ESV | Confident.Faith: Recent Episodes
Confident.Faith
Readings* Psalm 51 * 1 Samuel 26:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 5:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:82–88
Readings* Psalm 14 * Psalm 53 * 1 Samuel 25:23–44 * 1 Corinthians 4:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:74–81 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. Most likely born in Spain, Lawrence eventually made his way to Rome and became chief of the seven deacons of the Church. Having control over Church property and finances, Lawrence was called before the Roman emperor, who believed the Church possessed valuable items that could be confiscated, and commanded to produce the “treasures of the Church”. In response, Lawrence brought before the emperor the poor who had benefited from Christian charity. The emperor jailed Lawerence and eventually ordered him executed — by gridiron.
Readings* Psalm 94 * 1 Samuel 25:1–22 * 1 Corinthians 3:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:68–73
Readings* Psalm 62 * 1 Samuel 24:1–22 * 1 Corinthians 1:26—2:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:62–67
Readings* Psalm 144 * 1 Samuel 20:24–42 * 1 Corinthians 1:1–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:58–61
Readings* Psalm 92 * 1 Samuel 20:1–23 * Acts 28:16–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:51–57
Readings* Psalm 21 * 1 Samuel 19:1–24 * Acts 28:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:45–50
Readings* Psalm 56 * 1 Samuel 18:10–30 * Acts 27:27–44 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:38–44
Readings* Psalm 68 * 1 Samuel 17:48—18:9 * Acts 27:9–26 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:26–37 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joanna, Mary, and Salome, the three faithful women who visited Christ’s tomb early on the morning of the first Easter. These women bore myrrh and others items to dress the body of Christ, but instead found the tomb empty, Christ having risen. These women serve as examples of humble service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 98 * 1 Samuel 17:20–47 * Acts 26:24—27:8 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:15–25
Readings* Psalm 70 * Psalm 75 * 1 Samuel 17:1–19 * Acts 26:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:9–14
Readings* Psalm 80 * 1 Samuel 16:1–23 * Acts 25:13–27 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:1–8 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joseph of Arimathea. A wealthy man from the village of Arimathea, Joseph owned an unused tomb in the vicinity of Golgotha, where Christ was crucified. A devout man, and member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph was eagerly awaiting the Kingdom of God. In contrast to many who fled for fear of the Jews, Joseph went to Pilate and requested the body of Christ, and, together with Nicodemus, placed the body in the tomb.
Readings* Psalm 50 * Psalm 130 * 1 Samuel 15:10–35 * Acts 24:24—25:12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:115–121 CommemorationToday we commemorate Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr. Born in England in the late 1400s, Robert Barnes studied theology and eventually became a prior of the Augustinian monastery at Cambridge. Exiled to Germany, partly for distributing Bibles in English and for having converted to Lutheranism, Dr. Barnes would meet Martin Luther in Wittenberg, and the two would become friends. Upon his return to England, Dr. Barnes would share his Lutheran faith with King Henry VIII, who was initially receptive. However, changing political and ecclesiastical winds in England would eventually spell Dr. Barnes’ downfall. On 30 July 1540, Robert Barnes was burned at the stake on a charge of heresy, becoming one of the first Lutheran martyrs. Luther would later publish Barnes’ confession of faith, noting of Barnes that he was “[a] good, pious dinner guest and houseguest … [a] holy martyr, St. Robert Barnes.”
Readings* Psalm 119:41–48 * Psalm 13 * 1 Samuel 14:47—15:9 * Acts 24:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:107–114 CommemorationToday we commemorate Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany, whose faith is recorded in the Gospels. When Lazarus died, Jesus raised him from the dead and spoke to Martha, Lazarus’s sister: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Later, shortly before Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed His feet with oil and wiped them with her hair — unknowingly readying Christ for burial.
Readings* Psalm 59 * Psalm 57 * 1 Samuel 13:1–18 * Acts 23:12–35 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:98–106
Readings* Psalm 119:17–24 * Psalm 141 * 1 Samuel 12:1–25 * Acts 22:30—23:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:88–97
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 70 * 1 Samuel 10:1–27 * Acts 22:17–29 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:86–87
Readings* Deuteronomy 7:6–9 * Psalm 125 * Romans 8:28–39 * Matthew 13:44–52 Homily TranscriptScripture is full of metaphor, analogy, symbolism, and dozens of other such rhetorical devices and figures of speech. This is, of course, not to say that there are not parts of Scripture that are simply literal — we do not want to wander off into the desert with those who try to torture everything into symbolism — or allegory. And yet we must recognize symbolism when and where God has employed it and then endeavor correctly to exegete and understand it. And so we must discuss ‘Jerusalem’.
First, there is not one Jerusalem — there are two:
Galatians 4:21–31 (ESV):
»21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.«
Second, the Jews are children of the slave woman, of the earthly Jerusalem, and we, the Elect, are children of the free woman, of the heavenly Jerusalem. Third, the heavenly Jerusalem is the eternal city, the city spoken of in Revelation; ultimately and truly, the heavenly Jerusalem is Paradise itself, for that is the eternal home of the Elect. We should expand these a bit.
I want you to look at Psalm 125 in your Bibles. Unless you have acquired and are using a Septuagint (which you should do), then the second clause speaks of Mount Zion as being immovable, but that is not what God actually said, for the true referent, as we see in the Greek, is the same as that of the first clause: He who ‘inhabits Jerusalem’ is he who trusts in the Lord, is he who will never be shaken. This verse is comfort for the Elect; it has nothing to do with the earthly Jerusalem. In their great wickedness, the Jews altered this verse in their so-called ‘Masoretic Text’ and attempted to transfer a promise from the Elect to themselves. They truly are, as Christ called them, children of their father below, who is a murderer, a liar, and a thief. The earthly Jerusalem is just a city, like any other earthly city, and the earthly Mount Zion is like any other earthly mountain (really more a hill in this case) and both will pass away along with the rest of this Creation — they have no relevance to future prophecy or anything of that sort except for their use as symbols. All forms of Millenarianism are heresy.
The issue of the Jews is certainly a tired one, but a patient with cancer cannot reasonably expect to stop hearing about that disease just because he is tired of it, and so we must discuss wickedness and heresy. It was the Jews that led the so-called ‘civil rights movement’ that tore our country apart and destroyed our national fabric. It was the Jews that spied for the Communists (and gave them nuclear weapons) and led the Communist groups in the US. It was the Jews that overturned our blasphemy, anti-sodomy, and obscenity laws. It was the Jews that pushed to legalize abortion, and they are vastly overrepresented as ‘doctors’ in that field. It was the Jews that pushed for the legalization of all manner of drugs. It is the Jews that own and promote the pornography ‘industry’. Hear the Word of the Lord:
The Jews killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and they have persecuted His disciples; the Jews please not God, and are contrary to all men.
And yet there are many who claim the name of Christ and rabidly support the Christ-killing Jews. And if you recoil in the slightest from calling the Jews Christ-killers, then I encourage you to examine yourself to know the state of your heart; hear the Word of the Lord:
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you (Jews) killed by hanging Him on a tree.
Was Peter speaking to the ‘Jewish leaders’ as modern eisegetes would tell you? No, he was speaking to a crowd of ordinary Jews. The Jews are Christ-killers and this enormous sin, this incomprehensible wickedness will follow their race unto eternity. We leave the eternal disposition of those who dedicate themselves to the Jews to the perfect justice of God, but we also surely know that He will not commend as faithful servant those who serve the very men who murdered Him. For our part, we might call that ‘aiding and abetting’.
At least in some ways worse are those who rabidly — and heretically — insist that the Jews are ‘chosen’. Well, we should examine that term: What does it mean to be chosen? There are two senses; we will categorize them with two Greek verbs: προαιρεω and καλεω. The first verb appears in our first reading as ‘chosen’ and the second (in adjectival form) appears in our Epistle reading as ‘called’. Pharaoh was chosen, or, in the words of Romans 9:17:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
in the waters of Holy Baptism, you were called — more, you were called by name, for the Good Shepherd Who numbered and named all the stars in the sky knows also all His sheep by their names (and so καλεω truly means). Would you rather be προαιρεω pharaoh or a καλεοω child of God (please forgive me the bad grammar for the sake of the point)? Perhaps I am somewhat partial because Romans 8:28 is my Confirmation verse, but I would strongly prefer, if asked to choose, to be chosen in the sense of καλεω (called) instead of merely chosen in the sense of προαιρεω (‘chosen’ for a specific purpose). This is, of course, not to even imply that these categories are mutually exclusive; pharaoh was chosen, but not called, but, to pick just a few, Moses, David, and Mary were all both chosen and called. The error that we must avoid here is the conflation of the Zionist and the heresy of the Dispensationalist: The Jews are not, by virtue of their descent from Abraham, chosen in the sense of called:
For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
If anything, the unbelieving Jews are all the more damned for rejecting the Scriptures that God entrusted to them and the Christ Who came from their line; it is far worse to know God and explicitly reject Him than simply to be an ignorant heathen. The nation of Ancient Israel was chosen for the specific purpose of being the line from which the Christ would descend, but this affords them no advantage before God’s tribunal. We are bound to ask how any Christian would miss the clear heresy of any system that would even hint at another path to the Father. ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ The Jews do not have some ‘second way’. Adam was the first Christian, and he entered Paradise long before Moses, to whom God entrusted the Law to be protected and spread by Ancient Israel, was even born. It has only ever been by faith in the Christ that one may be called. May the Lord God erase both Zionism and Dispensationalism from the Earth and thereby defend His great Name. Amen.
We do not look forward to the earthly restoration of any particular nation to any particular chunk of territory. We do not pin our hope on an earthly mountain, city, or hill. The only hill to which we (symbolically) assign any abiding hope is Golgotha, but our hope in Christ crucified exists because we believe in Christ raised. The existence of modern ‘Israel’ is a matter of geopolitics and corruption, not a matter of prophecy, for we know that it is only the Israel of God (i.e., the Church) and the heavenly Jerusalem (i.e., Paradise) that have any promises or ultimate meaning. The earthly Jerusalem will pass away in fire; the heavenly Jerusalem will endure for eternity with her lord and Savior as a light to all the Elect from every nation and language.
None of this should be taken to diminish or demean and certainly not to denigrate the importance of the here and now. What you do in this life not only echoes in eternity, but decides your eternity. Certainly, we are saved — alone — by the free gift of faith in the forgiveness of sins won for us by the perfect work of the Christ Who lived and died for us, fulfilling the righteous demands of the Law that we could never fulfill, but there are two judgements: There is the Judgement, which asks if you are or are not in Christ, and there is the judgement of works.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
— Matthew 16:27
\
For God will bring every work in judgment, in everything overlooked, whether good or evil.
— Ecclesiastes 12:14
\
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
— Romans 2:6–8
Your works cannot save you (and for that we cannot thank God enough), but just as certainly God will judge every deed you did or failed to do and every word you spoke or failed to speak. Anyone who think this life does not matter because the ultimate battle is already won would do well to examine himself and take heed lest he fall; God will not be mocked, and He sees, hears, and knows all. Again, you must not — and should not — fear for your eternity, for that was already won for you, your name inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and your status as a child of the Father signed and sealed in the waters of Holy Baptism; in fact, you were foreknown by God in eternity past before ever there was an Earth or a Jerusalem or a Golgotha, and your name was written in the Book of Life before your parents named you, before Adam named the animals, before God made and named the stars. You were called by the very name God inscribed in His Book of Life before time itself had even begun to run. You were called — καλεω — in eternity past when God foreknew you and here in time when you were pulled from the waters of Baptism as a child or an adult or sprinkled with the water of Baptism as an infant. And the infant truly is the better picture, for he can neither ‘consent’ (for whatever that means) nor truly object (save, perhaps, some crying if the water is cold); the infant must rely — entirely — on those around him and receives Baptism, and the forgiveness of sins and the salvation therein offered, as we are all commanded to receive the Kingdom of God: as little children, free from guile, objection, squabbling, or doubt. If you were an adult when you were baptized, then you still added nothing to the process, for the Sacrament relies upon God and not upon you. Truly blessed are those who receive so great a gift from God in the most worthy manner fallen man may muster: that of the trusting infant.
As Christians, as called sons and daughters of God, we must not look upon this life as misery or suffering or any such thing (although it certainly will contain those in this fallen world), and we must certainly not look upon this life as meaningless or irrelevant: Our heavenly Father has prepared beforehand good works that we should walk in them. The Cross conquered sin, death, and the devil, but there is much work left to be done here in time. We have duties to family, to nation, which is to say to race, and to neighbor. This world is perishing, and so are all who do not know the Lord. Noah was saved from a drowning world, and instructed not to draw any more into the Ark; we have a better promise than he, for we are instructed to bring as many into the new and better Ark — the Church — as possible; in the words of the parable:
And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”
We must fill our Father’s House, the Jerusalem above, Paradise.
