Isaiah | Confident.Faith: Recent Episodes
Confident.Faith
Readings* Isaiah 52:13—53:12 * Psalm 22 * Psalm 31 * Hebrews 4:14–16—5:7–9 * John 18:1—19:42
Readings* Isaiah 50:4–9a * Psalm 118:19–29 * Psalm 31:9–16 * Philippians 2:5–11 * John 12:12–43 * Matthew 26:1—27:66
Readings* Psalm 45 * Psalm 72 * Isaiah 66:1–20 * Luke 3:21–38 * Large Catechism II:25–33 FestivalToday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Although the feast of Epiphany commemorates no particular, concrete event, it is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar — one of the principal feasts. On Epiphany, we remember that the God who became man in Bethlehem — that the Babe in the manger — needed present no proof that He was true man, but that He did indeed need to prove that He was true God. He did this superabundantly with the manifestations of the Trinity and the signs, wonders, and miracles that dot the pages of the New Testament record. In the Western Church tradition, Epiphany has become associated with the visit of the Magi, and this is fitting, for the Magi represent all the nations that were brought into the New Covenant through Christ — the true epiphany being the revelation of Christ as Lord, God, Savior, and King.
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 65 * Isaiah 63:15—65:7 * Luke 2:41–52 * Large Catechism II:1–8
Readings* Psalm 108 * Psalm 110 * Isaiah 63:1–14 * Luke 2:21–40 * Large Catechism I:324–333
Readings Psalm 62 * Psalm 98 * Isaiah 62:1–12 * Luke 2:1–20 * Large Catechism I:311–323 CommemorationToday we commemorate J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor*. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe served as the pastor of Neuendettelsau in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s. Although he never left Germany, Löhe had a significant impact on Lutheranism in North America. Recognizing the need for Church workers, Löhe assisted in the training of missionary pastors to be sent to the New World and Australia. A number of the men sent by Löhe would become founders of what is today the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (the LCMS). It was also due in part to Löhe’s financial backing that a theological school in Fort Wayne, IN, and a teachers’ institute in Saginaw, MI, were established. Löhe is widely recognized and fondly remembered for his confessional integrity and his dedication to Christian charity.
Readings* Psalm 113 * Psalm 21 * Isaiah 61:1–11 * Luke 1:57–80 * Large Catechism I:303–310 FestivalToday we celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. Per tradition, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name “Jesus” as the angel had proclaimed. Under the Old Covenant, circumcision brought the benefits of forgiveness of sins, justification, and incorporation into the people of God. Under the New Covenant, circumcision is no longer necessary or effective; it has been replaced by Baptism, which is called, by St. Paul, a “circumcision made without hands” and “the circumcision of Christ”.
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 8 * Isaiah 60:1–22 * Luke 1:39–56 * Large Catechism I:292–302
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 132 * Isaiah 58:1—59:21 * Luke 1:26–38 * Large Catechism I:276–291
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 93 * Isaiah 55:1–13 * Luke 1:1–25 * Large Catechism I:263–275 CommemorationToday we commemorate David. David was the greatest of the kings of OT Israel, and ruled from about 1010 to 970 BC. Although David’s private conduct showed a mixture of good and bad, it was his fierce loyalty to God that defined his life and his reign. Under David, God fulfilled many of the promises to OT Israel, notably uniting Israel into a single nation with its capital at Jerusalem. Of course, God’s greatest promise would be fulfilled through the promised King — Christ, our Lord.
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 31 * Isaiah 52:13—54:10 * Matthew 2:13–23 * Large Catechism I:254–262 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. Threatened by the prophecies concerning a “King of the Jews”, King Herod plotted to find and kill Jesus using the Wise Men, but was thwarted in that plan when the Wise Men went back to their lands by another route. Angered and still plotting to thwart the prophecy, Herod had all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger murdered. We commemorate these innocents as a reminder of the depravity, brutality, and evil that can take residence in the human heart and of the persecution Jesus suffered even before His earthly ministry had begun. By the hand of God, Jesus was spared from being numbered amongst the slain, for His path led to a different death — on a cross at Golgotha, to pay the price for our sins.
Readings* Psalm 72 * Psalm 92 * Isaiah 51:17—52:12 * Matthew 2:1–12 * Large Catechism I:245–253 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John, son of Zebedee and brother of James the Elder, was among the first disciples to be called by Jesus, and became known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. During Christ’s ministry, John witnessed many of Christ’s miracles, was present for the Transfiguration, went with Peter to reserve the upper room for the Last Supper, and, alone among the Disciples, did not forsake Christ during His Passion, remaining near Christ through the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus made John guardian of Mary, His mother. John would go on to be a founding father of the Early Church. From John, we have the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation, which was revealed to him while he was banished to Patmos by Emperor Domitian. John outlived all of the other Apostles, dying in Ephesus at around age one hundred.
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 60 * Isaiah 49:22—51:16 * Matthew 1:18–25 * Large Catechism I:234–244 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Stephen, Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the first seven deacons of the Church, appointed to distribute food and other necessities to the poor of the growing Christian community. In addition to such duties, the deacons also taught and preached. When some of his colleagues became jealous, they brought him before the Sanhedrin on false charges of blasphemy. Before the Sanhedrin, Stephen confessed his faith in Christ and rebuked members of the Sanhedrin for rejecting the Christ. Infuriated, the Sanhedrin had Stephen dragged outside the city and stoned. Honored as the first martyr of the New Testament Church, Stephen is remembered for his dying words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 150 * Isaiah 49:1–18 * Matthew 1:1–17 * Large Catechism I:222–233
Readings* Psalm 98 * Psalm 2 * Isaiah 44:21—45:25 * Revelation 12:1–17 * Large Catechism I:211–221
Readings* Psalm 39 * Psalm 144 * Isaiah 43:25—44:20 * Revelation 11:1–19 * Large Catechism I:199–210
Readings* Psalm 115 * Psalm 125 * Isaiah 43:1–24 * Revelation 9:13—10:11 * Large Catechism I:189–198
Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 141 * Isaiah 40:18—41:10 * Revelation 8:1–13 * Large Catechism I:167–178 CommemorationToday we commemorate Katharina Luther, née von Bora. Born in 1499, Katharina von Bora was placed into a convent when she was still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April of 1523, Katharina, along with eight other nuns, was rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. In Wittenberg, Martin Luther helped the rescued nuns return to their families or start families of their own. Although initially hesitant to marry — as he feared assassination or execution by Rome — Luther believed that he must place his faith in God and practice what he preached. Katharina and Luther were married on 13 June 1525. God blessed the Luthers’ marriage with six children, and Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household. Although she suffered financial difficulties after Luther’s death in 1546, Katharina remained steadfast in her faith and her care for her children and others. Amongst her last recorded words, Katharina, on her deathbed, said that she would ‘stick to Christ as a burr to cloth.’
Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 19 * Isaiah 40:1–17 * Revelation 7:1–17 * Large Catechism I:158–166 CommemorationToday we commemorate Adam and Eve. Father and mother to us all, Adam and Eve were the first two human beings created by God’s own hands. Adam, formed from the dust, was created first and Eve, formed from one of Adam’s ribs to be his companion, was created second. Failing to obey God and listening to the Serpent’s temptation, Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had forbidden, and Adam, forsaking his role as head, joined her in rebellion. For their disobedience, they were driven from the Garden; by their disobedience, death entered the world. Nevertheless, in the midst of the tragedy of the Fall, God promised that the woman’s Seed — Christ, the Savior — would crush the Serpent’s head. In His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, Christ defeated sin, death, and the devil — fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15. As Luther commented: ‘God arranged to remove through Christ whatever the devil brought in through Adam.’
