March 30th, 2025, 4th Sunday of Lent.

Readings for the Scrutiny, Year A.

A reading from the first book of Samuel.

The Lord said to Samuel,

Fill your horn with oil and be on your way.

I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,

for I have chosen my king from among his sons.

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Iliab and thought,

Surely the Lord's anointed is here before him.

But the Lord said to Samuel,

Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,

because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance,

but the Lord looks into the heart. In the same way, Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse,

the Lord has not chosen any one of these.

Then Samuel asked Jesse, are these all the sons you have?

Jesse replied, there is still the youngest who is tending the sheep.

Samuel said to Jesse, send for him. We will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he

arrives here. Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance.

The Lord said, there, anoint him, for this is the one.

Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,

anointed David in the presence of his brothers. And from that day on, the spirit of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers,

and from that day on,

...