But this is not done simply by sharing, spreading, or teaching or preaching the Gospel. The Christian life is much more than the Proclamation. The Christian life is a life of deeds and not mere words; it is lived out both in accordance with God’s law and in service to neighbor. In fact, you cannot serve God directly — He needs nothing from you or from anyone else; your neighbor, however, needs food, clothing, shelter, and all manner of such things; you serve God by serving your neighbor — those are the very good works that God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. And your neighbor is not some abstraction, and nor does he represent every man on Earth. Your neighbor is a concrete; he is flesh and blood; in fact, he is your flesh and blood, for you owe your loyalty, your duty, and your time, resources, and efforts first and foremost and even to the exclusion of all others to those God has placed closest to you. Family, tribe, race, and nation are not incidental, accidental, or human constructs or fictions. You are who and what you are by essence, and God created that essence. Your people need you; you serve God by serving your people of whom God has made you part; you serve Satan by denying your own people, of whom God has made you part, to preference the alien, whom God has not made part of your people. Or do you believe God was wrong to include the Table of Nations and the genealogies in Scripture and to create man as a social animal enmeshed in concentric circles of relatedness and duty? Or do you believe the Marxists — almost exclusively Christ-denying and Christ-murdering Jews — knew better than God? For they are the very men (to abuse the term via over-inclusion) you are following when you deny the reality of sex, of race, of nation, of family. And make no mistake: To deny the reality of race is actually more evil, more wicked than to deny the reality of biological sex. Satan knows full well that all of these things are real and are good creations of God — that is why he wants you to deny them. The ‘Christian’ who claims Christ and yet denies Him in his acts is an unprofitable servant who may one day — in the not-too-distant future — find himself calling “Lord, Lord…”. Do not be an unprofitable servant. We live in a dying world among the dying, and yet live in it we must. Do your duty as a Christian man or woman. Serve your family; serve your tribe; serve your neighbor; serve your race. These are the realities by which God has created you and in which He has enmeshed you. Do not risk denying the Creator by denying His Creation.
As a called, elected, sealed, and confirmed son or daughter of the Father, you have absolute certainty of your eternity, for you are in Christ and He will lose none from His hands. So comport yourself with the behavior befitting a son or a daughter of the King. He has given you work to do; do not rest on Christ’s laurels. Your people are perishing, pull them into the Greater Ark before they slip beneath the waves and are forever out of reach.
Amen.
Readings Psalm 63 * Psalm 149 * 1 Samuel 9:1–27 * Acts 21:37—22:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:75–85 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle*. St. James, and his brother St. John, sons of Zebedee, were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Together with St. Peter and his brother St. Andrew, James and John were called to be disciples of Christ. Along with Peter and John, James formed a sort of ‘inner circle’ amongst the Twelve. In Acts, it is recorded that James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I, thus making James the first among the Twelve to die a martyr.
Readings* Psalm 24 * 1 Samuel 8:1–22 * Acts 21:15–36 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:61–74
Readings* Psalm 119:113–120 * Psalm 141 * 1 Samuel 6:19—7:17 * Acts 19:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:48–60
Readings* Psalm 137 * Psalm 56 * 1 Samuel 5:1—6:16 * Acts 18:1–28 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:36–47 CommemorationToday we commemorate St. Mary Magdalene. Present at the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene had become a follower of Jesus when He cast out seven demons from her. She was also the first to see Jesus alive again after the crucifixion. The Church has long identified her with the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil.
Readings* Psalm 106 * 1 Samuel 4:1–22 * Acts 16:23–40 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:22–35
Readings* Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 115 * 1 Samuel 3:1–21 * Acts 16:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:12–21 CommemorationToday we commemorate Elijah. Prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, largely during the reign of Ahab, Elijah condemned the Baal worship that had been promoted by Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. Through Elijah, God performed many miracles, demonstrating both Elijah’s status as a true prophet and the truth of Elijah’s message condemning Israel’s idolatry. At the end of his earthly life, Elijah was taken up to Heaven in a fiery chariot.
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 136 * 1 Samuel 2:18–36 * Acts 15:22–41 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession III, IV:1–11
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 131 * 1 Samuel 1:21—2:17 * Galatians 6:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:35–51
Readings* Psalm 92 * 1 Samuel 1:1–20 * Galatians 5:1–26 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:23–34
Readings* Psalm 21 * Judges 16:4–30 * Galatians 4:12–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:5–22 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ruth. A native of Moab, and therefore not a natural descendant of Abraham, Ruth is the subject of the biblical book that bears her name and a study in God’s grace. During a famine in Israel, Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem moved to Moab with their two sons; the sons married Moabite women and then a decade or so later died, leaving the women as widows. Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their people, but Ruth refused, stating: “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” After arriving in Bethlehem, Boaz, a relative of Naomi, agreed to marry Ruth and become her ‘redeemer’. Ruth gave birth to Obed, grandfather of Kind David, making Ruth great-grandmother to one of OT Israel’s most famous kings and an ancestress of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 33 * Psalm 27 * Judges 15:1—16:3 * Galatians 3:23—4:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession I, II:1–4
Readings* Psalm 119:1–8 * Psalm 1 * Judges 14:1–20 * Galatians 3:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Introduction: 1–19
Readings* Psalm 71 * Judges 13:1–25 * Galatians 2:1–21 * Augsburg Confession, Conclusion
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 108 * Judges 7:1–23 * Galatians 1:1–24 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:61–78
Readings* Psalm 125 * Psalm 7 * Judges 6:1–24 * Acts 14:19—15:5 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:30–42
Readings* Psalm 138 * Psalm 86 * Judges 4:1–24 * Acts 14:1–18 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:19–29
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 139 * Judges 3:7–31 * Acts 13:42–52 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:1–18
Readings* Psalm 2 * Psalm 78 * Judges 2:6–23 * Acts 13:13–41 * Augsburg Confession XXVII:44–62
Readings* Psalm 100 * Psalm 5 * Joshua 24:1–31 * Acts 13:1–12 * Augsburg Confession XXVII:24–43 CommemorationToday we commemorate Isaiah. Isaiah, son of Amos, numbers amongst the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and is quoted more than any other in the New Testament. A contemporary of Amos, Hosea, and Micah, Isaiah prophesied to the people of Judah between about 740 and 700 BC. No Old Testament prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming of the Christ and His Kingdom. In the words of John, Isaiah ‘saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him’.
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 149 * Joshua 23:1–16 * Acts 12:1–25 * Augsburg Confession XXVII:1–23
Readings* Psalm 50 * Psalm 113 * Joshua 10:1–25 * Acts 11:19–30 * Augsburg Confession XXVI:21–45
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 45 * Joshua 8:1–28 * Acts 11:1–18 * Augsburg Confession XXVI:1–20
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 60 * Joshua 7:1–26 * Acts 10:34–48 * Augsburg Confession XXV
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 75 * Joshua 6:6–27 * Acts 10:18–33 * Augsburg Confession XXIV:21–41
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 144 * Joshua 5:1—6:5 * Acts 10:1–17 * Augsburg Confession XXIV:1–20
Readings* Psalm 103 * Joshua 4:1–24 * Acts 9:23–43 * Augsburg Confession XXIII CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. Early Christian tradition holds that Ss. Peter and Paul were martyred on the same day in Rome under the persecution of Nero. In addition to their joint commemoration on June 29th (a festival the Church has observed since the third century or so), Ss. Peter and Paul are also commemorated separately in the calendar — St. Peter on the 18th of January for his confession of Christ and St. Paul on the 25th of January for his conversion. Both Peter and Paul are held up in Scripture as examples of men who, although flawed, became staunch defenders of and evangelists for the faith.
Readings Psalm 51 * Joshua 2:1–24 * Acts 8:26–40 * Augsburg Confession XXI CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Cyril became Archbishop of Alexandria in AD 412. A true defender of the faith and orthodoxy, Cyril produced a number of writings dealing with various theological matters. Cyril’s Christology had a significant impact on later theologians. Additionally, Cyril defended the truth that it is proper to call Mary the “Mother of God” or Theotokos, the ‘God-bearer’.
Readings* Psalm 31 * Joshua 1:1–18 * Acts 8:1–25 * Augsburg Confession XX:19–40 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jeremiah. Prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Through a lifetime of prophetic work, Jeremiah communicated God’s anger toward His rebellious people and often suffered at the hands of his countrymen. Although his death is unrecorded, it is believed that Jeremiah died in Egypt, after having been forcibly transported there.
Readings* Psalm 119:41–48 * Psalm 73 * Proverbs 31:10–31 * John 21:1–25 * Augsburg Confession XX:1–18 CommemorationToday we commemorate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. Presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on 25 June 1530, the Augsburg Confession presents the theology of the Lutheran Church and of the Reformation. At the heart of the Confession is justification by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ alone — presented primarily in Article IV, often called the ‘article on which the Church stands or falls’. Through the Augsburg Confession, the Lutheran Reformers began the arduous task of removing the corruption that had crept into the Church over centuries and restoring to its rightful place the true core of Christianity: Justificatio Sola Gratia Sola Fide Solo Christo — justification by grace alone through faith alone by and through Christ alone.
Readings* Psalm 85 * Proverbs 30:1–33 * John 20:19–31 * Augsburg Confession XVII–XIX FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The birth of St. John the Baptist was announced, by an angel, to his father, Zechariah. Initially unbelieving, Zechariah was struck mute until his son was born, but then proclaimed a hymn of praise, the Benedictus — which traditionally serves as the Gospel Canticle in the Church’s Service of Morning Prayer. John’s life is known from all four of the Gospels. Preaching and baptizing in the wilderness near the Jordan River, John prepared the way for the Christ. Upon seeing Jesus, John announced to the crowds: “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!” Martyred by the Herodians, whose immoral lifestyle he denounced, John is remembered for his preaching which pointed to the coming Christ, the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world.
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 16 * Proverbs 27:1–24 * John 20:1–18 * Augsburg Confession XIV–XVI
2 Chronicles 17–20
Josaphat Reigns over Judah; Josaphat Aids Israel in War; God Delivers Judah from Her Enemies
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 21 * Proverbs 24:1–22 * John 19:1–22 * Augsburg Confession IX–XI
Readings* Jeremiah 20:7–13 * Psalm 91 * Romans 6:12–23 * Matthew 10:5a, 21–33 Homily TranscriptPersecution has not been the universal experience of all Christians at all times in all places; there have been periods of peace, prosperity, and tranquility. (That these have virtually always been under the aegis of a Christian State with an established Church should not go without mention, but it will have to be a passing one today.) And yet, persecution has often been the fate of Christians down through the centuries (or even ages, if we want to include such men as Abel and Noah). And the existence of a supposedly Christian State is no perfect guarantee against persecution — Luther was persecuted by an Emperor and a pope, both of whom claimed to be Christian. Today, our government would not be called Christian by any but the most delusional of men, but Satan is never content; having virtually complete his conquest of the various Western governments and their attached or aligned institutions, he turned his attention to the churches decades ago (centuries ago, in some obvious cases). This should surprise no one; hear the words of our Lord from today’s Gospel reading:
»Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.«
— Matthew 10:21–22 (ESV)
Does our Lord speak of persecution by the State or some other such authority? No, not even (exclusively, anyway) in the portion of this passage immediately before today’s reading, where He speaks of being “dragged before governors and kings”. He speaks, instead, of a more personal sort of betrayal. Our Lord was certainly persecuted and murdered by the Jewish authorities (and the Jewish people generally), but He was also betrayed by Judas, His former friend; it is that sort of personal betrayal of which Jesus speaks in this passage. Despite the parallelism, we should not limit our understanding of what Jesus means when He says ‘brother’ (or ‘child’ and ‘parent’, for that matter) to the familial; what is in view here is every sort of intimate or personal betrayal, and that certainly includes all those who are brothers by ways other than blood — close friends, brothers-in-law, brothers-in-arms, brothers-in-Christ. And that last category is certainly Satans’s focus today.
Mercifully, most of you are not in a position to hear many, and certainly not most, of the stories of all the ways our churches are betraying so very many men today (and it is mostly [relatively] young men who are being betrayed), but I am in a position to hear them. And I do not think for a second that the faithless men pushing for expulsion, excommunication, and blacklisting (among many other forms of persecution) would hesitate to use the State to literally execute (which is to say murder) the men they are persecuting, if they thought the State would cooperate. In fact, such persecutors and slanderers and blasphemers have engaged in attempted murder: doxxing and false reports to law enforcement. If such ‘men’ were not so cowardly (itself a grievous sin), then they would certainly have taken up arms themselves and murdered the men they have persecuted; and they would have firmly believed that they were rendering service to God in doing so. Of course, their assessment would have been half true: They would, indeed, have been rendering service to their god, who is most certainly not the Lord God.
The very persecution of which Jesus warns in this passage is rampant in the churches. In fact, things are so bad these days that it would be accurate to say that we are in a period of widespread persecution, and — more importantly — we can ‘use’ that persecution as an indication of who is faithful and who is faithless: In times of faithlessness and persecution, those who are not persecuted are not faithful. If you have never suffered for the faith, then I encourage you to examine yourself — and particularly you men, for cowardice, which is to say a lack of courage or manliness, is damnable sin. For most, such suffering need not be the sort of ‘grand’ or high-profile persecution that has been inflicted on some of us; for many, suffering for the faith will take a more ‘mundane’ form: lost friends, estranged family, perhaps some other social or economic consequences. The point is that Satan, for the moment, controls the board, and a faith that he ignores is a faith that is in some way lacking. We do not live in a time of a Christian ruler and a faithful established Church under him; rather, we live in a time of a wicked government, a pervasively evil bureaucracy that invades almost every facet of our lives, and a nearly universal apostasy among the so-called churches; under such circumstances, the Christian should not — and the Christian will not — expect to escape persecution. You will suffer for the faith. You may not be martyred — even Luther died of old age, but both the Emperor and the pope sought his head for many years, and we, unlike Luther, do not have faithful German princes to hide, provide for, and protect us. We can certainly rely upon God, but not all saints escaped the lions. If you must go the lions, then to the lions you must go.