Readings* Psalm 119:81–88 * Psalm 145 * Isaiah 34:1—35:10 * Revelation 6:1–17 * Large Catechism I:150–157
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 20 * Isaiah 33:1–24 * Revelation 5:1–14 * Large Catechism I:141–149
Readings* Psalm 149 * Psalm 61 * Isaiah 32:1–20 * Revelation 4:1–11 * Large Catechism I:129–140
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 80 * Isaiah 30:27—31:9 * Revelation 3:1–22 * Large Catechism I:120–128
Readings Psalm 89 * Psalm 143 * Isaiah 29:15—30:14 * Revelation 1:1–20 * Large Catechism I:103–111 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lucia, Martyr*. Born into a wealthy family, Lucia gave away her dowry to the poor. When this came to the attention of the Roman governor, he ordered Lucia to burn a sacrifice to the emperor. Upon her refusal, the governor commanded that she be condemned to a brothel; Lucia was martyred by the soldiers who came to execute the governor’s sentence. As the name “Lucia” means light, many European nations have long held festivals in her memory involving lanterns or lights; such festivals have been particularly popular in the Scandinavian countries, where this time of year is quite short on daylight.
Readings* Psalm 27 * Psalm 24 * Isaiah 30:15–26 * Revelation 2:1–29 * Large Catechism I:112–119
Readings* Psalm 5 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 28:14–29 * 1 John 5:1–21 * Large Catechism I:87–95
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 130 * Isaiah 26:20—27:13 * 1 John 4:1–21 * Large Catechism I:78–86
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 148 * Isaiah 26:1–19 * 1 John 3:1–24 * Large Catechism I:69–77
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 24:14—25:12 * 1 John 2:15–29 * Large Catechism I:59–68
Readings Psalm 25 * Psalm 73 * Isaiah 24:1–13 * 1 John 1:1—2:14 * Large Catechism I:49–58 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter*. Along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, Ambrose of Milan is considered one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Becoming Bishop of Milan in AD 374 — largely by acclamation — Ambrose would go on to be a prolific hymnwriter and defender of the faith. Ambrose played no small part in suppressing the Arian heresy through his interactions with Emperor Gratian and Emperor Theodosius. Many are undoubtedly familiar with Ambrose’s hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come”.
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 62 * Isaiah 10:12–34 * 2 Peter 1:1–21 * Large Catechism I:24–29
Readings* Psalm 119:105–112 * Psalm 82 * Isaiah 8:9—9:7 * 1 Peter 4:1–19 * Large Catechism I:1–12
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 50 * Isaiah 7:10—8:8 * 1 Peter 3:1–22 * Large Catechism, Short Preface: 14–28
Readings* Psalm 123 * Psalm 7 * Isaiah 6:1—7:9 * 1 Peter 2:13–25 * Large Catechism, Short Preface: 1–13
Readings* Psalm 118 * Isaiah 5:1–25 * 1 Peter 2:1–12 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface: 14–20 CommemorationToday we commemorate Noah. Noah, son of Lamech, was instructed by God to build an ark. Faithful and obedient to God, Noah constructed the Ark that would carry him and his wife and his sons and their wives — the only eight people to survive the Flood. After the floodwaters subsided, Noah built an altar and gave thanks to God for His mercy in preserving the human race through Noah and his family. In promising never again to destroy all life from the Earth, God made the rainbow a sign of His covenant with man and all life. Whenever we see a rainbow, we should think of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love. We commemorate Noah for his faith and for his obedience to the word of God — for believing that God will do what He says He will do.
Readings* Psalm 102 * Psalm 85 * Isaiah 2:1–22 * 1 Peter 1:13–25 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface: 7–13
Readings* Isaiah 2:1–5 * Psalm 122 * Romans 13:8–14 * Matthew 21:1–11 * Matthew 24:36–44
Readings* Psalm 66 * Isaiah 1:1–28 * 1 Peter 1:1–12 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface: 1–6
Readings* Isaiah 52:13—53:12 * Psalm 22 * Psalm 31 * Hebrews 4:14–16—5:7–9 * John 18:1—19:42
Readings* Psalm 45 * Psalm 72 * Isaiah 66:1–20 * Luke 3:21–38 * Large Catechism II:25–33 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Although the feast of Epiphany commemorates no particular, concrete event, it is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar — one of the principal feasts. On Epiphany, we remember that the God who became man in Bethlehem — that the Babe in the manger — needed present no proof that He was true man, but that He did indeed need to prove that He was true God. He did this superabundantly with the manifestations of the Trinity and the signs, wonders, and miracles that dot the pages of the New Testament record. In the Western Church tradition, Epiphany has become associated with the visit of the Magi, and this is fitting, for the Magi represent all the nations that were brought into the New Covenant through Christ — the true epiphany being the revelation of Christ as Lord, God, Savior, and King.
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 65 * Isaiah 63:15—65:7 * Luke 2:41–52 * Large Catechism II:1–8
Readings* Psalm 108 * Psalm 110 * Isaiah 63:1–14 * Luke 2:21–40 * Large Catechism I:324–333
Readings Psalm 62 * Psalm 98 * Isaiah 62:1–12 * Luke 2:1–20 * Large Catechism I:311–323 CommemorationToday we commemorate J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor*. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe served as the pastor of Neuendettelsau in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s. Although he never left Germany, Löhe had a significant impact on Lutheranism in North America. Recognizing the need for Church workers, Löhe assisted in the training of missionary pastors to be sent to the New World and Australia. A number of the men sent by Löhe would become founders of what is today the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (the LCMS). It was also due in part to Löhe’s financial backing that a theological school in Fort Wayne, IN, and a teachers’ institute in Saginaw, MI, were established. Löhe is widely recognized and fondly remembered for his confessional integrity and his dedication to Christian charity.
Readings* Psalm 113 * Psalm 21 * Isaiah 61:1–11 * Luke 1:57–80 * Large Catechism I:303–310 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. Per tradition, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name “Jesus” as the angel had proclaimed. Under the Old Covenant, circumcision brought the benefits of forgiveness of sins, justification, and incorporation into the people of God. Under the New Covenant, circumcision is no longer necessary or effective; it has been replaced by Baptism, which is called, by St. Paul, a “circumcision made without hands” and “the circumcision of Christ”.
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 8 * Isaiah 60:1–22 * Luke 1:39–56 * Large Catechism I:292–302
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 132 * Isaiah 58:1—59:21 * Luke 1:26–38 * Large Catechism I:276–291
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 93 * Isaiah 55:1–13 * Luke 1:1–25 * Large Catechism I:263–275 CommemorationToday we commemorate David. David was the greatest of the kings of OT Israel, and ruled from about 1010 to 970 BC. Although David’s private conduct showed a mixture of good and bad, it was his fierce loyalty to God that defined his life and his reign. Under David, God fulfilled many of the promises to OT Israel, notably uniting Israel into a single nation with its capital at Jerusalem. Of course, God’s greatest promise would be fulfilled through the promised King — Christ, our Lord.
