Genesis to Calvary – Old Testament readings in Lent

by admin · March 21, 2014

Mystic Wheel – the Vision of Ezekiel – Carvaggio. The prophet Ezekiel had 7 visions while in exile in Babylon. This particular vision included four animalia who, ‘had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel’, (Ezekiel 1, v. 16)

The Liturgy from the Old Testament readings throughout Lent follow a chronological but brief look at the history of salvation God’s people through the Old Testament.

Readings

Sunday, March 9, First Sunday of Lent – Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Sunday, March 16, Second Sunday of Lent – Genesis 12:1-4
Sunday, March 23, Third Sunday of Lent – Exodus 17:3-7
Sunday, March 30, Fourth Sunday of Lent – 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Sunday, April 6, Fifth Sunday of Lent – Ezekiel 37:12-14
Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday – Isaiah 50:4-7

Our Lenten journey travels the path towards salvation – both for the people of Israel in the Old Testament and for us. The readings touch briefly on the main milestones in the salvation of the people of Israel throughout the Old Testament.

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 – The creation of man and fall of man – the two defining points of man – his creation by God and fall from God’s grace, resulting in our sinful nature and need for salvation to restore us.
Genesis 12:1-4 – Abraham, our father in faith is called by God to found the nation of Israel
Exodus 17:3-7 – Moses, continuing Abraham’s journey, leads the people of Israel towards the promised land – this takes 40 years because of their distrust in God – although God cares for them them throughout their wandering in the wilderness.

Temple Mount and Wailing Wall

1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 – The anointing and election of David as King of Israel, establishing a Royal line from which it was prophesied that the Messiah would come – Jesus’ ancestor.
Ezekiel 37:12-14: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people” – the Lord ratifies his covenant with his people. He promises them salvation from their exile in Babylon and a home in Israel.
Isaiah 50:4-7 – The prophet Isaiah foretells of Jesus’ death for our salvation in his account of the suffering servant. The establishment of the new covenant with ALL the people of God and fulfilment of the law of the Old Testament.