The Christian proclamation is one of eternal comfort, not one of temporal comfort. Temporal peace relies upon having a righteous, competent, and powerful State; that is a valid and important consideration for Christian men, but it is not the core concern of the Christian faith. Whether the king is righteous or wicked, whether the culture is Christian or not, whether it will cost you nothing or everything, you must confess Christ and Him crucified in both your words and your deeds. A faith that produces no good works is a dead faith, and it is only a living faith that saves. Or do you think that the Christ so often employed plant metaphors idly? As any gardener (or keeper of houseplants, at least) will tell you: Living plants always grow, and healthy fruit tree always bear fruit.
Learn the lesson of the fig tree: It was not the season for figs, which certainly ‘excuses’ the fig tree, but the Christ did not curse the tree as punishment of the tree, but as a lesson for you: There are no ‘seasons’ for the Christian faith; you must produce fruit in season and out. There will be no excuse or defense on Judgement Day that you lived under a wicked State or in a wicked culture or that you ‘had to’ do this or that. The Christians of the Early Church went to the lions rather than deny the Real Presence. That is the minimum to remain faithful. ‘But it was not the season for figs.’ ‘Depart from Me, for I never knew you.’
We can ask the Lord why us and why now — certainly righteous Job did so —, but after we pray or lament, we stand up and carry on. Here, perhaps, we should thank the Lord God that we are sons and daughters of Japheth, for it has always been in the nature of our race to rise from the ashes, to endure, to carry on, to rebuild. Our people have endured great hardships and suffered great calamities in centuries past, but we have, by the grace of God, always risen to the challenge and the occasion; we are here today because our ancestors did not fail and, one day, our far-distant sons and daughters will say the same of us. It is a tragedy and a crime that our forefathers in the preceding handful of generations squandered, failed to maintain, and destroyed so much that was entrusted to their care, but we cannot change the past — only the future is mutable. We must do what they failed to do; we must be like the tiny handful of faithful kings who ruled Old Testament Israel — we must repent in sackcloth and ashes. And yet repentance alone is not enough, for talk is cheap; yes, God demands our repentance, including of the sins of our fathers — ‘both we and our fathers have sinned’ —, but true repentance is not just words but also actions. We must not only denounce and turn from the evils both of the past and of our present, but we must also seek to destroy them. What does it even mean to renounce the worship of Baal if his high places and his priests remain? What does it mean to renounce the worship of Astarte if her perversions (such as prostitution and pornography) and her shrines (such as strip clubs) remain? What does it mean to renounce the worship of Moloch if abortion ‘clinics’ remain and abortionists go unpunished? What does it mean to denounce the worship of Saturn (Satan) if his synagogues, his mosques, and his false priests remain? “Who is with the Lord? Let him come to me!”
We must put to death the weak and decadent and easy faith that has masqueraded as ‘Christianity’ for the better part of a century. The Christian religion is not weak; the Christian religion is not easy; the Christian religion is not passive or pacifist, cowardly or craven, supine or submissive, inactive or indolent or inconsequential; the Christian religion is not ‘tolerant’. Do you think God will praise you for your ‘tolerance’ or reward you for your ‘restraint’ if you restrain your hand from opposing His enemies or tolerate those who blaspheme His Name?
»Maledictus qui facit opus Domini fraudulenter et maledictus qui prohibet gladium suum a sanguine.«
— Jeremiah 48:10 (VUL)»Accursed is the one who does the work of the Lord carelessly, keeping back his dagger from bloodshed.«
Jeremiah 31:10
In the waters of Holy Baptism you died to sin, death, and the devil, and you were raised to new life in Jesus Christ to fight sin, death, and the devil. You are part of the Church Triumphant with regard to eternity, coram Deo (with respect to God), and every time you participate in the Divine Service, but you are also part of the Church Militant with regard to the temporal, coram mundo (with respect to the world), and every single day you yet draw breath on this Earth in this Creation. You are a soldier in a war that has been raging since the Garden, and will continue raging until the Christ returns to claim every crown of every earthly kingdom and cast each and every one of His enemies into eternal conscious torment. Does that sound like a weak or a passive or an effeminate religion to you? The ‘Christianity’ of the world and of too many churches is a damnable and damning counterfeit. After centuries of learning from his mistakes and his defeats, Satan realized that it is far, far better to subvert the churches than to try to sell a competing religion; certainly, he still does both, but the latter pays greater dividends and he enjoys it far more. To keep the goats wandering aimlessly is one thing, but to lead the sheep astray is quite another. I do not envy the false pastors, teachers, and leaders their appointment in God’s tribunal on Judgement Day. It will mean nothing for them to plead Christ when they never knew Him and He never knew them. “Depart from Me.” is the last thing they will hear, and it will echo for eternity. Do not pity them — it is not our place to pity the enemies of God, but only to affirm that His judgements are righteous and just.
That which comforts is Gospel and that which accuses and condemns is Law: For the impenitent and the unbelieving goats, there is only Law; for the penitent and believing sheep, there is only Gospel. For the unbelieving and false ‘Christian’, eternity is a monstrous threat and a terrible promise; for the true Christian, eternity is our greatest hope and God’s promise secured and sealed to us in our Baptism and confirmed each and every time we partake of the Christ’s body and blood in His Supper. To the beloved son or daughter, every word from our Father is reassurance, comfort, and love, for even though He disciplines those whom He loves, we know that everything He does is for our good; to the damned, every word from God is a fearful promise of unending wrath, for nothing good awaits the impenitent.
In this life, you will have — you must have, under present circumstances — persecution and suffering, for those are marks of the true Christian the same as good works, but such things are nothing compared to the infinite good that God has prepared for us. And yet we must not permit eternity to become an excuse for inaction or indifference — both marks of a false ‘Christian’ with a dead faith; rather, we must meet the challenges of each day, firmly relying on God and faithfully pursuing our vocation and executing our duties. It matters not if you are a king, a prince, a shoemaker, a magistrate, a homemaker, or any of a thousand other things God has ordained for man to do under the Sun. You are to do your duty diligently and faithfully, never forgetting that your good works for family, neighbor, and nation are how you serve God — they are the very good works that God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. Do not be the slothful servant who hides his talent in the ground or the faithless soldier who keeps back his sword from blood.
The world wants you to be a weak, worthless, unprofitable ‘Christian’; what God demands is something far different. So you must rise to the occasion, the same as our ancestors have always done. Whatever persecution may come, we will, by the grace of God, endure and overcome it. And when we have overcome the persecution, we will, again by the grace of God, turn and destroy it, so that future generations may know the peace and tranquility that did not fall to us. This we owe to God and this we will do for our sons and our sons’ sons.
God with us.
Amen.
Readings* Psalm 45 * Proverbs 22:22—23:12 * John 18:15–40 * Augsburg Confession VII–VIII
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 102 * Proverbs 22:1–21 * John 18:1–14 * Augsburg Confession V–VI
Readings* Psalm 147 * Proverbs 16:1–24 * John 16:1–16 * Augsburg Confession, Preface:12–24
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 10 * Proverbs 15:1–29 * John 15:12–27 * Augsburg Confession, Preface:1–11
Readings* Psalm 66 * Proverbs 14:1–27 * John 15:1–11 * Small Catechism, Table of Duties II of II CommemorationToday we commemorate Elisha. Son of Shaphat from the tribe of Issachar, Elisha was the prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for decades. A vocal opponent of Baal worship, Elisha, unlike his predecessor and mentor, Elijah, played an active role in political affairs. In the course of his ministry, Elisha performed many miracles, confirming his status as a prophet sent by God.
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 85 * Proverbs 13:1–25 * John 14:18–31 * Small Catechism, Table of Duties I of II
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 101 * Proverbs 10:1–23 * John 14:1–17 * Small Catechism, Morning and Evening Prayer and Asking a Blessing and Returning Thanks CommemorationToday we commemorate the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Convoked in AD 325 by Roman Emperor Constantine, the Council of Nicaea ruled against the Arians, who taught that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God, but was a created being. The chief opponents of the Arians were Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and Athanasius, deacon to Alexander. It was at this council that an early version of the Nicene Creed was adopted — the full version being adopted in its entirety at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 109 * Proverbs 9:1–18 * John 13:21–38 * Small Catechism VI FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Barnabas, Apostle. A Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas sold some land that he owned and donated the proceeds to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Sent to oversee the Church in Antioch, Barnabas retrieved Paul from Tarsus and accompanied him back to Antioch, and from there to Paul’s first missionary journey. Tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus, by being stoned.
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 118 * Proverbs 4:1–27 * John 12:1–19 * Small Catechism II
Readings* Psalm 119:169–176 * Psalm 89 * Proverbs 3:5–24 * John 11:38–57 * Small Catechism I
Readings Psalm 72 * Psalm 63 * Proverbs 1:8–33 * John 11:17–37 * Small Catechism, Preface:19–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans*. Born in England, educated as a monk, and ordained a presbyter, Boniface decided to become a missionary. Granted a papal commission in AD 719, Boniface set to work planting, organizing, and reforming churches in Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria. In AD 743, now as an archbishop, Boniface was assigned to the See of Mainz. A little over a decade later, in AD 754, Boniface was martyred by a group of pagans while working in (what would become) the Netherlands. Boniface is remembered for his faith and his tireless work in spreading the Word to Germanic Europe.
Readings* Psalm 61 * Psalm 27 * Ecclesiastes 12:1–14 * John 11:1–16 * Small Catechism, Preface: 9–18
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 82 * Ecclesiastes 11:1–10 * John 10:22–42 * Small Catechism, Preface: 1–8
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 23 * Ecclesiastes 10:1–20 * John 10:1–21 * Augsburg Confession, Preface
Readings Psalm 97 * Psalm 115 * Ecclesiastes 9:1–17 * John 9:24–41 * Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope 68–82 CommemorationToday we commemorate Justin, Martyr*. Raised in a pagan family, Justin was a convert to Christianity who would become a Christian teacher in Ephesus and Rome. Arrested due to his refusal to make pagan sacrifices, Justin was tried and executed along with six other Christians. The record of the trial proceedings before Rusticius, a Roman prelate, documents Justin’s confession of faith, and served as a source of great encouragement for other believers.
Readings* Psalm 97 * Psalm 85 * Numbers 32:1–27 * Luke 24:1–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:39–40
Readings* Psalm 132 * Psalm 38 * Numbers 27:12–23 * Luke 23:26–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:28–38
Readings* Psalm 1 * Psalm 37 * Numbers 24:1–25 * Luke 23:1–25 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:1–27
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 102 * Numbers 23:4–28 * Luke 22:47–71 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:94–96
Readings* Psalm 94 * Psalm 149 * Numbers 22:21—23:3 * Luke 22:24–46 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:87–93
Readings Psalm 128 * Psalm 72 * Numbers 22:1–20 * Luke 22:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:76–86 CommemorationToday we commemorate Bede the Venerable, Theologian*. Bede was the last of the Early Church Fathers. Placed in a monastery at the age of seven, Bede rarely left his monastery home and devoted his life to teaching and writing. A prolific writer, Bede produced both histories and theological works — his commentaries are still used today. Bede’s most well-known disciple, Cuthbert, reported that Bede was working on translating the Gospel of John at the time of his death. Bede is buried in Durham Cathedral.
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 58 * Numbers 21:10–35 * Luke 21:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:65–75
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 109 * Numbers 20:22—21:9 * Luke 20:45—21:19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:53–64
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 110 * Numbers 20:1–21 * Luke 20:19–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:45–52
Readings Psalm 80 * Psalm 91 * Numbers 16:41—17:13 * Luke 20:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:38–44 CommemorationToday we commemorate Emperor Constantine, Christian Ruler, and Helena, Mother of Constantine*. Emperor Constantine converted from paganism to Christianity and became both a defender and a supporter of the Church. Pursuant to the Edict of Milan, issued in AD 313, persecution of Christians became illegal in the Roman Empire. And it was Constantine who called the Council of Nicaea in AD 325; it was this council that defined and defended orthodox Christianity. Helena, Constantine’s mother, took a particular interest in archaeology and in locating historical sites related to Christianity; she would become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, and she identified a number of Biblical sites — some of which are still, to this day, maintained as places of worship.
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 16:23–40 * Luke 19:29–48 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:33–37
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 45 * Numbers 16:1–22 * Luke 19:11–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:27–32
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 142 * Numbers 14:26–45 * Luke 18:35—19:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:14–26
Readings* Psalm 81 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 14:1–25 * Luke 18:18–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:8–13
Readings* Psalm 119, vv 97–104 * Psalm 122 * Numbers 13:1–3, 17–33 * Luke 18:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:1–7
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 8 * Numbers 11:24–29; 12:1–16 * Luke 17:20–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:26–31
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 47 * Numbers 11:1–23, 31–35 * Luke 17:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:19–25
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 19 * Numbers 10:11–36 * Luke 16:19–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:13–18
Readings Psalm 103 * Psalm 70 * Numbers 8:5–26 * Luke 15:11–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IX, X:1–4 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs*. Cyril and Methodius were brothers from a Greek family from Thessalonica. Ordained as priests, the brothers were sent, in AD 862, to what is today the Czech Republic, where they taught the Christian faith in the region’s native tongue. As part of this mission, Cyril created the alphabet that is today known as Cyrillic, in order to write down Scripture and liturgy. The use of the vernacular by Cyril and Methodius set an important precedent for future missionary work.