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 31 * Isaiah 52:13—54:10 * Matthew 2:13–23 * Large Catechism I:254–262 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. Threatened by the prophecies concerning a “King of the Jews”, King Herod plotted to find and kill Jesus using the Wise Men, but was thwarted in that plan when the Wise Men went back to their lands by another route. Angered and still plotting to thwart the prophecy, Herod had all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger murdered. We commemorate these innocents as a reminder of the depravity, brutality, and evil that can take residence in the human heart and of the persecution Jesus suffered even before His earthly ministry had begun. By the hand of God, Jesus was spared from being numbered amongst the slain, for His path led to a different death — on a cross at Golgotha, to pay the price for our sins.
Readings* Psalm 72 * Psalm 92 * Isaiah 51:17—52:12 * Matthew 2:1–12 * Large Catechism I:245–253 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John, son of Zebedee and brother of James the Elder, was among the first disciples to be called by Jesus, and became known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. During Christ’s ministry, John witnessed many of Christ’s miracles, was present for the Transfiguration, went with Peter to reserve the upper room for the Last Supper, and, alone among the Disciples, did not forsake Christ during His Passion, remaining near Christ through the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus made John guardian of Mary, His mother. John would go on to be a founding father of the Early Church. From John, we have the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation, which was revealed to him while he was banished to Patmos by Emperor Domitian. John outlived all of the other Apostles, dying in Ephesus at around age one hundred.
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 60 * Isaiah 49:22—51:16 * Matthew 1:18–25 * Large Catechism I:234–244 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Stephen, Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the first seven deacons of the Church, appointed to distribute food and other necessities to the poor of the growing Christian community. In addition to such duties, the deacons also taught and preached. When some of his colleagues became jealous, they brought him before the Sanhedrin on false charges of blasphemy. Before the Sanhedrin, Stephen confessed his faith in Christ and rebuked members of the Sanhedrin for rejecting the Messiah. Infuriated, the Sanhedrin had Stephen dragged outside the city and stoned. Honored as the first martyr of the Church, Stephen is remembered for his dying words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 150 * Isaiah 49:1–18 * Matthew 1:1–17 * Large Catechism I:222–233 FeastToday we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. During the Season of Advent, we prepared for the coming of Christ, and, now, on the 25th of December, Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of our Lord, God, Savior, and King. Christ’s birth was the fulfillment of part of the prophecy back in Genesis 3:15, and the promise would be completely fulfilled in Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. In His birth, Christ humbled Himself and took on human flesh — true God became true Man. In order to save you from your sins, God did not send a mere prophet; rather, He sent His only begotten Son to take your place on the cross and die for your sins. His death is our life — what Luther called a ‘wonderful exchange’.
Readings* Psalm 98 * Psalm 2 * Isaiah 44:21—45:25 * Revelation 12:1–17 * Large Catechism I:211–221
Readings* Psalm 39 * Psalm 144 * Isaiah 43:25—44:20 * Revelation 11:1–19 * Large Catechism I:199–210
Readings* Psalm 115 * Psalm 125 * Isaiah 43:1–24 * Revelation 9:13—10:11 * Large Catechism I:189–198
Readings* Psalm 102 * Isaiah 42:1–25 * Revelation 9:1–12 * Large Catechism I:179–188 CommemorationToday we celebrate the festival of St. Thomas, Apostle. Remembered, perhaps unfairly, as ‘doubting Thomas’, it was Thomas who said: “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” When Jesus appeared again to the disciples with Thomas present, Thomas, displaying his faith, declared: “My Lord and my God!” According to tradition, Thomas traveled eastward after Pentecost and eventually reached India (where a group who call themselves the “Christians of St. Thomas” still exists). Thomas was martyred for the faith by being speared to death.
Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 141 * Isaiah 40:18—41:10 * Revelation 8:1–13 * Large Catechism I:167–178 CommemorationToday we commemorate Katharina Luther, née von Bora. Born in 1499, Katharina von Bora was placed into a convent when she was still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April of 1523, Katharina, along with eight other nuns, was rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. In Wittenberg, Martin Luther helped the rescued nuns return to their families or start families of their own. Although initially hesitant to marry — as he feared assassination or execution by Rome — Luther believed that he must place his faith in God and practice what he preached. Katharina and Luther were married on 13 June 1525. God blessed the Luthers’ marriage with six children, and Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household. Although she suffered financial difficulties after Luther’s death in 1546, Katharina remained steadfast in her faith and her care for her children and others. Amongst her last recorded words, Katharina, on her deathbed, said that she would ‘stick to Christ as a burr to cloth.’
Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 19 * Isaiah 40:1–17 * Revelation 7:1–17 * Large Catechism I:158–166 CommemorationToday we commemorate Adam and Eve. Father and mother to us all, Adam and Eve were the first two human beings created by God’s own hands. Adam, formed from the dust, was created first and Eve, formed from one of Adam’s ribs to be his companion, was created second. Failing to obey God and listening to the Serpent’s temptation, Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had forbidden, and Adam, forsaking his role as head, joined her in rebellion. For their disobedience, they were driven from the Garden; by their disobedience, death entered the world. Nevertheless, in the midst of the tragedy of the Fall, God promised that the woman’s Seed — Christ, the Savior — would crush the Serpent’s head. In His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, Christ defeated sin, death, and the devil — fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15. As Luther commented: ‘God arranged to remove through Christ whatever the devil brought in through Adam.’
Readings* Psalm 119:81–88 * Psalm 145 * Isaiah 34:1—35:10 * Revelation 6:1–17 * Large Catechism I:150–157
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 20 * Isaiah 33:1–24 * Revelation 5:1–14 * Large Catechism I:141–149 CommemorationToday we commemorate Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men. Daniel the Prophet and the three young men — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — were among those taken from Judah into captivity in Babylon. For remaining faithful to the Lord God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were denounced to the king of Babylon and thrown into a fiery furnace, but they were miraculously saved by God’s direct intervention. Similarly, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to worship any god save the Lord, but was also miraculously saved by God’s intervention. Blessed with wisdom and understanding, Daniel and the three men were promoted to positions of authority in Babylon. Daniel, as a prophet, was given visions of the End Times.
Readings* Psalm 149 * Psalm 61 * Isaiah 32:1–20 * Revelation 4:1–11 * Large Catechism I:129–140
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 80 * Isaiah 30:27—31:9 * Revelation 3:1–22 * Large Catechism I:120–128
Readings* Psalm 27 * Psalm 24 * Isaiah 30:15–26 * Revelation 2:1–29 * Large Catechism I:112–119
Readings Psalm 89 * Psalm 143 * Isaiah 29:15—30:14 * Revelation 1:1–20 * Large Catechism I:103–111 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lucia, Martyr*. Born into a wealthy family, Lucia gave away her dowry to the poor. When this came to the attention of the Roman governor, he ordered Lucia to burn a sacrifice to the emperor. Upon her refusal, the governor commanded that she be condemned to a brothel; Lucia was martyred by the soldiers who came to execute the governor’s sentence. As the name “Lucia” means light, many European nations have long held festivals in her memory involving lanterns or lights; such festivals have been particularly popular in the Scandinavian countries, where this time of year is quite short on daylight.
