
March 20 - Wulfram, Netherlands, 703
March 21 - Benedict of Nursia, 547 (Traditional)
March 21 - Enda, Ireland, c.530
March 22 - Basil of Ancyra, 362

Revised Common Lectionary

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41

Daily Readings (RCL)
Abbreviated Daily Readings
Liturgical Color - Purple

-------- Fourth Sunday in Lent -------- March 22, 2020

Light Dispels Darkness

"God looks at our hearts, not our outward appearances, as he showed when choosing David as king, prefiguring Christ (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Like David, we trust God; we have confidence in his protection even when we are in the midst of great difficulty (Psalm 23). The light of Christ's grace and forgiveness dispels the darkness of sin (Ephesians 5:8-14) -- he is the light of the world (John 9:1-41)." - Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Psalm

Scripture Readings

Psalm 23

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing...Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..."

Commentary on Psalm 23
Augustine, Aquinas,
Benedict XVI, John Calvin,
Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon

Audio
Psalm 23, 1 Samuel 16,
Ephesians 5, John 9

Spotify Playlist
Psalm 23

1 Samuel 16:1-13
David is chosen and anointed

Ephesians 5:8-14
Live as children of light

John 9:1-41
The man born blind

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

Bible in a Year

Chronological

Lectionary Resources

"And he brought forth the light from the dust, just as he had done in the beginning, when there was a shadow of the heavens. “Darkness was spread out over everything.” He gave a command to the light, and it was born from the darkness. Thus also here, he formed clay from his saliva, and he supplied was what lacking in creation, which was from the beginning, to show that what was lacking in nature was being supplied by his hand." - Ephrem the Syrian

"I am like the sick sheep that strays from the rest of the flock. Unless the Good Shepherd takes me on His shoulders and carries me back to His fold, my steps will falter, and in the very effort of rising, my feet will give way." - Jerome

Resources

Poetry

"I Am the Door of the Sheepfold" by Malcolm Guite
Psalm 23 translation by George Herbert (1633)
Psalm 23 translation by Eugene Peterson (1993)
"A True Lent" by Robert Herrick
"Evensong" by C.S. Lewis

St.Patrick's Day (March 17)

Patrick: Bishop and Missionary of Ireland Feast Day
Resources for Celtic Spirituality from Christine Sine
Prayers from the Ancient Celtic Church by Paul Stratman

Art

A meditation on El Greco's "Christ Healing the Blind" by Daniella Jerome (Video)
Slideshow for the Fourth Sunday in Lent from the Vanderbilt Divinity Library
"Jesus: Good Shepherd and Lamb of God" art from the Bowden Collection

Scripture

The Bible Project Videos: 1 Samuel, Ephesians, and John 1-12
- Daily Scripture Readings: Blinded by the Light
  Monday: Isaiah 59:9-19 (We are blind and need God)
  Tuesday: Isaiah 42:14-21 (God will heal the blind)
  Wednesday: Matthew 9:27-34 (Jesus heals the blind)
  Thursday: Isaiah 60:17-22 (God our Light)
  Friday: Acts 9:1-20 (Saul's blindness)
  Saturday: Psalm 146:3-9 (Praise God)
Johnny Cash reads John 9

Prayers for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

"Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." -from The Book of Common Prayer

"Shepherd God, you caused your Spirit to come mightily upon David. You promised your children your comforting presence and direction. You sent Jesus as the light of the world to remove the scales from our eyes. We behold your grandeur and offer the praise due your name."
-James Kirk, When We Gather: A Book of Prayers for Worship

Singing Psalms and Hymns

Music for Listening

Thematic Art

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