Day 49 - Ash Wednesday - Beginning of Lent

Mission St Clare website

Read |  Day 49 | Wednesday | February 18 | Leviticus 7:1 – 8:36
Dates | 1445 or 1279 BC

Background | Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament. Its very title makes reference to the fact that the book focuses on priestly duties and laws (as well as some moral laws). Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, is the tribe assigned to be Israel’s priests.

All of the events narrated in Leviticus take place on Mt. Sinai, where Leviticus portrays Yahweh as the giver of the law. These laws are given in addition to the laws described in Exodus. All laws, whether found in Exodus or Leviticus, are said to given from God to Moses, God’s servant. Most biblical scholars understand the laws of Exodus and Leviticus to represent different traditions in Israel’s history, and that the laws of Leviticus reflect a later stage of the development of Israel’s faith. Many scholars have argued that these laws were not active until Israel’s return from exile (late sixth or fifth century BC), though more recently others argue that they have roots in Israel’s history before the exile, during the period of Israel’s monarchy (900-600 BC). Most argue that Leviticus is compiled from more than one legal tradition, just as Genesis and Exodus are complied from different traditions. Few, however, argue that these laws stem from the time of Moses (about 1300 BC).

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Source | Center for Biblical Studies | Click here

Reading | Worship instructions - guilt offering, fellowship offering; eat no fat or blood; priests - payment, ordination worship service.

Next | Day 50 | Thursday | February 19 | Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47

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Ash Wednesday - More information - Click here

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

Versicle and Response

Lord, open our lips.

And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, 
and to the Son, 
and to the Holy Spirit: 
as it was in the beginning, 
is now, and will be forever Amen.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: 
Come let us adore him.

Source | Morning Office in English | Mission St Clare | Today – Click here

Daily Office in Audio | Episcopal Parish of Garrett County | Mission St Clare | Today - Click Here