Readings* Psalm 5 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 28:14–29 * 1 John 5:1–21 * Large Catechism I:87–95
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 130 * Isaiah 26:20—27:13 * 1 John 4:1–21 * Large Catechism I:78–86
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 148 * Isaiah 26:1–19 * 1 John 3:1–24 * Large Catechism I:69–77
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 24:14—25:12 * 1 John 2:15–29 * Large Catechism I:59–68
Readings Psalm 25 * Psalm 73 * Isaiah 24:1–13 * 1 John 1:1—2:14 * Large Catechism I:49–58 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter*. Along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, Ambrose of Milan is considered one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Becoming Bishop of Milan in AD 374 — largely by acclamation — Ambrose would go on to be a prolific hymnwriter and defender of the faith. Ambrose played no small part in suppressing the Arian heresy through his interactions with Emperor Gratian and Emperor Theodosius. Many are undoubtedly familiar with Ambrose’s hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come”.
Readings Psalm 56 * Isaiah 14:1–23 * 2 Peter 3:1–18 * Large Catechism I:41–48 CommemorationToday we commemorate Nicholas of Myra, Pastor*. One of the best known saints on the calendar, Nicholas of Myra — better known as Saint Nicholas — has long been associated with charitable giving. Many European nations still maintain December 6th as a day for giving and receiving gifts. Beyond the fact that there was a Church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century and that there was a Bishop Nicholas of Myra in the fourth century, little is known historically about St. Nicholas.
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 62 * Isaiah 10:12–34 * 2 Peter 1:1–21 * Large Catechism I:24–29
Readings* Psalm 119:105–112 * Psalm 82 * Isaiah 8:9—9:7 * 1 Peter 4:1–19 * Large Catechism I:1–12
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 50 * Isaiah 7:10—8:8 * 1 Peter 3:1–22 * Large Catechism, Short Preface, 14–28
Readings* Psalm 123 * Psalm 7 * Isaiah 6:1—7:9 * 1 Peter 2:13–25 * Large Catechism, Short Preface, 1–13 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle. Brother of Simon Peter, St. Andrew was born in the village of Bethsaida. Originally a follower of St. John the Baptist, Andrew was called and became the first disciple of Christ. Church tradition holds that Andrew was martyred on an X-shaped cross. It is St. Andrew’s Day that determines the beginning of the Western Church Year, as the First Sunday in Advent is always the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew’s Day.
Readings* Psalm 118 * Isaiah 5:1–25 * 1 Peter 2:1–12 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 14–20 CommemorationToday we commemorate Noah. Noah, son of Lamech, was instructed by God to build an ark. Faithful and obedient to God, Noah constructed the Ark that would carry him and his wife and his sons and their wives — the only eight people to survive the Flood. After the floodwaters subsided, Noah built an altar and gave thanks to God for His mercy in preserving the human race through Noah and his family. In promising never again to destroy all life from the Earth, God made the rainbow a sign of His covenant with man and all life. Whenever we see a rainbow, we should think of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love. We commemorate Noah for his faith and for his obedience to the word of God — for believing that God will do what He says He will do.
Readings* Psalm 102 * Psalm 85 * Isaiah 2:1–22 * 1 Peter 1:13–25 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 7–13
Readings* Psalm 66 * Isaiah 1:1–28 * 1 Peter 1:1–12 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 1–6
Readings* Isaiah 52:13—53:12 * Psalm 22 * Psalm 31 * Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9 * John 18:1—19:42
Readings* Psalm 45 * Psalm 72 * Isaiah 66:1–20 * Luke 3:21–38 * Large Catechism, II, 25–33 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Although the feast of Epiphany commemorates no particular, concrete event, it is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar — one of the principal feasts. On Epiphany, we remember that the God who became man in Bethlehem — that the Babe in the manger — needed present no proof that He was true man, but that He did indeed need to prove that He was true God. He did this superabundantly with the manifestations of the Trinity and the signs, wonders, and miracles that dot the pages of the New Testament record. In the Western Church tradition, Epiphany has become associated with the visit of the Magi, and this is fitting, for the Magi represent all the nations that were brought into the New Covenant through Christ — the true epiphany being the revelation of Christ as Lord, God, Savior, and King.
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 10 * Isaiah 65:8–25 * Luke 3:1–20 * Large Catechism, II, 9–24
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 65 * Isaiah 63:15—65:7 * Luke 2:41–52 * Large Catechism, II, 1–8
Readings* Psalm 108 * Psalm 110 * Isaiah 63:1–14 * Luke 2:21–40 * Large Catechism, I, 324–333
Readings Psalm 62 * Psalm 98 * Isaiah 62:1–12 * Luke 2:1–20 * Large Catechism, I, 311–323 CommemorationToday we commemorate J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor*. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe served as the pastor of Neuendettelsau in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s. Although he never left Germany, Löhe had a significant impact on Lutheranism in North America. Recognizing the need for Church workers, Löhe assisted in the training of missionary pastors to be sent to the New World and Australia. A number of the men sent by Löhe would become founders of what is today the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (the LCMS). It was also due in part to Löhe’s financial backing that a theological school in Fort Wayne, IN, and a teachers’ institute in Saginaw, MI, were established. Löhe is widely recognized and fondly remembered for his confessional integrity and his dedication to Christian charity.
Readings* Psalm 113 * Psalm 21 * Isaiah 61:1–11 * Luke 1:57–80 * Large Catechism, I, 303–310 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. Per tradition, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name “Jesus” as the angel had proclaimed. Under the Old Covenant, circumcision brought the benefits of forgiveness of sins, justification, and incorporation into the people of God. Under the New Covenant, circumcision is no longer necessary or effective; it has been replaced by Baptism, which is called, by St. Paul, a “circumcision made without hands” and “the circumcision of Christ”.
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 8 * Isaiah 60:1–22 * Luke 1:39–56 * Large Catechism, I, 292–302
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 132 * Isaiah 58:1—59:21 * Luke 1:26–38 * Large Catechism, I, 276–291
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 93 * Isaiah 55:1–13 * Luke 1:1–25 * Large Catechism, I, 263–275 CommemorationToday we commemorate David. David was the greatest of the kings of OT Israel, and ruled from about 1010 to 970 BC. Although David’s private conduct showed a mixture of good and bad, it was his fierce loyalty to God that defined his life and his reign. Under David, God fulfilled many of the promises to OT Israel, notably uniting Israel into a single nation with its capital at Jerusalem. Of course, God’s greatest promise would be fulfilled through the promised King — Christ, our Lord.
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 31 * Isaiah 52:13—54:10 * Matthew 2:13–23 * Large Catechism, I, 254–262 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. Threatened by the prophecies concerning a “King of the Jews”, King Herod plotted to find and kill Jesus using the Wise Men, but was thwarted in that plan when the Wise Men went back to their lands by another route. Angered and still plotting to thwart the prophecy, Herod had all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger murdered. We commemorate these innocents as a reminder of the depravity, brutality, and evil that can take residence in the human heart and of the persecution Jesus suffered even before His earthly ministry had begun. By the hand of God, Jesus was spared from being numbered amongst the slain, for His path led to a different death — on a cross at Golgotha, to pay the price for our sins.