Readings* Psalm 85 * Psalm 18 * Numbers 9:1–23 * Luke 16:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:5–12
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 60 * Numbers 3:1–48 * Luke 14:25—15:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:88–96
Readings Acts 17:16–31 * Psalm 66:8–20 * 1 Peter 3:13–22 * John 14:15–21 Homily TranscriptThere is only one extant example of a theatre trilogy from the Ancient Greeks: the Oresteia of Aeschylus. Now, the plays of Aeschylus are certainly a worth topic (although, tragically, only seven of his nearly one hundred plays survived into the modern era), but it is a topic for another time. Here, I wish to pull just one line, spoken by Apollo himself, in The Eumenides (or, The Furies), the third play in the Oresteia* cycle:
But when the thirsty dust sucks up a man’s blood / once shed in death, he shall arise no more. / No chant nor charm for this my Sire hath wrought.
The Oresteia cycle is still performed today, but, more relevant to our purposes here, the cycle was also performed in Paul’s day — and yet more relevant, it was performed in Athens, and yet more relevant still, it was performed right on the other side of the Acropolis from the Areopagus (in the Theatre of Dionysus, which was also where it premiered).
Let me be clear: Paul stood and declared αναστησις αυτου εκ νεκρων — the resurrection of the dead — in the same place — the exact same place, in terms of the location within the play — where Greek actors would stand and declare, in the person of the god Apollo, ουτισ εστ᾽ αναστασις — there is no resurrection. Paul even used the same word; his educated Greek audience would not have missed this. Further, Scripture names two groups: the Epicureans and the Stoics; both of these schools denied the immortality of the soul (the psyche). We could even say that God used the foolish things of the world (i.e., a claim one could return from the real of the dead) to shame the wise. There is even an additional layer in that the common Greek people (some of whom were undoubtedly listening) did not agree with the Epicureans or the Stoics, and held, instead, the classical belief in the realm of the dead as a sort of shadowy limbo; similarly, the elites in Greek society were more likely to be Platonists, who also did not agree with the Epicureans ot the Stoics, because the Platonists did affirm a form of immorality of the soul.
It must be noted that when Apollo speaks of his sire, he is, of course, speaking of Zeus, the chief god and his father. Paul is saying to these educated Greeks that what the chief god of the Greek pantheon did not (or could not) do, God the Father did. Further, Paul is very heavily implying that others, too, may be raised from the dead (that is part of why some mocked him, as the next verse after our reading clearly states). Some of you may be familiar with Greek myth and will undoubtedly be wondering about Alcestis, Heracles, Odysseus, Orpheus (and, I suppose, Asclepius, but we will leave his case for another time); two points: 1) educated Greeks believe these myths to be illustrative or symbolic instead of literal and 2) anyone who returned from Hades in Greek mythology did so only temporarily — they would die again. Contrast the words of Christ: “[E]veryone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” We will get to Baptism shortly, on the topic of death.
Even if Paul did not know all of this (and much more), God is very clear: “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.“, and let us not forget that Paul was well educated, or, in the words of Festus: “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”, and Paul had just twice quoted Greek poetry. God knew precisely what He was doing, and the mass conversion of Greece (and then the rest of Europe) to Christianity surely proves it. God fulfilled His promise declared through Grandfather Noah: Japheth (i.e., the European race) shall dwell in the dwelling of Shem (i.e., become and build Christendom). God can work wonders with ordinary tools and ordinary men; perhaps the men who created the lectionary knew how excellent of a job they did in selecting today’s Psalm to go with today’s first reading, perhaps they did not; at any rate, the Psalm says the Lord is the One Who places my soul (psyche) into life (ζωη) — He is the One Who resurrects me. Further, when the Psalm says that God ‘led us into refreshment [or revival]’, the word there is quite literally αναφυχη — He re-souled us. Is there a better word for the resurrcetion on the final day when we will be raised bodily to new life in a new Creation?
It is appropriate that Paul speaks of a sort of inversion before the Athenians — what Apollo says Zeus cannot do, the Father demonstrates by raising Christ — for the Christian religion truly is one of a central inversion from all other religions: Whereas every other religion says that man must work his way to god or the gods, by living a good life, making sacrifices, et cetera, Christianity bluntly states that this is impossible; the chasm between man and God is infinite and no finite can ever cross an infinite; rather, the Infinite must Himself do the work — He must cross the chasm (i.e., become incarnate) and then bridge the chasm (i.e., live a perfect life and die on the cross and return from the dead) for us. The world (and every worldly religion) tells you that you must work your way to god; God the Son tells you instead: “It is finished.”
And so let us turn to Baptism. In the waters of Baptism, you are called from and through death into new life; in the words of the Psalm, you are refreshed or revived, and, as already noted, the word there could be quite literally translated ‘re-souled’, and ’revive’ means ‘to live again’. The central good news of the Christian religion is that death is not the end, and not in the sense of the reincarnation of the East, the conflagration of the Stoics, eternal return, or any other such thing; rather, the Christian truth is that all things will be made new — only once to die and thereafter to enter, for the Christian, into the restored Paradise, Creation as God always intended it to be. And it is Baptism that is our portal, our entry into this new life.
Never look at Baptism, like the Enthusiasts do, as mere water, for Baptism is water and Word, and there God’s Word is, there there can never be no effect, for His Word does not return to Him empty, and only blasphemous fools deny that God’s Word has the power to accomplish all that He wills. And yet Baptism is not Word alone, but water and Word, for God knows our frame, He knows that we are dust. We are not soul alone, for we are also flesh; in the water of Baptism, God gives us something that is real and knowable by and to the flesh, while the words enter our mind and soul; it is the fullness of the Gestalt of man that God meets in the water and Word of Baptism. Baptism is the first resurrection. Prior to your Baptism, you were dead in your sins and your trespasses and, in your Baptism, God raised you to new life. When Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again, He speaks of Baptism and of faith. Those who are part of the first resurrection have already passed from death to life, and so we will never taste the second death — Hell. Just as there are two deaths (physical and eternal), so there are two resurrections (Baptism and the Resurrection of the Just); if you would not taste the second death, then you must receive the first resurrection in the waters of Holy Baptism.
And yet there are always those who search for edge cases. If Christ offers you a life preserver, are you truly going to refuse it and drown in the hope that He will reach down and pull you up, fool that you are? Now, certainly, Christ will lose none from His hand and all of the Elect will be saved, but the Elect do not despise the Sacraments. So, first, we must condemn — in no uncertain terms — the pernicious and sinful desire to find exceptions. Satan seeks ‘exceptions’; Christians obey. Second, we must look at what Baptism does. IN the words of Peter: Baptism saves you. Now, in truth, we have the fullness of our answer in those few words, but let us expand and examine them for the sake of certainty and clarity. Helpfully, the word that immediately precedes “Baptism” in this passage in our Bibles is, indeed, “water”. As we all know, Baptism is water and Word, but Peter forecloses certain ‘objections’ of the Enthusiasts when he compares Baptism to the Flood. Only a particular sort of wicked fool would deny that water is clearly in view here. Of course, many of our translations fall short here (for various reasons) and thereby fuel heretics of various stripes. Baptism does not ‘correspond’ to the Flood (at least not in the mind and ear of men not deeply steeped in philosophy, particularly the philosophy of truth); our translators failed here. What Peter actually says is that Baptism is the αντιτυπος of the Flood, which is the τυπος — we are dealing in typology. As a refresher: The antitype is always greater than its types — it must be so. The Flood, as type, saved Noah from the wicked world and temporal death. Peter says that Baptism, the antitype of the Flood, saves. Well, what is the only thing greater than temporal death? Eternal death. Baptism saves you from Hell. And yet we know that salvation is sola gratia sola fide — by grace alone through faith alone. How do we square this? Rather easily: Unlike the Enthusiasts, we do not deny the plain teaching of Scripture that God works through means. We are certainly saved by faith alone, but that faith is a gift from God, and He has ordained Means by which we receive that gift.; one of the Means of Grace is the Word, read or heard, and Baptism is another. Via the waters of Holy Baptism, God bestows the free gift of faith that saves from eternal death. So let us never lightly esteem, as so many fools and blasphemers do, the great gift of Holy Baptism, for it is by the waters of Baptism that we avoid the fires of Hell.
Every Baptism is an assault upon the gates and claims of Hell; every Baptism diminishes and enrages Satan; every time the Baptism rite is performed, Satan is reminded yet again of Christ’s words from the cross announcing the defeat of Satan, death, and Hell: It is finished! In this life, as the hymn says: ‘We walk in danger all the way.’ We are still in the fallen flesh, Creation still groans for the restoration of all things, and we are still best by temptations and fall into sin, but we must never permit sin to transform into despair, for, no matter what accusations Satan may hurl, we can always, must always, retort: Baptizatus sum — I am baptized. What work Christ began when first we received the free gift of faith, He will certainly see to fruition; He has never failed and never will. We are the sheep and He is the Good Shepherd.
And it was good news that Paul proclaimed to the Greek sons of Japheth in the Areopagus: You can be born again. You can escape this wicked and fallen world, as Noah did in his time with the Ark, which preserved him from and through the destruction of the antediluvian world, but it is not an escape from the flesh, as some foolish philosophers believed (and some still believe); rather, it is a restoration, a return to what God intended us to be and what we will be in eternity in Paradise with our Creator, Whom we will behold, as did Moses, face to face. The Jews sough signs and the Greeks sough wisdom; here, then is the sign — Baptism, the sign of the true and enduring covenant — and here, then, is wisdom — what man could never do (cross the infinite divide between God and man), God as man has already done. And so we can dismiss the words of Aeschylus’ Apollo and hear instead the words of righteous Job:
For I know that there is an eternal One Who will release me, / and He will raise up my flesh.
And, indeed, the Greek word there is the verbal form of the same word spoken in disbelief by Apollo, in belief by Paul, and in belief and expectation by each and every one of us in the Creed: Resurrection, for we all with heart and mouth confess the resurrection of the body.
Amen.
Readings* Psalm 63 * Psalm 78 * Leviticus 26:21–44 * Luke 14:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:85–87 CommemorationToday we commemorate Job. Job was a blameless and upright man from Uz — a land north of Canaan. God permitted Job to be severely tested, and Job held steadfast to his faith in his Redeemer and in the Resurrection. At the end of the Book of Job, God explains that it is not for man to know the mysteries of God. We commemorate Job for his staunch faith and as a model of Christian suffering.
Readings* Psalm 119:33–40 * Psalm 81 * Leviticus 26:1–20 * Luke 13:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:77–84
Readings Psalm 52 * Psalm 107 * Leviticus 24:1–23 * Luke 12:54—13:17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:71-76 CommemorationToday we commemorate C. F. W. Walther, Theologian*. Father of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther emigrated from Saxony in Germany with other Lutherans in 1839. Settling in Missouri, he served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS in 1847. Walther would serve as president of the Synod from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. Walther worked tirelessly to promote Confessional Lutheranism in the US. A prolific writer and speaker, Walther’s works are still widely used today, particularly including his book on the distinction between Law and Gospel.
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 123 * Leviticus 23:23–44 * Luke 12:35–53 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:66–70
Readings Psalm 127 * Psalm 92 * Leviticus 23:1–22 * Luke 12:13–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:61–65 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich the Wise, Christian Ruler*. Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, Friedrich the Wise was instrumental to the Reformation. Although he never met Luther, Friedrich aided Luther significantly, including refusing to extradite Luther when the pope demanded it in 1518 and arranging for Luther to be ‘kidnapped’ and safely hidden in Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Beloved of his subjects, Friedrich was called “the Wise” for his sense of fairness and his justice. Upon his deathbed, Friedrich received the Lord’s Supper in both kinds — a clear confession of his Lutheran faith.
Readings Psalm 31 * Psalm 25 * Leviticus 21:1–24 * Luke 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:53–60 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary*. Along with C. F. W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler, Friedrich Wyneken was one of the founding fathers of the LCMS. Born in Germany in 1810, Wyneken came to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1838, and then accepted a call to Friedheim and Fort Wayne in Indiana. During his life, Wyneken would serve as missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including among the Amerindian population; would help found — along with Wilhelm Loehe and Sihler — Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne; and would serve as the second president of the LCMS. Wyneken is remembered for his dedication to preaching and spreading the Word of God and for his commitment to right doctrine and the Lutheran faith.
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 150 * Leviticus 20:1–27 * Luke 11:37–54 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:46–52
Readings Psalm 36 * Psalm 39 * Leviticus 19:9–37 * Luke 11:14–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:38–45 CommemorationToday we commemorate Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Born in Alexandria around AD 295, Athanasius would later serve as bishop of that city — a post he held for forty-five years. At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Athanasius defended Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heretics. Exiled five times and nearly murdered twice, Athanasius remained steadfast in his faith and lived his final days restored to his ecclesiastical office. The Athanasian Creed is named in his honor, because it confesses the truth of the divinity of Christ, which Athanasius championed during his life.
Readings* Psalm 119:1–8 * Psalm 116 * Leviticus 18:1—19:8 * Luke 11:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:31–37 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. St. Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, was one of the first disciples called by Christ. In turn, Philip would bring Nathanael to Jesus. According to tradition, Philip labored and died in Phrygia. St. James, son of Alphaeus and Mary (one of the faithful women who stood at the foot of the cross), is little mentioned in the New Testament and there are no sure records concerning his work after the resurrection or his death. We commemorate these two men as followers of and workers for Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 89 * Leviticus 17:1–16 * Luke 10:23–42 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:23–30
Readings* Psalm 19 * Psalm 50 * Leviticus 16:1–24 * Luke 10:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:16–22
Readings* Psalm 25 * Psalm 141 * Leviticus 10:1–20 * Luke 9:37–62 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:7–15
Readings* Psalm 119:129–138 * Psalm 96 * Leviticus 9:1–24 * Luke 9:18–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:1–6
Readings* Psalm 45 * Psalm 132 * Leviticus 8:1–36 * Luke 9:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:124–128
Readings* Psalm 41 * Psalm 76 * Exodus 40:17–38 * Luke 8:40–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:116–123 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist. Author of the second Gospel, Mark was originally from Jerusalem, where his mother’s home served as the center of the Church in that city. Mark would accompany Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch and then from Antioch on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas would then go on a second missionary journey with Mark to Cyprus. Tradition holds that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, where he served as the first bishop and died a martyr’s death.
