Second Sunday in Lent, Year C

¹ After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” ² Abram said, “Lord the LORD, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” ⁴ Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” ⁵ The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.” ⁶ He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness. ⁷ He said to Abram, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.” ⁸ He said, “Lord the LORD, how will I know that I will inherit it?” ⁹ He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ¹⁰ He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. ¹¹ The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. ¹² When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.

¹⁷ It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. ¹⁸ In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? ² When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. ³ Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. ⁴ One thing I have asked of the LORD, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, to see the LORD’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple. ⁵ For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock. ⁶ Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. ⁷ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. ⁸ When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, the LORD.” ⁹ Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation. ¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. ¹¹ Teach me your way, the LORD. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies. ¹² Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty. ¹³ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD.

Chapter 3

¹⁷ Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.

Chapter 4

¹ Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.