Readings* Psalm 72 * Psalm 92 * Isaiah 51:17—52:12 * Matthew 2:1–12 * Large Catechism, I, 245–253 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John, son of Zebedee and brother of James the Elder, was among the first disciples to be called by Jesus, and became known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. During Christ’s ministry, John witnessed many of Christ’s miracles, was present for the Transfiguration, went with Peter to reserve the upper room for the Last Supper, and, alone among the Disciples, did not forsake Christ during His Passion, remaining near Christ through the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus made John guardian of Mary, His mother. John would go on to be a founding father of the Early Church. From John, we have the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation, which was revealed to him while he was banished to Patmos by Emperor Domitian. John outlived all of the other Apostles, dying in Ephesus at around age one hundred.
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 60 * Isaiah 49:22—51:16 * Matthew 1:18–25 * Large Catechism, I, 234–244 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Stephen, Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the first seven deacons of the Church, appointed to distribute food and other necessities to the poor of the growing Christian community. In addition to such duties, the deacons also taught and preached. When some of his colleagues became jealous, they brought him before the Sanhedrin on false charges of blasphemy. Before the Sanhedrin, Stephen confessed his faith in Christ and rebuked members of the Sanhedrin for rejecting the Messiah. Infuriated, the Sanhedrin had Stephen dragged outside the city and stoned. Honored as the first martyr of the Church, Stephen is remembered for his dying words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 150 * Isaiah 49:1–18 * Matthew 1:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 222–233 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. During the Season of Advent, we prepared for the coming of Christ, and, now, on the 25th of December, Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of our Lord, God, Savior, and King. Christ’s birth was the fulfillment of part of the prophecy back in Genesis 3:15, and the promise would be completely fulfilled in Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. In His birth, Christ humbled Himself and took on human flesh — true God became true Man. In order to save you from your sins, God did not send a mere prophet; rather, He sent His only begotten Son to take your place on the cross and die for your sins. His death is our life — what Luther called a ‘wonderful exchange’.
Readings* Psalm 98 * Psalm 2 * Isaiah 44:21—45:25 * Revelation 12:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 211–221
Readings* Psalm 39 * Psalm 144 * Isaiah 43:25—44:20 * Revelation 11:1–19 * Large Catechism, I, 199–210
Readings* Psalm 115 * Psalm 125 * Isaiah 43:1–24 * Revelation 9:13—10:11 * Large Catechism, I, 189–198
Readings* Psalm 102 * Isaiah 42:1–25 * Revelation 9:1–12 * Large Catechism, I, 179–188 CommemorationToday we celebrate the festival of St. Thomas, Apostle. Remembered, perhaps unfairly, as ‘doubting Thomas’, it was Thomas who said: “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” When Jesus appeared again to the disciples with Thomas present, Thomas, displaying his faith, declared: “My Lord and my God!” According to tradition, Thomas traveled eastward after Pentecost and eventually reached India (where a group who call themselves the “Christians of St. Thomas” still exists). Thomas was martyred for the faith by being speared to death.
Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 141 * Isaiah 40:18—41:10 * Revelation 8:1–13 * Large Catechism, I, 167–178 CommemorationToday we commemorate Katharina Luther, née von Bora. Born in 1499, Katharina von Bora was placed into a convent when she was still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April of 1523, Katharina, along with eight other nuns, was rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. In Wittenberg, Martin Luther helped the rescued nuns return to their families or start families of their own. Although initially hesitant to marry — as he feared assassination or execution by Rome — Luther believed that he must place his faith in God and practice what he preached. Katharina and Luther were married on 13 June 1525. God blessed the Luthers’ marriage with six children, and Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household. Although she suffered financial difficulties after Luther’s death in 1546, Katharina remained steadfast in her faith and her care for her children and others. Amongst her last recorded words, Katharina, on her deathbed, said that she would ‘stick to Christ as a burr to cloth.’
Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 19 * Isaiah 40:1–17 * Revelation 7:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 158–166
Readings* Psalm 119:81–88 * Psalm 145 * Isaiah 34:1—35:10 * Revelation 6:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 150–157
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 20 * Isaiah 33:1–24 * Revelation 5:1–14 * Large Catechism, I, 141–149 CommemorationToday we commemorate Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men. Daniel the Prophet and the three young men — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — were among those taken from Judah into captivity in Babylon. For remaining faithful to the Lord God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were denounced to the king of Babylon and thrown into a fiery furnace, but they were miraculously saved by God’s direct intervention. Similarly, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to worship any god save the Lord, but was also miraculously saved by God’s intervention. Blessed with wisdom and understanding, Daniel and the three men were promoted to positions of authority in Babylon. Daniel, as a prophet, was given visions of the End Times.
Readings* Psalm 149 * Psalm 61 * Isaiah 32:1–20 * Revelation 4:1–11 * Large Catechism, I, 129–140
Readings* Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 * Psalm 126 * 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 * John 1:6–8, 19–28
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 80 * Isaiah 30:27—31:9 * Revelation 3:1–22 * Large Catechism, I, 120–128
Readings* Psalm 27 * Psalm 24 * Isaiah 30:15–26 * Revelation 2:1–29 * Large Catechism, I, 112–119
Readings Psalm 89 * Psalm 143 * Isaiah 29:15—30:14 * Revelation 1:1–20 * Large Catechism, I, 103–111 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lucia, Martyr*. Born into a wealthy family, Lucia gave away her dowry to the poor. When this came to the attention of the Roman governor, he ordered Lucia to burn a sacrifice to the emperor. Upon her refusal, the governor commanded that she be condemned to a brothel; Lucia was martyred by the soldiers who came to execute the governor’s sentence. As the name “Lucia” means light, many European nations have long held festivals in her memory involving lanterns or lights; such festivals have been particularly popular in the Scandinavian countries, where this time of year is quite short on daylight.
Readings* Psalm 5 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 28:14–29 * 1 John 5:1–21 * Large Catechism, I, 87–95
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 130 * Isaiah 26:20—27:13 * 1 John 4:1–21 * Large Catechism, I, 78–86
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 148 * Isaiah 26:1–19 * 1 John 3:1–24 * Large Catechism, I, 69–77
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 24:14—25:12 * 1 John 2:15–29 * Large Catechism, I, 59–68
Readings Psalm 25 * Psalm 73 * Isaiah 24:1–13 * 1 John 1:1—2:14 * Large Catechism, I, 49–58 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter*. Along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, Ambrose of Milan is considered one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Becoming Bishop of Milan in AD 374 — largely by acclamation — Ambrose would go on to be a prolific hymnwriter and defender of the faith. Ambrose played no small part in suppressing the Arian heresy through his interactions with Emperor Gratian and Emperor Theodosius. Many are undoubtedly familiar with Ambrose’s hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come”.
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 62 * Isaiah 10:12–34 * 2 Peter 1:1–21 * Large Catechism, I, 24–29
Readings* Psalm 119:105–112 * Psalm 82 * Isaiah 8:9—9:7 * 1 Peter 4:1–19 * Large Catechism, I, 1–12
Readings* Psalm 119:105–112 * Psalm 82 * Isaiah 8:9—9:7 * 1 Peter 4:1–19 * Large Catechism, I, 1–12
Readings* Isaiah 64:1–9 * Psalm 80:1–7 * 1 Corinthians 1:3–9 * Mark 11:1–10 * Mark 13:24–37
Readings* Psalm 123 * Psalm 7 * Isaiah 6:1—7:9 * 1 Peter 2:13–25 * Large Catechism, Short Preface, 1–13 FeastToday we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, Apostle. Brother of Simon Peter, St. Andrew was born in the village of Bethsaida. Originally a follower of St. John the Baptist, Andrew was called and became the first disciple of Christ. Church tradition holds that Andrew was martyred on an X-shaped cross. It is St. Andrew’s Day that determines the beginning of the Western Church Year, as the First Sunday in Advent is always the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew’s Day.