Readings Psalm 107 * Psalm 115 * Exodus 39:32—40:16 * Luke 8:22–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:107–115 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Walter, Kantor*. Having begun his service — as a composer and bass singer — in the court of Frederick the Wise at the age of twenty-one, Johann Walter would go on to publish a collection of hymns that would become the basis of many subsequent hymnals. Walter would serve for a total of thirty years as kantor in the cities of Torgau and Dresden. Additionally, he aided Martin Luther in the preparation of the German Mass.
Readings* Psalm 119:145–152 * Psalm 20 * Exodus 38:21—39:31 * Luke 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:104–106
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 23 * Exodus 34:29—35:21 * Luke 7:36–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:91–103
Readings Psalm 86 * Psalm 34 * Exodus 34:1–28 * Luke 7:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:85–90 CommemorationToday we commemorate Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian. Born in Italy, St. Anselm is most strongly and closely associated with England, where he served as Archbishop of Canterbury for many years. A brilliant scholar and writer, Anselm is best remembered for his work Why God Became Man*, which professes Christ crucified for sinners.
Readings Psalm 80 * Psalm 27 * Exodus 33:1–23 * Luke 7:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:77–84 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johannes Bugenhagen, Pastor*. Appointed pastor of Wittenberg in 1523, due to the efforts of Martin Luther, Bugenhagen would serve for several decades in that post. During this time, Bugenhagen would help translate the New Testament (into Low German), write a commentary on the Psalms, and help to organize the Lutheran Church in Germany and Denmark. After Luther’s death, Bugenhagen would help care for Luther’s widow and children.
Readings* Psalm 119:49–56 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 32:15–35 * Luke 6:39–49 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:73–76
Readings* Psalm 106 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 32:1–14 * Luke 6:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:69–72
Readings* Psalm 92 * Exodus 31:1–18 * Luke 6:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:62–68
Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 9 * Exodus 25:1–22 * Luke 5:17–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:59–61
Readings* Psalm 99 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 24:1–18 * Luke 5:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:52–58
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 41 * Exodus 23:14–33 * Luke 4:31–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:48–51
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 103 * Exodus 22:20—23:13 * Luke 4:16–30 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:42–47
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 91 * Exodus 20:1–24 * Luke 4:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:35–41
Readings* Psalm 30 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 19:1–25 * Hebrews 13:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:28–34
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 94 * Exodus 18:5–27 * Hebrews 12:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:17–27
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 136 * Exodus 17:1–16 * Hebrews 11:1–29 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:9–16
Readings* Psalm 134 * Psalm 135 * Exodus 16:13–35 * Hebrews 10:19–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:1–8
Readings* Psalm 81 * Psalm 40 * Exodus 15:19—16:12 * Hebrews 10:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:21–26
Readings Psalm 13 * Psalm 59 * Exodus 15:1–18 * Hebrews 9:1–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:15–20 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lucas Cranach and Albrecht Dürer, Artists*. A close friend of Martin Luther, Lucas Cranach is best known for his altarpieces and woodcuts. Albrecht Dürer, an admirer of Martin Luther, is best known for his paintings and woodcuts. We remember these men for their contributions both to art and to the faith, as many of their works depicted religious stories and themes. The Church has a long history of employing skilled artisans and of using artwork to bring Biblical truth to the masses.
Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 107 * Exodus 14:10–31 * Hebrews 7:23—8:13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:7–14
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 76 * Psalm 102 * Exodus 13:17—14:9 * Hebrews 7:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:1–6
Readings* Acts 10:34–43 * Jeremiah 31:1–6 * Psalm 16 * Colossians 3:1–4 * Matthew 28:1–10
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 136 * Psalm 51 * Exodus 12:29—13:16 * Hebrews 6:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration V:23–27
Readings* Exodus 14:10—15:1 * Psalm 118:15–29 * Exodus 15:1–18 (the Song of Moses) * 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 * John 20:1–18
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 110 * Psalm 38 * Exodus 12:1–28 * Hebrews 5:1–14 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration V:16–22
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 32 * Exodus 10:21—11:10 * Hebrews 4:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration V:11–15
Readings* Isaiah 52:13—53:12 * Psalm 22 * Psalm 31 * Hebrews 4:14–16—5:7–9 * John 18:1—19:42
Readings* Psalm 88 * Psalm 77 * Psalm 6 * Exodus 9:29—10:20 * Hebrews 3:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration V:7–10
Readings* Psalm 35 * Psalm 71 * Psalm 143 * Exodus 9:1–28 * Hebrews 2:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration V:1–6
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 45 * Psalm 130 * Exodus 8:1–32 * Hebrews 1:1–14 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:37–40
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 51 * Exodus 7:1–25 * Mark 16:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:33–36
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 22 * Psalm 38 * Exodus 5:1—6:1 * Mark 15:33–47 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:21–32
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 32 * Exodus 4:19–31 * Mark 15:16–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:14–20
Readings* Psalm 18 * Psalm 23 * Psalm 6 * Exodus 4:1–18 * Mark 15:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:6–13 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she had found favor with the Lord and would bear a son. The same Spirit that hovered over the water back in Genesis would “come upon” and “overshadow” Mary, and conceive in her virgin womb Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Ancient Church believed the crucifixion took place on the 25th, and so we celebrate the Annunciation on the same day, as the day of one’s conception and the day of one’s death were linked in antiquity.
Readings Psalm 39 * Psalm 5 * Psalm 143 * Exodus 2:23—3:22 * Mark 14:53–72 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:1–5 CommemorationToday we commemorate St. Simon of Trent, Martyr*. Murdered by Jews in Trent (now Trento in northern Italy), St. Simon was not quite three years old when he died. Jews in the city of Trent kidnapped and murdered St. Simon via exsanguination as part of their religious rituals connected to the Jewish Passover. His body was discovered by a Christian servant who reported the matter to the local authorities. Subsequent to a papal investigation, fifteen Jews were sentenced to death and burned at the stake for the murder. St. Simon serves as a reminder that God’s children will always be hated and attacked by those who have rejected God and serve another master.
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 116 * Psalm 130 * Exodus 2:1–22 * Mark 14:32–52 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:59–67
Readings* Psalm 129 * Psalm 81 * Psalm 102 * Exodus 1:1–22 * Mark 14:12–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:54–58
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 49:29—50:26 * Mark 14:1–11 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:44–53
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 17 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 47:1–31 * Mark 13:24–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:36–43
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 18 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 45:1–28 * Mark 13:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:30–35
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 16 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 44:1–34 * Mark 12:28–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:24–29
Readings Psalm 37 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 43:1–28 * Mark 12:13–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:18–23 CommemorationToday we commemorate St. Patrick, Missionary to Ireland*. Born around AD 389 in Britain, St. Patrick is one of the best known saints. Captured by raiders as a teenager, he was transported to Ireland and forced to work as a shepherd. After escaping from captivity and living in France (as a monk), he returned to Ireland to spread the Gospel. Tradition holds that St. Patrick died on 17 March around the year AD 466.
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 7 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 42:1–38 * Mark 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:8–17
Readings* Psalm 60 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 41:28–57 * Mark 11:20–33 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:1–7
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 41:1–27 * Mark 11:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:84–90
Readings* Psalm 49 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 40:1–23 * Mark 10:32–52 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:74–83
Readings* Psalm 106 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 39:1–23 * Mark 10:13–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:67–73
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 37:1–36 * Mark 10:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:61–66
Readings* Psalm 105 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 35:1–29 * Mark 9:33–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:55–60
Readings* Psalm 38 * Psalm 54 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 29:1–30 * Mark 9:14–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:48–54
Readings* Psalm 129 * Psalm 79 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 27:30—28:22 * Mark 9:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:39–47
Readings Psalm 2 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 27:1–29 * Mark 8:22–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:27–38 CommemorationToday we commemorate Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs*. In the third century AD, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus forbade converting to Christianity. Among the many who disobeyed his edict were Perpetua and Felicitas, a noblewoman and her maidservant. During their imprisonment, they witnessed to others in prison, even the jailer, who himself became a Christian. Executed on 07 March 203, Perpetua and Felicitas are remembered for the firmness of their faith — even unto death.
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 24:32–67 * Mark 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:24–26
Readings* Psalm 28 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 24:1–31 * Mark 7:24–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:18–23
Readings* Psalm 66 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 22:1–19 * Mark 7:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:14–17
Readings* Psalm 126 * Psalm 127 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 21:1–21 * Mark 6:35–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:9–13
Readings* Psalm 91 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 18:1–15 * Mark 6:14–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:5–8
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 16:1—17:22 * Mark 6:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:1–4
Readings* Psalm 32 * Psalm 3 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 15:1–21 * Mark 5:21–43 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:58–62
Readings* Psalm 73 * Psalm 133 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 13:1–18 * Mark 5:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:50–57
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 47 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 11:27—12:20 * Mark 4:21–41 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:43–49
Readings* Psalm 74 * Psalm 126 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 8:13—9:17 * Mark 4:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:33–42
Readings* Psalm 104 * Psalm 124 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 7:11—8:12 * Mark 3:20–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:16–32 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Matthias, Apostle. A lesser-known apostle, Matthias was one of the seventy-two sent out by Jesus and was selected by lot to replace Judas. Early Church tradition is split on Matthias, with some contending that he journeyed to Ethiopia and others contending he journeyed to Armenia. However, it is in Trier, Germany, at the Church of St. Matthias, that the body of the apostle is interred. He is the only apostle buried in Europe north of the Alps.
Readings Psalm 2 * Psalm 77 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 6:1—7:5 * Mark 3:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:5–15 CommemorationToday we commemorate Polycarp of Smyrna, Pastor and Martyr. A disciple of John, Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna for many years before he was arrested, tried, and executed for his faith in approximately AD 155. The Martyrdom of Polycarp*, an eyewitness narrative, continues to encourage believers, particularly in times of persecution, even to this day.
Readings* Psalm 79 * Psalm 42 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 4:1–26 * Mark 2:18–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:1–4
Readings* Psalm 12 * Psalm 14 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 3:1–24 * Mark 2:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 14–20
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 2:4–25 * Mark 1:29–45 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 9–13
Readings* Psalm 8 * Psalm 128 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 1:20—2:3 * Mark 1:14–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 1–8
Readings* Psalm 136 * Psalm 90 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 1:1–19 * Mark 1:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Introduction ObservationToday we observe Ash Wednesday. During the forty days of Lent, the baptized children of God cleanse their hearts through repentance, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and the like. During Lent, we prepare our hearts for the Paschal Feast — Easter. Traditional Christian denominations will hold services that include the imposition of ashes. The ashes remind us of the wages of sin, of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and of our mortality:
“[F]or dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
CommemorationToday we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the “Ninety-Five Theses” on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 77 * Job 13:1–12 * John 6:1–21 * Smalcald Articles III:IX–XIII
Readings* Psalm 91 * Psalm 119:1–8 * Job 12:1–25 * John 5:30–47 * Smalcald Articles III:VIII
Readings* Joel 2:12–19 * Psalm 51:1–19 * 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10 * Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Readings* Psalm 57 * Psalm 1 * Job 11:1–20 * John 5:19–29 * Smalcald Articles III:IV–VII CommemorationToday we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.
Readings Psalm 119:153–160 * Psalm 35 * Job 10:1–22 * John 5:1–18 * Smalcald Articles III:III:29–45 CommemorationToday we commemorate Valentine, Martyr*. Executed under Emperor Claudius on account of his refusal to renounce the Christian faith, Valentine has long been remembered in the Western Church as an example for all Christians. Today, Valentine’s Day continues to celebrate Valentine, and the tradition of exchanging written expressions of love derives from a note with words of encouragement that Valentine wrote for one of the children of his jailer. Even the irregularity of the shape of the piece of paper on which Valentine wrote his note has carried forward, after a fashion, into modern commemorations on Valentine’s Day.
Readings* Psalm 95 * Psalm 70 * Job 9:1–35 * John 4:46–54 * Smalcald Articles III:III:20–28
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 99 * Job 8:1–22 * John 4:27–45 * Smalcald Articles III:III:10–19
Readings* Psalm 38 * Job 6:14–30 * John 3:22—4:6 * Smalcald Articles III:I–II CommemorationToday we commemorate Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul. A leader in the Church at Jerusalem, Silas was chosen by Paul to accompany him on his second missionary journey. Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi, Silas also experienced the rioting in Thessalonica and Berea. Tradition holds that Silas was the first Bishop of Corinth.
