This 5th Sunday during Lent (Judica) does carry the message of Christ’s passion very prominently. The Old Testament lesson is the one from Genesis 22,1-13 (Abraham ordered to sacrifice the son of promise Isaac on Mt.Horeb). The Epistle is from Hebrews 5,7-9: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered  and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”. The gospel is from St.Mark 10,35-45 and is about drinking the cup of Jesus and being baptised with the baptism he is to be baptised with.  A fitting hymn would be the anthem: “Lift high the cross… ” by George R.Kitchin: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/lifthigh.htm

Just as throughout Lent the Gloria in exelsis is not sung, but rather the Agnus Dei – and sometimes Luther’s explanation to the 2nd Article of the Apostles Creed is confessed. The sermon for this day is based on the reading of Numbers 21,4-9: “Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the desert”. The Zulu sermon was written by Rev. E.Sithole and translated by Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD into Tswana. You can read them here: Zulu Sermon for Judica by Rev. E.Sithole and Tswana Sermon on Nm 22,4-9 for Judica by Rev. E.Sithole