Readings* Psalm 118 * Isaiah 5:1–25 * 1 Peter 2:1–12 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 14–20 CommemorationToday we commemorate Noah. Noah, son of Lamech, was instructed by God to build an ark. Faithful and obedient to God, Noah constructed the Ark that would carry him and his wife and his sons and their wives — the only eight people to survive the Flood. After the floodwaters subsided, Noah built an altar and gave thanks to God for His mercy in preserving the human race through Noah and his family. In promising never again to destroy all life from the Earth, God made the rainbow a sign of His covenant with man and all life. Whenever we see a rainbow, we should think of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love. We commemorate Noah for his faith and for his obedience to the word of God — for believing that God will do what He says He will do.
Readings* Psalm 102 * Psalm 85 * Isaiah 2:1–22 * 1 Peter 1:13–25 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 7–13
Readings* Psalm 66 * Isaiah 1:1–28 * 1 Peter 1:1–12 * Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 1–6
Readings* Isaiah 52:13—53:12 * Psalm 22 * Psalm 31 * Hebrews 4:14–16—5:7–9 * John 18:1—19:42 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 50:4–9a * Psalm 118:19–29 * Psalm 31:9–16 * Philippians 2:5–11 * John 12:12–19 * Matthew 26:1—27:66 * John 12:20–43 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 42:14–21 * Psalm 142 * Ephesians 5:8–14 * John 9:1–41 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 58:3–9a * Psalm 112:1–9 * 1 Corinthians 2:1–16 * Matthew 5:13–20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 9:1–4 * Psalm 27:1–14 * 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 * Matthew 4:12–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 9:1–4 * Psalm 27 * 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 * Matthew 4:12–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 42:1–9 * Psalm 29 * Romans 6:1–11 * Matthew 3:13–17 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 45 * Psalm 72 * Isaiah 66:1–20 * Luke 3:21–38 * Large Catechism, II, 25–33 FeastToday we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Although the feast of Epiphany commemorates no particular, concrete event, it is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar — one of the principal feasts. On Epiphany, we remember that the God who became man in Bethlehem — that the Babe in the manger — needed present no proof that He was true man, but that He did indeed need to prove that He was true God. He did this superabundantly with the manifestations of the Trinity and the signs, wonders, and miracles that dot the pages of the New Testament record. In the Western Church tradition, Epiphany has become associated with the visit of the Magi, and this is fitting, for the Magi represent all the Gentile nations that were brought into the New Covenant through Christ — the true epiphany being the revelation of Christ as Lord, God, Savior, and King.
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Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 10 * Isaiah 65:8–25 * Luke 3:1–20 * Large Catechism, II, 9–24 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 65 * Isaiah 63:15—65:7 * Luke 2:41–52 * Large Catechism, II, 1–8 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 60:1-6 * Psalm 72:1–15 * Ephesians 3:1-12 * Matthew 2:1–12 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 108 * Psalm 110 * Isaiah 63:1–14 * Luke 2:21–40 * Large Catechism, I, 324–333 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 62 * Psalm 98 * Isaiah 62:1–12 * Luke 2:1–20 * Large Catechism, I, 311–323 CommemorationToday we commemorate J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor*. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe served as the pastor of Neuendettelsau in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s. Although he never left Germany, Löhe had a significant impact on Lutheranism in North America. Recognizing the need for Church workers, Löhe assisted in the training of missionary pastors to be sent to the New World and Australia. A number of the men sent by Löhe would become founders of what is today the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (the LCMS). It was also due in part to Löhe’s financial backing that a theological school in Fort Wayne, IN, and a teachers’ institute in Saginaw, MI, were established. Löhe is widely recognized and fondly remembered for his confessional integrity and his dedication to Christian charity.
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Readings* Psalm 113 * Psalm 21 * Isaiah 61:1–11 * Luke 1:57–80 * Large Catechism, I, 303–310 FeastToday we celebrate the feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. Per tradition, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name “Jesus” as the angel had proclaimed. Under the Old Covenant, circumcision brought the benefits of forgiveness of sins, justification, and incorporation into the people of God. Under the New Covenant, circumcision is no longer necessary or effective; it has been replaced by Baptism, which is called, by St. Paul, a “circumcision made without hands” and “the circumcision of Christ”.
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Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 8 * Isaiah 60:1–22 * Luke 1:39–56 * Large Catechism, I, 292–302 FeastToday we celebrate the feast of the Eve of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus.
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Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 132 * Isaiah 58:1—59:21 * Luke 1:26–38 * Large Catechism, I, 276–291 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 93 * Isaiah 55:1–13 * Luke 1:1–25 * Large Catechism, I, 263–275 CommemorationToday we commemorate David. David was the greatest of the kings of OT Israel, and ruled from about 1010 to 970 BC. Although David’s private conduct showed a mixture of good and bad, it was his fierce loyalty to God that defined his life and his reign. Under David, God fulfilled many of the promises to OT Israel, notably uniting Israel into a single nation with its capital at Jerusalem. Of course, God’s greatest promise would be fulfilled through the promised King — Christ, our Lord.
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Readings* Isaiah 30:8–17 * Psalm 90:1–12 * Romans 8:31b–39 * Luke 12:35–40 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 31 * Isaiah 52:13—54:10 * Matthew 2:13–23 * Large Catechism. I, 254–262 CommemorationToday we celebrate the festival of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. Threatened by the prophecies concerning a “King of the Jews”, King Herod plotted to find and kill Jesus using the Wise Men, but was thwarted in that plan when the Wise Men went back to their lands by another route. Angered and still plotting to thwart the prophecy, Herod had all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger murdered. We commemorate these innocents as a reminder of the depravity, brutality, and evil that can take residence in the human heart and of the persecution Jesus suffered even before His earthly ministry had begun. By the hand of God, Jesus was spared from being numbered amongst the slain, for His path led to a different death — on a cross at Golgotha, to pay the price for our sins.
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Readings* Psalm 72 * Psalm 92 * Isaiah 51:17—52:12 * Matthew 2:1–12 * Large Catechism, I, 245–253 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John, son of Zebedee and brother of James the Elder, was among the first disciples to be called by Jesus, and became known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. During Christ’s ministry, John witnessed many of Christ’s miracles, was present for the Transfiguration, went with Peter to reserve the upper room for the Last Supper, and, alone among the Disciples, did not forsake Christ during His Passion, remaining near Christ through the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus made John guardian of Mary, His mother. John would go on to be a founding father of the Early Church. From John, we have the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation, which was revealed to him while he was banished to Patmos by Emperor Domitian. John outlived all of the other Apostles, dying in Ephesus at around age one hundred.