Readings* Psalm 23 * Psalm 87 * Job 6:1–13 * John 3:1–21 * Smalcald Articles II:IV:10–16
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 122 * Job 5:1–27 * John 2:13–25 * Smalcald Articles II:IV:1–9
Readings* Psalm 4 * Psalm 18 * Job 4:1–21 * John 2:1–12 * Smalcald Articles II:II:25–29, II:III
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 74 * Job 3:11–26 * John 1:35–51 * Smalcald Articles II:II:11–24
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 88 * Job 2:1—3:10 * John 1:19–34 * Smalcald Articles II:II:1–10 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jacob, Patriarch of OT Israel. Born the younger of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, Jacob was the third of the patriarchs of OT Israel. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob (whose name means ‘deceiver’) was renamed to Israel (which means ‘he strives with God’). Jacob lived a life of strife and trouble, due in no small part to his own deceptions toward his brother and father. The deceptive nature of Jacob would carry on to his sons, who would sell their brother Joseph into slavery and lie to their father. By the grace of God, Joseph became prominent in Egypt and was reunited with Jacob, who then died in Egypt after blessing and prophesying about his sons.
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 135 * Zechariah 14:1–21 * Titus 2:7—3:15 * Smalcald Articles, Preface: 8–15
Readings* Psalm 75 * Psalm 104 * Zechariah 12:1—13:9 * Titus 1:1—2:6 * Smalcald Articles, Preface:1–7 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord. Thirty-two days after Jesus was circumcised, He comes to the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the OT law. In offering the alternative sacrifice (two turtledoves or two pigeons instead of a lamb), Joseph and Mary reveal their humble circumstances. In his Nunc Dimmitis, Simeon announces the inauguration of God’s consolation and redemption in and through Christ, and also prophesies concerning the destiny of Jesus.
Readings* Psalm 28 * Psalm 48 * Zechariah 11:4–17 * 2 Timothy 4:1–18 * Large Catechism V:75–87
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 68 * Zechariah 10:1—11:3 * 2 Timothy 3:1–17 * Large Catechism V:58–74
Readings* Psalm 12 * Psalm 133 * Zechariah 6:1—7:14 * Romans 16:17–27 * Large Catechism V:15–30
Readings Psalm 1 * Psalm 109 * Zechariah 4:1—5:11 * Romans 15:14–33 * Large Catechism V:1–14 CommemorationToday we commemorate John Chrysostom, Preacher*. Born around AD 347, St. John was instructed in the Christian faith by his mother, Anthusa. After holding a number of lesser offices, John became patriarch of Constantinople in AD 398. John was given the added name “Chrysostom”, which means ‘golden-mouthed’ in Greek, for his simple, but direct, messages that were beloved by all who heard them. Eventually exiled from Constantinople, after coming into conflict with the local authorities due to his determination to reform the church, the court, and the city, John continued to preach and write right up until his death in AD 407. His reported last words were “Glory be to God for all things! Amen.”
Readings* Psalm 18 * Psalm 134 * Zechariah 2:1—3:10 * Romans 15:1–13 * Large Catechism IV:68–86 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor. Like Timothy, St. Titus was a friend and coworker of St. Paul. Whereas it is not known if Titus accompanied Paul on his first and second missionary journeys, it is known that Titus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey, along with Barnabas, to Jerusalem to bring aid during a famine. Likely after the trip to Jerusalem, Paul and Titus parted ways, with Titus staying in Crete and eventually working in Dalmatia and then, according to tradition, serving as bishop in Crete until his death in about AD 96.
Readings* Psalm 6 * Psalm 67 * Zechariah 1:1–21 * Romans 14:1–23 * Large Catechism IV:56–67 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul. Originally a zealous persecutor of the Church, St. Paul (then Saul of Tarsus) met Christ on the road to Damascus. Blinded by a bright light, Saul heard the words “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” to which Saul replied “Who are You, Lord?” to which Christ replied “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.” Upon arriving in Damascus, Saul was sought by a disciple named Ananias, who had been sent by the Lord to heal Saul. Upon receiving his sight, Saul was baptized and went on to become the Apostle Paul, a man whom God called ‘a chosen instrument … to carry [Christ’s] name before the nations’.
Readings* Psalm 131 * Psalm 84 * Joel 3:1–21 * Romans 12:14—13:14 * Large Catechism IV:47–55 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor. Best remembered as a companion of St. Paul, St. Timothy grew up in a Christian household. After meeting Paul on his (Paul’s) second missionary journey, Timothy accompanied Paul on further missionary journeys and was with Paul in Rome. According to tradition, Timothy was martyred in Ephesus around AD 97, where he served as bishop after Paul’s martyrdom in Rome.
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 81 * Joel 2:18–32 * Romans 11:25—12:13 * Large Catechism IV:32–46
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 121 * Joel 2:1–17 * Romans 11:1–24 * Large Catechism IV:17–31
Readings* Psalm 117 * Psalm 97 * Ezekiel 47:1–23 * Romans 9:19–33 * Large Catechism III:112–124 CommemorationToday we commemorate Sarah. Wife (and half-sister) of the patriarch Abraham, Sarah followed Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans on his journey to Canaan. Childless until old age, Sarah was eventually blessed with a son — Isaac — who would become the second of the three major patriarchs of OT Israel, and carry on the line of the promised Messiah. Sarah is remembered for her faithfulness and her hospitality. She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, the same cave where Abraham would also later be buried.
Readings* Psalm 15 * Psalm 126 * Ezekiel 44:1–29 * Romans 9:1–18 * Large Catechism III:99–111
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 124 * Ezekiel 40:1–4; 41:1–12 * Romans 8:18–39 * Large Catechism III:85–98 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of The Confession of St. Peter. In response to Christ’s challenge: “But who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This — Peter’s confession — is the rock upon which the Church is built. As Christ makes clear, it is not “flesh and blood [that] [reveals]” this truth, but “[the] Father Who is in Heaven”.
Here in Matthew, and elsewhere in the NT, Christ makes clear that He gives the Keys to the entire Church, not to Peter alone, and with the Keys the power to bind and to loose: “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” As the Smalcald Articles state:
The Keys are an office and power given by Christ to the Church for binding and loosing sin. This applies not only to gross and well-known sins, but also the subtle, hidden sins that are known only to God. As it is written, “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm 19:12).
It is truly this confession of Peter — that Christ is the Son of the living God — upon which the Church is founded, with Christ as cornerstone.
Readings* Psalm 76 * Psalm 137 * Ezekiel 39:1–29 * Romans 7:21—8:17 * Large Catechism III:71–84
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 54 * Ezekiel 38:1–23 * Romans 7:1–20 * Large Catechism III:59–70
Readings* Psalm 104 * Psalm 79 * Ezekiel 36:33—37:14 * Romans 5:1–21 * Large Catechism III:35–48
Readings* Psalm 32 * Psalm 51 * Ezekiel 36:13–28 * Romans 4:1–25 * Large Catechism III:25–34
Readings* Psalm 63 * Psalm 59 * Ezekiel 34:1–24 * Romans 3:19–31 * Large Catechism III:14–24
Readings* Psalm 7 * Psalm 14 * Ezekiel 33:1–20 * Romans 3:1–18 * Large Catechism III:1–13 FestivalToday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. As recounted in the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (and in parallel passages in Mark, Luke, and John), Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although John initially hesitated when asked to baptize Christ, because Christ was without sin and John knew he was in the presence of One greater than he, Christ spoke His first words in Matthew so that John would agree:
“Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
On Christ’s Baptism, Luther said:
“[Christ] accepted it from John for the reason that He was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is, becoming a sinner for us, taking upon Himself the sins which He had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in His Holy Baptism.”
This Baptism in the Jordan River marked the beginning of Christ’s ministry.
Readings Psalm 85 * Psalm 58 * Ezekiel 18:1–32 * Romans 2:17–29 * Large Catechism II:63–70 CommemorationToday we commemorate Basil the Great of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, Pastors and Confessors*. Collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil and the two Gregorys were leaders of the Christian Church in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers, and Gregory of Nazianzus was their friend. All three men were influential in shaping the theology ratified by the Council of Constantinople, which would later be enshrined in the Nicene Creed.
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 32 * Ezekiel 3:12–27 * Romans 2:1–16 * Large Catechism II:55–62
Readings* Psalm 19 * Psalm 100 * Ezekiel 2:1—3:11 * Romans 1:18–32 * Large Catechism II:47–54
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 45 * Ezekiel 1:1–28 * Romans 1:1–17 * Large Catechism II:34–46
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 111 * Psalm 115 * Deuteronomy 11:26—12:12 * Matthew 12:22–37 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XX:86–92
Readings* Psalm 119:97–104 * Psalm 146 * Deuteronomy 11:1–25 * Matthew 12:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XX:78–85
Readings* Psalm 23 * Psalm 114 * Deuteronomy 9:23—10:22 * Matthew 11:20–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XVIII:67–76, XIX:77 CommemorationToday we commemorate Philip the Deacon. One of the seven men appointed to help the Apostles handle the work of the rapidly expanding Early Church by overseeing the distribution of food to the poor, Philip would go on to work as an evangelist in Samaria. Pursuant to the word of God brought to him by an angel, Philip encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, an official in the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, on the road that goes south from Jerusalem to Gaza. In preaching the Good News to this man (and baptizing him), Philip became indirectly responsible for transmitting the Gospel to the continent of Africa.
Readings* Psalm 106 * Deuteronomy 9:1–22 * Matthew 11:1–19 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XVI:61–65, XVII:66
Readings* Psalm 103 * Deuteronomy 8:1–20 * Matthew 10:24–42 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XVI:53–60 CommemorationToday we commemorate Abraham. Selected from among the nations and called by God to become the father of a great nation, Abraham left his home and all that he had ever known, at the age of seventy-five, and moved to the land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and to his descendants (a promise fulfilled under the reign of Israel’s monarchs). At the age of one hundred, Abraham had Isaac with his wife Sarah — a miraculous birth according to the promise from God. Demonstrating his obedience to and trust in God in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (a sacrifice God stopped by speaking from Heaven and providing a ram), Abraham is commended for his trusting faith in God and His promises. Through the Seed of Abraham, that is Jesus Christ, all nations have been blessed.
Readings* Psalm 126 * Psalm 141 * Deuteronomy 7:1–19 * Matthew 10:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV:45–52
Readings Psalm 121 * Psalm 131 * Deuteronomy 6:10–25 * Matthew 9:18–38 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV:31–44 CommemorationToday we commemorate Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg, Pastor*. Born in Einbeck, Germany, in 1711, Mühlenberg moved to the American colonies in 1742. Helping to found many Lutheran congregations through tireless travel, Mühlenberg would become the guiding force behind the formation of the first Lutheran Synod in North America — the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. Remembered as a church leader, liturgist, and pastor, when Mühlenberg died in 1787, he left behind not only a large extended family, but also a lasting heritage: American Lutheranism.
Readings* Psalm 91 * Psalm 97 * Deuteronomy 5:22—6:9 * Matthew 9:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV:22–30
Readings* Psalm 86 * Deuteronomy 5:1–21 * Matthew 8:18–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV:13–21
Readings* Psalm 80 * Deuteronomy 4:21–40 * Matthew 8:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV:1–12
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 125 * Deuteronomy 4:1–20 * Matthew 7:13–29 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIV:24–28
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 2 * Deuteronomy 3:1–29 * Matthew 7:1–12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIII:14–23
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 51 * Deuteronomy 2:16–37 * Matthew 6:16–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIII:1–13
Readings* Psalm 119:161–168 * Psalm 63 * Deuteronomy 1:37—2:15 * Matthew 6:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB:77–81
Readings Psalm 19 * Psalm 34 * Deuteronomy 1:19–36 * Matthew 5:21–48 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:67–76 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels*. One of the archangels, tradition names Michael as patron and protector of the Church and of Christians. Mentioned in the Biblical books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, Michael leads the hosts of Heaven into battle against Satan and his demons — a victory assured by the blood of Christ, and announced in Revelation 12:10 by a voice from Heaven:
“Now the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down[.]”
Readings* Psalm 145 * Deuteronomy 1:1–18 * Matthew 5:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:58–66
Readings* Psalm 91 * Malachi 3:6—4:6 * Matthew 4:12–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:51–57
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 32 * Malachi 2:1—3:5 * Matthew 4:1–11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:43–50
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 12 * Malachi 1:1–14 * Matthew 3:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:34–42
Readings* Psalm 123 * Psalm 99 * Nehemiah 9:22–38 * 1 Timothy 6:3–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:25–33
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 12 * Nehemiah 9:1–21 * 1 Timothy 5:17—6:2 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIB:16–24
Readings* Psalm 133 * Psalm 119:97–104 * Nehemiah 7:1–4; 8:1–18 * 1 Timothy 5:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB:1–14 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jonah. Called by God to preach in Nineveh, capital of Assyria, Jonah initially refused his call and attempted to flee. Whereas all are familiar with the story of Jonah and the whale, the Book of Jonah focuses more on God’s mercy, patience, and compassion. Christ Himself uses the story of Jonah and the whale in describing His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Readings* Psalm 55 * Psalm 119:89–96 * Nehemiah 5:1–16; 6:1–16 * 1 Timothy 4:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:83–97 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. An author of one of the four Gospels, Matthew was called to follow Jesus, and, in doing so, left behind a lucrative occupation as tax collector. Church tradition is uncertain as to the specifics of Matthew’s death.
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 54 * Nehemiah 4:7–23 * 1 Timothy 3:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:68–82
Readings* Psalm 136 * Nehemiah 2:11–20; 4:1–6 * 1 Timothy 2:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:59–67
Readings* Psalm 118 * Nehemiah 1:1—2:10 * 1 Timothy 1:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:46–58
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 143 * 2 Chronicles 36:1–23 * Colossians 4:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:28–45
Readings* Psalm 1 * Psalm 4 * 2 Chronicles 34:1–33 * Colossians 2:8–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:1–10
Readings Psalm 108 * 2 Chronicles 35:1–25 * Colossians 3:1–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XIIA:11–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr*. Living in the third century AD, Cyprian served as bishop of Carthage. Originally fleeing Carthage under the persecution of Roman Emperor Decius, Cyprian returned and set rules for those who had fallen away from the faith under persecution to return to the Church. Under later persecution by Roman Emperor Valerian, Cyprian initially hid himself, but later gave himself up to the authorities. He was beheaded in AD 258.
