Maundy Thursday (Year A)

First Reading - Exodus 12.2-3,5a,6-8,11-14

A reading from the book of Exodus. The Lord spoke these words to Moses and Aaron in Egypt. You are to call this month the first month of the year. On the tenth day of this month, each family, each household, is to take a lamb, a year-old male, without blemish. On the fourteenth day, each household is to slaughter the lamb at sunset. With the blood of the lamb, you are to mark the door-frame of the house where you will eat. That same night, you are to roast the lamb over a fire, and eat it, with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. You are to eat it hurriedly, with your belt fastened, and your shoes on your feet. That night will be the Passover of the Lord - for I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every first-born male in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. Against all the gods of Egypt, I will bring judgement - for I am the Lord. But when I see the blood of the lamb on the houses where you live, I will pass over you, and no plague will destroy you, even as I strike the land of Egypt. And then, you are to keep this day as a day of remembrance, a festival to the Lord for ever, through every generation. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Revelation 5.5a,6a,7-13

A reading from the book of Revelation. Looking like a lamb that has been slain, and is alive again, the one who is the Lion of Judah, and the root of David, took the scroll from the one who was seated on the throne. The four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders, holding musical instruments, and golden bowls of fragrant offerings of incense (which are the prayers of the saints), fell down before the Lamb, and sang: ‘You are worthy, for you were slain, and by your blood you have restored to God a people to serve as a royal priesthood on earth from every nation, tribe, and language.’ Then I heard thousands of angels, all around the throne, with the living creatures, and the elders, singing in full voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive all wisdom and power, all glory and honour and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, singing to the one who was seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, ‘Blessing and honour and glory and power, be yours for ever and ever!’ This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - John 1.23,26b-27,29

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. John the Baptist said, ‘I am the voice crying out, in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah has said. But amongst you stands one you do not know, the one who is coming after me. And I am not worthy even to be his servant.’ The next day, John saw Jesus coming towards him, and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sin of the world!’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.