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Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 60 * Isaiah 49:22—51:16 * Matthew 1:18–25 * Large Catechism, I, 234–244 CommemorationToday we celebrate the festival of St. Stephen, Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the first seven deacons of the Church, appointed to distribute food and other necessities to the poor of the growing Christian community. In addition to such duties, the deacons also taught and preached. When some of his colleagues became jealous, they brought him before the Sanhedrin on false charges of blasphemy. Before the Sanhedrin, Stephen confessed his faith in Christ and rebuked members of the Sanhedrin for rejecting the Messiah. Infuriated, the Sanhedrin had Stephen dragged outside the city and stoned. Honored as the first martyr of the Church, Stephen is remembered for his dying words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
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Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 150 * Isaiah 49:1–18 * Matthew 1:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 222–233 FeastToday we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. During the Season of Advent, we prepared for the coming of Christ, and, now, on the 25th of December, Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of our Lord, God, Savior, and King. Christ’s birth was the fulfillment of part of the prophecy back in Genesis 3:15, and the promise would be completely fulfilled in Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. In His birth, Christ humbled Himself and took on human flesh — true God became true Man. In order to save you from your sins, God did not send a mere prophet; rather, He sent His only begotten Son to take your place on the cross and die for your sins. His death is our life — what Luther called a ‘wonderful exchange’.
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Readings* Psalm 98 * Psalm 2 * Isaiah 44:21—45:25 * Revelation 12:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 211–221 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 52:7–10 * Psalm 2 * Hebrews 1:1–12 * John 1:1–18 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 39 * Psalm 144 * Isaiah 43:25—44:20 * Revelation 11:1–19 * Large Catechism, I, 199–210 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 62:10–12 * Psalm 98 * Titus 3:4–7 * Luke 2:1–20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 9:2–7 * Psalm 96 * Titus 2:11–14 * Luke 2:1–20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 7:10–14 * Psalm 110:1–4 * 1 John 4:7–16 * Matthew 1:18–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 115 * Psalm 125 * Isaiah 43:1–24 * Revelation 9:13—10:11 * Large Catechism, I, 189–198 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 102 * Isaiah 42:1–25 * Revelation 9:1–12 * Large Catechism, I, 179–188 CommemorationToday we celebrate the festival of St. Thomas, Apostle. Remembered, perhaps unfairly, as ‘doubting Thomas’, it was Thomas who said: “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” When Jesus appeared again to the disciples with Thomas present, Thomas, displaying his faith, declared: “My Lord and my God!” According to tradition, Thomas traveled eastward after Pentecost and eventually reached India (where a group who call themselves the “Christians of St. Thomas” still exists). Thomas was martyred for the faith by being speared to death.
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Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 141 * Isaiah 40:18—41:10 * Revelation 8:1–13 * Large Catechism, I, 167–178 CommemorationToday we commemorate Katharina Luther, née von Bora. Born in 1499, Katharina von Bora was placed into a convent when she was still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April of 1523, Katharina, along with eight other nuns, was rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. In Wittenberg, Martin Luther helped the rescued nuns return to their families or start families of their own. Although initially hesitant to marry — as he feared assassination or execution by Rome — Luther believed that he must place his faith in God and practice what he preached. Katharina and Luther were married on 13 June 1525. God blessed the Luthers’ marriage with six children, and Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household. Although she suffered financial difficulties after Luther’s death in 1546, Katharina remained steadfast in her faith and her care for her children and others. Amongst her last recorded words, Katharina, on her deathbed, said that she would ‘stick to Christ as a burr to cloth.’
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Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 19 * Isaiah 40:1–17 * Revelation 7:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 158–166 CommemorationToday we commemorate Adam and Eve. Father and mother to us all, Adam and Eve were the first two human beings created by God’s own hands. Adam, formed from the dust, was created first and Eve, formed from one of Adam’s ribs to be his companion, was created second. Failing to obey God and listening to the Serpent’s temptation, Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had forbidden, and Adam, forsaking his role as head, joined her in rebellion. For their disobedience, they were driven from the Garden; by their disobedience, death entered the world. Nevertheless, in the midst of the tragedy of the Fall, God promised that the woman’s Seed — Christ, the Savior — would crush the Serpent’s head. In His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, Christ defeated sin, death, and the devil — fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15. As Luther commented: ‘God arranged to remove through Christ whatever the devil brought in through Adam.’
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Readings* Psalm 119:81–88 * Psalm 145 * Isaiah 34:1—35:10 * Revelation 6:1–17 * Large Catechism, I, 150–157 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 40 * Psalm 20 * Isaiah 33:1–24 * Revelation 5:1–14 * Large Catechism, I, 141–149 CommemorationToday we commemorate Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men. Daniel the Prophet and the three young men — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — were among those taken from Judah into captivity in Babylon. For remaining faithful to the Lord God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were denounced to the king of Babylon and thrown into a fiery furnace, but they were miraculously saved by God’s direct intervention. Similarly, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to worship any God save the Lord, but was also miraculously saved by God’s intervention. Blessed with wisdom and understanding, Daniel and the three men were promoted to positions of authority in Babylon. Daniel, as a prophet, was given visions of the End Times.
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Readings* Psalm 149 * Psalm 61 * Isaiah 32:1–20 * Revelation 4:1–11 * Large Catechism, I, 129–140 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 7:10–17 * Psalm 24 * Romans 1:1–7 * Matthew 1:18–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 80 * Isaiah 30:27—31:9 * Revelation 3:1–22 * Large Catechism, I, 120–128 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 27 * Psalm 24 * Isaiah 30:15–26 * Revelation 2:1–29 * Large Catechism, I, 112–119 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 89 * Psalm 143 * Isaiah 29:15—30:14 * Revelation 1:1–20 * Large Catechism, I, 103–111 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lucia, Martyr*. Born into a wealthy family, Lucia gave away her dowry to the poor. When this came to the attention of the Roman governor, he ordered Lucia to burn a sacrifice to the emperor. Upon her refusal, the governor commanded that she be condemned to a brothel; Lucia was martyred by the soldiers who came to execute the governor’s sentence. As the name “Lucia” means light, many European nations have long held festivals in her memory involving lanterns or lights; such festivals have been particularly popular in the Scandinavian countries, where this time of year is quite short on daylight.
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Readings* Psalm 106 * Isaiah 29:1–14 * Jude 1:1–26 * Large Catechism, I, 96–102 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 5 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 28:14–29 * 1 John 5:1–21 * Large Catechism, I, 87–95 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 130 * Isaiah 26:20—27:13 * 1 John 4:1–21 * Large Catechism, I, 78–86 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 35:1–10 * Psalm 146 * James 5:7–11 * Matthew 11:2–15 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 148 * Isaiah 26:1–19 * 1 John 3:1–24 * Large Catechism, I, 69–77 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 142 * Isaiah 24:14—25:12 * 1 John 2:15–29 * Large Catechism, I, 59–68 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 25 * Psalm 73 * Isaiah 24:1–13 * 1 John 1:1—2:14 * Large Catechism, I, 49–58 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter*. Along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, Ambrose of Milan is considered one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Becoming Bishop of Milan in AD 374 — largely by acclamation — Ambrose would go on to be a prolific hymnwriter and defender of the faith. Ambrose played no small part in suppressing the Arian heresy through his interactions with Emperor Gratian and Emperor Theodosius. Many are undoubtedly familiar with Ambrose’s hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come”.
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Readings Psalm 56 * Isaiah 14:1–23 * 2 Peter 3:1–18 * Large Catechism, I, 41–48 CommemorationToday we commemorate Nicholas of Myra, Pastor*. One of the best known saints on the calendar, Nicholas of Myra — better known as Saint Nicholas — has long been associated with charitable giving. Many European nations still maintain December 6th as a day for giving and receiving gifts. Beyond the fact that there was a Church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century and that there was a Bishop Nicholas of Myra in the fourth century, little is known historically about St. Nicholas.