Readings* Psalm 38 * 2 Chronicles 33:1–25 * Colossians 1:24—2:7 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession XI:60–67
Readings* Psalm 27 * Psalm 31 * 2 Chronicles 32:1–22 * Colossians 1:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IX–XI:54–57
Readings* Psalm 94 * 2 Chronicles 31:1–21 * Philippians 4:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession VII:36–50
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 100 * 2 Chronicles 29:1–24 * Philippians 3:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession VII:25–35
Readings* Psalm 58 * Psalm 53 * 2 Kings 9:1—10:29 * Philippians 2:12–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession VII:16–24
Readings* Psalm 61 * Psalm 59 * 2 Kings 6:1–23 * Philippians 1:21—2:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession VII:1–15
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 69 * 2 Kings 5:9–27 * Philippians 1:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:269–279
Readings* Psalm 131 * Psalm 77 * 2 Kings 4:38—5:8 * Ephesians 6:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:262–268
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 128 * 2 Kings 4:8–37 * Ephesians 5:15–33 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:257–261
Readings* Psalm 56 * 2 Kings 2:19–25; 4:1–7 * Ephesians 4:25—5:14 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:249–256 CommemorationToday we commemorate Zacharias and Elizabeth. Remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety, Zacharias and Elizabeth became the parents of John the Baptist despite their old age. Initially disbelieving the promise, Zacharias was struck mute by the angel who announced that Zacharias and Elizabeth would have a son; upon confirming his wife’s chosen name for their son, John, Zacharias was restored to his ability to speak. Upon regaining his speech, Zacharias sang the Benedictus, a summary of the promises in the Old Testament and a prophecy of John the Baptist’s ministry as a forerunner of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 90 * Psalm 107 * 2 Kings 2:2–18 * Ephesians 4:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:241–248 CommemorationToday we commemorate Moses. Greatest amongst the Old Testament prophets, Moses spoke with God face to face. Moses’ life was divided into three parts of forty years each: First, he lived in Egypt in the royal court, having been rescued by the daughter of pharaoh (and the intervention of God); second, he lived as a shepherd in the land of Midian after fleeing Egypt; and, third, he led Israel during the wandering in the desert. Prohibited from entering the Promised Land due to disobedience at Meribah, Moses was nevertheless allowed to view the land from Mount Nebo, where he then died and was buried (in an unknown location) by God.
Readings Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 108 * 1 Kings 19:1–21 * Ephesians 3:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:235–240 CommemorationToday we commemorate Gregory the Great, Pastor*. Gregory served both as mayor and, later, as bishop of Rome. Before entering full-time service in the Church, Gregory helped to strengthen a Rome weakened by enemy invasions and plague, and sold his considerable possessions and donated the proceeds to help the poor. As bishop of Rome, Gregory contributed to the Church by establishing a Church Year calendar, which some church bodies still use to this day, and overseeing musical and liturgical development, advancing missionary work in Northern Europe, and composing a book on pastoral care that would long serve as a standard in the Church.
Readings* Psalm 135 * 1 Kings 18:20–40 * Ephesians 2:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:223–234 CommemorationToday we commemorate Hannah. The favored wife of her husband, Elkanah, Hannah suffered through years of barrenness, but never gave up hope in the Lord. For her devotion, she was repaid with the birth of a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the service of the Lord. Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary, which would come centuries later.
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 8 * 1 Kings 18:1–19 * Ephesians 1:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:213–222 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joshua, son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Most noted for his succession of Moses as Israel’s commander-in-chief, Joshua led a life of devotion to and faith in God. From defeating the Amalekites and being in charge of the tent of meeting to scouting the land of Canaan and leading Israel across the Jordan, Joshua showed steadfast faith in God and His promises. Joshua is especially noted for his final address, in which he, like Moses before him, presented the Israelites with the path of life and the path of death, the path of obedience to God and the path of rebellion, and in which he spoke his most famous words: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 70 * 1 Kings 16:29—17:24 * 2 Corinthians 9:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:205–212
Readings* Psalm 29 * Psalm 75 * 1 Kings 12:20—13:34 * 2 Corinthians 8:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:195–204
Readings* Psalm 17 * 1 Kings 11:42—12:19 * 2 Corinthians 7:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:192–194 FestivalToday we observe the Festival of The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. In contrast to the Festival of The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, observed on the 24th of June, this Festival commemorates John the Baptist’s beheading under Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist announced the imminent coming of Christ, and fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy regarding the return of ‘Elijah’ before the Day of the Lord. Although John the Baptist’s end may seem, to this world, a foolish and ignominious one, his martyrdom was, in truth, a profound and noble participation in the Cross of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 48 * 1 Kings 11:1–26 * 2 Corinthians 6:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:183–191
Readings* Psalm 72 * 1 Kings 9:1–9; 10:1–13 * 2 Corinthians 5:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:177–182
Readings* Psalm 36 * 1 Kings 8:22–63 * 2 Corinthians 4:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:170–176
Readings* Psalm 32 * 1 Kings 7:51—8:21 * 2 Corinthians 3:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:167–169
Readings* Psalm 27 * 1 Kings 5:1–18 * 2 Corinthians 1:23—2:17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:160–166 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle. Called by Christ in Galilee (in the town of Cana, where Christ performed His first miracle), Bartholomew would become one of the first of Jesus’ twelve disciples. According to Church tradition, Bartholomew brought the Gospel to Armenia, where he was martyred.
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 49 * 1 Kings 3:1–15 * 2 Corinthians 1:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:153–159
Readings* Psalm 97 * 1 Kings 2:1–27 * 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:148–152
Readings* Psalm 139 * 1 Kings 1:1–35 * 1 Corinthians 12:14–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:144–147
Readings* Psalm 51 * 2 Samuel 12:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 12:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:140–143 CommemorationToday we commemorate Samuel. Last among the judges and first among the post-Moses prophets, Samuel lived a life of devotion to God. Samuel, at God’s command, would anoint both Israel’s first king — Saul — and her second — David.
Readings Psalm 12 * Psalm 22 * 2 Samuel 11:1–27 * 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:137–139 CommemorationToday we commemorate Bernard of Clairvaux, Hymnwriter and Theologian*. Born into wealth, Bernard abandoned a life of affluence and entered a monastery at twenty-two. Eventually he was sent to start a new monastery, which monastery would go on to found many daughter houses, but he is best known for his preaching and hymn-writing.
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 106 * 2 Samuel 7:18–29 * 1 Corinthians 10:23—11:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:133–136
Readings Psalm 24 * 2 Samuel 7:1–17 * 1 Corinthians 9:24—10:22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:124–132 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Gerhard, Theologian. Born in Quedlinburg, Germany, in 1582, Gerhard would go on to become one of the most influential theologians of the Christian faith. A prolific author, Gerhard’s Loci Theologici* and many other writings, including sermons, are still widely published and read today.
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 84 * 2 Samuel 6:1–19 * 1 Corinthians 9:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:119–123 CommemorationToday we commemorate Isaac. Born to Abraham and Sarah when they were, respectively, one hundred years old and ninety-one years old, Isaac (whose name means ‘laughter’), would go on to father Jacob (who would become Israel) and Esau. Taken to Mount Moriah by his father to be sacrificed at the command of God, Isaac was spared at the last moment by the provision of a ram caught in a thicket — this episode pointed forward to the substitutionary sacrifice and atonement of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 132 * 2 Samuel 5:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:112–118 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord. Mentioned throughout the Gospels, Mary was present at many of the major events in her Son’s life. Mary is especially remembered for her unconditional obedience to the will of God, her trust in her Jesus (even when she did not understand all of His words), and, above all, for being honored as the mother of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 33 * 2 Samuel 1:1–27 * 1 Corinthians 7:25–40 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:104–111
Readings* Psalm 68 * 1 Samuel 31:1–13 * 1 Corinthians 7:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:97–103
Readings* Psalm 99 * 1 Samuel 28:3–25 * 1 Corinthians 6:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:89–96
Readings* Psalm 51 * 1 Samuel 26:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 5:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:82–88
Readings* Psalm 14 * Psalm 53 * 1 Samuel 25:23–44 * 1 Corinthians 4:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:74–81 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. Most likely born in Spain, Lawrence eventually made his way to Rome and became chief of the seven deacons of the Church. Having control over Church property and finances, Lawrence was called before the Roman emperor, who believed the Church possessed valuable items that could be confiscated, and commanded to produce the “treasures of the Church”. In response, Lawrence brought before the emperor the poor who had benefited from Christian charity. The emperor jailed Lawerence and eventually ordered him executed — by gridiron.
Readings* Psalm 94 * 1 Samuel 25:1–22 * 1 Corinthians 3:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:68–73
Readings* Psalm 62 * 1 Samuel 24:1–22 * 1 Corinthians 1:26—2:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:62–67
Readings* Psalm 144 * 1 Samuel 20:24–42 * 1 Corinthians 1:1–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:58–61
Readings* Psalm 92 * 1 Samuel 20:1–23 * Acts 28:16–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:51–57
Readings* Psalm 21 * 1 Samuel 19:1–24 * Acts 28:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:45–50
Readings* Psalm 56 * 1 Samuel 18:10–30 * Acts 27:27–44 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:38–44
Readings* Psalm 68 * 1 Samuel 17:48—18:9 * Acts 27:9–26 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:26–37 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joanna, Mary, and Salome, the three faithful women who visited Christ’s tomb early on the morning of the first Easter. These women bore myrrh and others items to dress the body of Christ, but instead found the tomb empty, Christ having risen. These women serve as examples of humble service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 98 * 1 Samuel 17:20–47 * Acts 26:24—27:8 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:15–25
Readings* Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–26 * Psalm 100 * Colossians 3:1–11 * Luke 12:13–21
Readings* Psalm 70 * Psalm 75 * 1 Samuel 17:1–19 * Acts 26:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:9–14
Readings* Psalm 80 * 1 Samuel 16:1–23 * Acts 25:13–27 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:1–8 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joseph of Arimathea. A wealthy man from the village of Arimathea, Joseph owned an unused tomb in the vicinity of Golgotha, where Christ was crucified. A devout man, and member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph was eagerly awaiting the Kingdom of God. In contrast to many who fled for fear of the Jews, Joseph went to Pilate and requested the body of Christ, and, together with Nicodemus, placed the body in the tomb.
Readings* Psalm 50 * Psalm 130 * 1 Samuel 15:10–35 * Acts 24:24—25:12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:115–121 CommemorationToday we commemorate Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr. Born in England in the late 1400s, Robert Barnes studied theology and eventually became a prior of the Augustinian monastery at Cambridge. Exiled to Germany, partly for distributing Bibles in English and for having converted to Lutheranism, Dr. Barnes would meet Martin Luther in Wittenberg, and the two would become friends. Upon his return to England, Dr. Barnes would share his Lutheran faith with King Henry VIII, who was initially receptive. However, changing political and ecclesiastical winds in England would eventually spell Dr. Barnes’ downfall. On 30 July 1540, Robert Barnes was burned at the stake on a charge of heresy, becoming one of the first Lutheran martyrs. Luther would later publish Barnes’ confession of faith, noting of Barnes that he was “[a] good, pious dinner guest and houseguest … [a] holy martyr, St. Robert Barnes.”
Readings* Psalm 119:41–48 * Psalm 13 * 1 Samuel 14:47—15:9 * Acts 24:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:107–114 CommemorationToday we commemorate Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany, whose faith is recorded in the Gospels. When Lazarus died, Jesus raised him from the dead and spoke to Martha, Lazarus’s sister: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Later, shortly before Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed His feet with oil and wiped them with her hair — unknowingly readying Christ for burial.
Readings* Psalm 59 * Psalm 57 * 1 Samuel 13:1–18 * Acts 23:12–35 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:98–106 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor. Born in 1685, Bach would become one of history’s most prolific, and gifted, composers. Not only did Bach compose, but he also performed, conducted, and taught music. For the last twenty-seven years of his life, Bach was responsible for the music in the four Lutheran churches in Leipzig, where he died in 1750. A devout and devoted Lutheran, Bach bequeathed to the Church a wealth of music, which he wrote to the glory of God and for the edification of all Christians.
Readings* Psalm 119:17–24 * Psalm 141 * 1 Samuel 12:1–25 * Acts 22:30—23:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:88–97
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 70 * 1 Samuel 10:1–27 * Acts 22:17–29 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:86–87
Readings Psalm 63 * Psalm 149 * 1 Samuel 9:1–27 * Acts 21:37—22:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:75–85 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle*. St. James, and his brother St. John, sons of Zebedee, were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Together with St. Peter and his brother St. Andrew, James and John were called to be disciples of Christ. Along with Peter and John, James formed a sort of ‘inner circle’ amongst the Twelve. In Acts, it is recorded that James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I, thus making James the first among the Twelve to die a martyr.