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Readings* Psalm 49 * Isaiah 11:1—12:6 * 2 Peter 2:1–22 * Large Catechism, I, 30–40 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 145 * Psalm 62 * Isaiah 10:12–34 * 2 Peter 1:1–21 * Large Catechism, I, 24–29 CommemorationToday we commemorate John of Damascus, Theologian and Hymnwriter. John of Damascus, was a Greek theologian and priest. Giving up an influential position in the Islamic court, John devoted himself to Christianity and entered a monastery outside Jerusalem. Commemorated for his lasting contributions to the orthodox Christian faith, John enriched both Eastern and Western Christianity; his greatest work was the Fount of Wisdom*, a collection of writings from earlier Christian theologians.
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Readings* Psalm 55 * Isaiah 9:8—10:11 * 1 Peter 5:1–14 * Large Catechism, I, 13–23 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:105–112 * Psalm 82 * Isaiah 8:9—9:7 * 1 Peter 4:1–19 * Large Catechism, I, 1–12 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 11:1–10 * Psalm 72:1–7 * Romans 15:4–13 * Matthew 3:1–12 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Isaiah 42:14–21 Psalm 142 Ephesians 5:8–14 John 9:1–41
We are all born deaf and blind. Hearing, we do not hear; and seeing, we do not see. We know God’s Law, for it is written on our hearts — our consciences accuse us when we stray. We are all without excuse. We have become futile in our thinking, for we sin in thought; we have become futile in our speaking, for we sin in word; and we have become futile in our doing, for we sin in deed.
All our suffering, every affliction, and all the evil and imperfection in this world are due to sin. No, you did not break your leg because you failed to tithe — probably. That is not how sin and consequences work. Many, however, operate under that false assumption — that individual afflictions can be traced to individual sins — but hear the words of Christ when He rejects His disciples’ presumption that the man born blind (or his parents) sinned and thereby brought about his condition. Every evil and every imperfection are traceable to sin because we live in a fallen world. When our first parents — Adam and Eve — sinned in the Garden, they ushered death into the world, and with death came decay and degeneration. The very good creation was subjected to futility, and so some men are born blind, some are born missing limbs, and some are stillborn. Great and terrible is the suffering in this world, because great is the power of sin. And lest we think too highly of ourselves, we sin each and every day. Not only original sin condemns us, but each and every one of our innumerable actual sins. We are true children of Father Adam. Naturally, we are sons and daughters of perdition, every bit as separated from God as the dragon in Revelation or as the snake in the Garden. Spiritually, we are conceived, born, and live in darkness, and we spread it everywhere we go. We do not love our neighbors as ourselves, and we certainly do not love God with our whole heart, mind, body, and strength. We justly deserve this present and then eternal punishment. One must wonder what Paul who spoke of certain sins done in secret as being too shameful even to mention would think of all that is not only done in the open but celebrated in our culture. The night is wretched, dark and deep, and evil seems to never sleep. And yet we know that a still more glorious dawn awaits. ‘For at one time we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.’ As Christ is the light of the world, so we have become light through our union with Him. But let us return to the man born blind, whose world was one of darkness. With very few exceptions, blind men in the ancient world had to support themselves via begging. It was an uncertain and unpleasant existence. Now see Christ stooping down to create mud with His saliva and His hands. Our text comes from John, who also wrote Revelation, but let us go to the other end of the Bible for a moment — to Genesis. Unlike all else in Creation, which God merely spoke into existence, God formed man from the dust; He, like a potter, took earth and formed it into a man — Adam, father of our race. Then God breathed the breath of life into that lump of clay and it became a living being. The mouth that breathed that breath of life in Genesis is the very mouth that spits in the dust to make mud here; and the very hands that formed Adam from the dust in Genesis here form mud to restore sight to a son of Adam. The true Good News is Christ’s victory over sin and death and our adoption as sons and daughters of the Kingdom, but He also gave us glimpses of the physical restoration that will attend the life to come. Never before had a man born blind had his sight restored, and yet Jesus does so. The man’s blindness was a consequence of sin’s corruption of Creation. The wages of sin is death, and physical imperfection and corruption attend death. Christ’s healing of the man born blind was a little of the Kingdom breaking into the present world — a hint of what is to come.
Isaiah 58:3–9a Psalm 112:1–9 1 Corinthians 2:1–16 Matthew 5:13–20
Some contend that it is possible to be 'good without God'. We may find this appealing. Surely if we loose the bonds of oppression, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked — if we fill full the mouth of famine and bid the sickness cease — then God will notice our goodness and be pleased with us, no? No. We are told in Scripture that our good deeds — our good works — are as "polluted garment[s]" (ESV) or "filthy rags" (KJV), and, yet, neither of these translations is sufficient.
What is a filthy rag or a polluted garment? If you have done any work on an automobile, you may think of the combination of oil and dirt that pollutes everything it touches. Those who have raised children may think of rags used to clean up messes. (If you are thinking of dirty diapers, you have come closer.) If you are thinking of a kitchen towel, you are likely a bit off the mark. Some commentators have argued that what is in view here are the 'garments' — the strips of cloth — used to wrap the wounds of lepers, but the better interpretation is menstrual rags. Now, we all have the same mental image. Our good works are — our best is — as dirty, blood-soaked menstrual rags before God. Are you still feeling that maybe you want to come before God with your works in hand? So, let us dispense with the nonsense that you can be 'good without God'. The best person ever to live (other than Christ, of course) was a sinner through and through, and all his works were nothing. If you were to feed every hungry mouth, shelter every one of the over half a million homeless in the US, and preach the Gospel to millions, you would still appear before God in soiled, filthy rags. The original sin that has diseased our nature has wrought infinite separation between man and God; [i]t damns and brings eternal death". You cannot fear, love, and trust God as you should. Everything done without faith is sin, and the wages of sin is death. But we know that that is not the whole story. Adam sinned and in Adam all men stand condemned, but that is contrary to God's plan and will. You are not meant to sit in dirty rags, in the fear and hopelessness brought by a guilty conscience. You were — and are — meant to be a son or a daughter of the Kingdom, an adopted son of the Kingdom and an heir in Christ. And that is the crux of it. Nothing you could do or could have done would bridge the divide between you and your Creator. The good news is that there is nothing you need to do. ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο Θεος τον κοσμον — for God so loved the world. Christ has done the work you could not do; He has perfectly fulfilled the Law. The wages of sin is death, but death could not hold Him for He had no sin; death has no claim to Him and now death has no claim to you. Washed in the blood of the Lamb — washed with water and the Word — you no longer wear dirty, blood-stained rags; rather, you now stand before the Father cloaked in a robe of purest white and declared righteous by grace through faith for the sake of Christ crucified. ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο Θεος τον κοσμον. What did God love? τον κοσμον — the world. And what did He do? "He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Christ came to die for you, for your parents, for your siblings, for your children, for your friends, for me, but, more than that: τον κοσμον — He came to die for all. Christ's Atonement was necessary and sufficient — all sufficient. Justification is universal, for Christ's work was once for all. You are justified by grace through faith — made a true child of God and heir in the cleansing waters of Baptism. "Child of God, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ. He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price." No longer do we live in fear and uncertainty, for He has promised that He will lose none from His hand.