Readings* Psalm 24 * 1 Samuel 8:1–22 * Acts 21:15–36 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:61–74
Readings* Psalm 119:113–120 * Psalm 141 * 1 Samuel 6:19—7:17 * Acts 19:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:48–60
Readings* Psalm 137 * Psalm 56 * 1 Samuel 5:1—6:16 * Acts 18:1–28 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:36–47 CommemorationToday we commemorate St. Mary Magdalene. Present at the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene had become a follower of Jesus when He cast out seven demons from her. She was also the first to see Jesus alive again after the crucifixion. The Church has long identified her with the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil.
Readings* Psalm 106 * 1 Samuel 4:1–22 * Acts 16:23–40 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:22–35 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ezekiel. Called by God to be a priest to the exiles during the Babylonian captivity, Ezekiel prophesied about the inevitable judgement on Jerusalem, which took place in 586 BC with the destruction of both the city and the Temple. After the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Ezekiel prophesied hope to the exiles, delivering God’s promise of a future restoration in the coming Messianic Kingdom. Much of Ezekiel’s prophetic symbolism would be later used by St. John in Revelation.
Readings* Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 115 * 1 Samuel 3:1–21 * Acts 16:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV:12–21
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 136 * 1 Samuel 2:18–36 * Acts 15:22–41 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession III, IV:1–11
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 131 * 1 Samuel 1:21—2:17 * Galatians 6:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:35–51
Esther 7:7 — Job 4:21
The King Commands Haman Be Executed through Eliphaz Responds to Job
Readings* Psalm 92 * 1 Samuel 1:1–20 * Galatians 5:1–26 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:23–34
Readings* Psalm 21 * Judges 16:4–30 * Galatians 4:12–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:5–22
Nehemiah 9–13
The People of Israel Confess Their Sins through Nehemiah Drives out Foreigners
Readings* Psalm 33 * Psalm 27 * Judges 15:1—16:3 * Galatians 3:23—4:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession I, II:1–4
Readings* Psalm 119:1–8 * Psalm 1 * Judges 14:1–20 * Galatians 3:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Introduction:1–19
Readings* Psalm 71 * Judges 13:1–25 * Galatians 2:1–21 * Augsburg Confession Conclusion
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 108 * Judges 7:1–23 * Galatians 1:1–24 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:61–78
Ezra 7:21 — Nehemiah 2:20
Artaxerxes Sends Ezra to Jerusalem through Nehemiah Starts Rebuilding Jerusalem
Readings* Psalm 125 * Psalm 7 * Judges 6:1–24 * Acts 14:19—15:5 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:30–42
Readings* Psalm 138 * Psalm 86 * Judges 4:1–24 * Acts 14:1–18 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:19–29
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 139 * Judges 3:7–31 * Acts 13:42–52 * Augsburg Confession XXVIII:1–18
2 Chronicles 25:14—29:36
Amaziah’s Apostasy through Hezekiah Cleanses and Sanctifies the Temple
Readings* Psalm 2 * Psalm 78 * Judges 2:6–23 * Acts 13:13–41 * Augsburg Confession XXVII:44–62
Readings* Psalm 100 * Psalm 5 * Joshua 24:1–31 * Acts 13:1–12 * Augsburg Confession XXVII CommemorationToday we commemorate Isaiah. Isaiah, son of Amoz, numbers amongst the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and is quoted more than any other in the New Testament. A contemporary of Amos, Hosea, and Micah, Isaiah prophesied to the people of Judah between about 740 and 700 BC. No Old Testament prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom. In the words of John, Isaiah ‘saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him’.
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 149 * Joshua 23:1–16 * Acts 12:1–25 * Augsburg Confession XXVII
Readings* Psalm 50 * Psalm 113 * Joshua 10:1–25 * Acts 11:19–30 * Augsburg Confession XXVI
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 45 * Joshua 8:1–28 * Acts 11:1–18 * Augsburg Confession XXVI
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 60 * Joshua 7:1–26 * Acts 10:34–48 * Augsburg Confession XXV
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 75 * Joshua 6:6–27 * Acts 10:18–33 * Augsburg Confession XXIV
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 144 * Joshua 5:1—6:5 * Acts 10:1–17 * Augsburg Confession XXIV
Readings* Psalm 103 * Joshua 4:1–24 * Acts 9:23–43 * Augsburg Confession XXIII FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. Early Christian tradition holds that Ss. Peter and Paul were martyred on the same day in Rome under the persecution of Nero. In addition to their joint commemoration on June 29th (a festival the Church has observed since the third century or so), Ss. Peter and Paul are also commemorated separately in the calendar — St. Peter on the 18th of January for his confession of Christ and St. Paul on the 25th of January for his conversion. Both Peter and Paul are held up in Scripture as examples of men who, although flawed, became staunch defenders of and evangelists for the faith.
2 Chronicles 20:18—25:13
Jehoshaphat Defeats Ammon, Moab, and Edom through Amaziah Defeats Edom
Readings Psalm 51 * Joshua 2:1–24 * Acts 8:26–40 * Augsburg Confession XXI CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Cyril became Archbishop of Alexandria in AD 412. A true defender of the faith and orthodoxy, Cyril produced a number of writings dealing with various theological matters. Cyril’s Christology had a significant impact on later theologians. Additionally, Cyril defended the truth that it is proper to call Mary the “Mother of God” or Theotokos, the ‘God-bearer’.
Readings* Psalm 31 * Joshua 1:1–18 * Acts 8:1–25 * Augsburg Confession XX:19–40 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jeremiah. Prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Through a lifetime of prophetic work, Jeremiah communicated God’s anger toward His rebellious people and often suffered at the hands of his countrymen. Although his death is unrecorded, it is believed that Jeremiah died in Egypt, after having been forcibly transported there.
Readings* Psalm 119:41–48 * Psalm 73 * Proverbs 31:10–31 * John 21:1–25 * Augsburg Confession XX:1–18 CommemorationToday we commemorate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. Presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on 25 June 1530, the Augsburg Confession presents the theology of the Lutheran Church and of the Reformation. At the heart of the Confession is justification by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ alone — presented primarily in Article IV, often called the ‘article on which the Church stands or falls’. Through the Augsburg Confession, the Lutheran Reformers began the arduous task of removing the corruption that had crept into the Church over centuries and restoring to its rightful place the true core of Christianity: Justificatio Sola Gratia Sola Fide Solo Christo — justification by grace alone through faith alone by and through Christ alone.
Readings* Psalm 85 * Proverbs 30:1–33 * John 20:19–31 * Augsburg Confession XVII–XIX FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The birth of St. John the Baptist was announced, by an angel, to his father, Zechariah. Initially unbelieving, Zechariah was struck mute until his son was born, but then proclaimed a hymn of praise, the Benedictus — which traditionally serves as the Gospel Canticle in the Church’s Service of Morning Prayer. John’s life is known from all four of the Gospels. Preaching and baptizing in the wilderness near the Jordan River, John prepared the way for the Messiah — Christ. Upon seeing Christ, John announced to the crowds: “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!” Martyred by the Herodians, whose immoral lifestyle he denounced, John is remembered for his preaching which pointed to the coming Messiah, the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world.
1 Chronicles 27:16 — 2 Chronicles 2:18
Solomon Made King through Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 16 * Proverbs 27:1–24 * John 20:1–18 * Augsburg Confession XIV–XVI
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 21 * Proverbs 24:1–22 * John 19:1–22 * Augsburg Confession IX–XI
1 Chronicles 22:1—27:15
David Prepares the Temple Materials through Division for Months
Readings* Psalm 45 * Proverbs 22:22—23:12 * John 18:15–40 * Augsburg Confession VII–VIII
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 102 * Proverbs 22:1–21 * John 18:1–14 * Augsburg Confession V–VI
Readings* Psalm 147 * Proverbs 16:1–24 * John 16:1–16 * Augsburg Confession Preface:1–24
Readings* Psalm 97 * Psalm 85 * Numbers 32:1–27 * Luke 24:1–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:39–40 CommemorationToday we commemorate Elisha. Son of Shaphat from the tribe of Issachar, Elisha was the prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for decades. A vocal opponent of Baal worship, Elisha, unlike his predecessor and mentor, Elijah, played an active role in political affairs. In the course of his ministry, Elisha performed many miracles, confirming his status as a prophet sent by God.
Readings* Psalm 138 * Psalm 38 * Numbers 27:12–23 * Luke 23:26–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:28–38
Readings* Psalm 1 * Psalm 37 * Numbers 24:1–25 * Luke 23:1–25 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:1–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Convoked in AD 325 by Roman Emperor Constantine, the Council of Nicaea ruled against the Arians, who taught that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God, but was a created being. The chief opponents of the Arians were Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and Athanasius, deacon to Alexander. It was at this council that an early version of the Nicene Creed was adopted — the full version being adopted in its entirety at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 102 * Numbers 23:4–28 * Luke 22:47–71 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:94–96 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Barnabas, Apostle. A Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas sold some land that he owned and donated the proceeds to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Sent to oversee the Church in Antioch, Barnabas retrieved Paul from Tarsus and accompanied him back to Antioch, and from there to Paul’s first missionary journey. Tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus, by being stoned.
Readings* Psalm 94 * Psalm 149 * Numbers 22:21—23:3 * Luke 22:24–46 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:87–93
Readings* Psalm 128 * Psalm 72 * Numbers 22:1–20 * Luke 22:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:76–86
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 58 * Numbers 21:10–35 * Luke 21:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:65–75
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 109 * Numbers 20:22—21:9 * Luke 20:45—21:19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:53–64
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 110 * Numbers 20:1–21 * Luke 20:19–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:45–52
Readings Psalm 80 * Psalm 91 * Numbers 16:41—17:13 * Luke 20:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:38–44 CommemorationToday we commemorate Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans*. Born in England, educated as a monk, and ordained a presbyter, Boniface decided to become a missionary. Granted a papal commission in AD 719, Boniface set to work planting, organizing, and reforming churches in Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria. In AD 743, now as an archbishop, Boniface was assigned to the See of Mainz. A little over a decade later, in AD 754, Boniface was martyred by a group of pagans while working in (what would become) the Netherlands. Boniface is remembered for his faith and his tireless work in spreading the Word to Germanic Europe.
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 16:23–40 * Luke 19:29–48 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:33–37
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 45 * Numbers 16:1–22 * Luke 19:11–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:27–32
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 142 * Numbers 14:26–45 * Luke 18:35—19:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:14–26
Readings* Psalm 81 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 14:1–25 * Luke 18:18–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:8–13
Readings* Psalm 119:97–104 * Psalm 122 * Numbers 13:1–3, 17–33 * Luke 18:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:1–7 FeastToday we observe the Visitation. While pregnant with Jesus, the Virgin Mary visited her relative, Elizabeth, who was then pregnant with John the Baptist, another child conceived under miraculous circumstances. In the presence of Christ, John ‘leaps’ in his mother’s womb, foreshadowing his role as forerunner of the Messiah. This presence of the Messiah also caused Elizabeth to proclaim Mary’s blessedness and Mary responded with the Magnificat, a summation of her place in salvation history and God’s gracious gifts.
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 8 * Numbers 11:24—12:16 * Luke 17:20–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:26–31
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 47 * Numbers 11:1–35 * Luke 17:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:19–25
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 19 * Numbers 10:11–36 * Luke 16:19–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:13–18
Readings* Psalm 85 * Psalm 18 * Numbers 9:1–23 * Luke 16:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration X:5–12
Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 70 * Numbers 8:5–26 * Luke 15:11–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IX, X:1–4
Readings Psalm 135 * Psalm 60 * Numbers 3:1–16, 39–48 * Luke 14:25—15:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:88–96 CommemorationToday we commemorate Bede the Venerable, Theologian*. Bede was the last of the Early Church Fathers. Placed in a monastery at the age of seven, Bede rarely left his monastery home and devoted his life to teaching and writing. A prolific writer, Bede produced both histories and theological works — his commentaries are still used today. Bede’s most well-known disciple, Cuthbert, reported that Bede was working on translating the Gospel of John at the time of his death. Bede is buried in Durham Cathedral.
Readings* Psalm 63 * Psalm 78 * Leviticus 26:21–44 * Luke 14:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:85–87 CommemorationToday we commemorate Esther. Esther, who is the heroine of the Biblical book that bears her name, became the queen of King Ahasuerus. Using her position of power, Esther was able to uncover a plot to exterminate her people and have the architect of that plot hanged, and his office filled by her uncle and guardian, Mordecai. Esther’s story reveals to us how God works to preserve His saints and to deliver them from evil.
Readings* Acts 16:9–15 * Psalm 67 * Revelation 21:9–14, 21–27 * John 16:23–33 * John 5:1–9
Readings* Psalm 119:33–40 * Psalm 81 * Leviticus 26:1–20 * Luke 13:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:77–84
Readings* Psalm 52 * Psalm 107 * Leviticus 24:1–23 * Luke 12:54—13:17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:71–76
Readings Psalm 116 * Psalm 123 * Leviticus 23:23–44 * Luke 12:35–53 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:66–70 CommemorationToday we commemorate Emperor Constantine, Christian Ruler, and Helena, Mother of Constantine*. Emperor Constantine converted from paganism to Christianity and became both a defender and a supporter of the Church. Pursuant to the Edict of Milan, issued in AD 313, persecution of Christians became illegal in the Roman Empire. And it was Constantine who called the Council of Nicaea in AD 325; it was this council that defined and defended orthodox Christianity. Helena, Constantine’s mother, took a particular interest in archaeology and in locating historical sites related to Christianity; she would become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, and she identified a number of Biblical sites — some of which are still, to this day, maintained as places of worship.
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 92 * Leviticus 23:1–22 * Luke 12:13–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:61–65
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 25 * Leviticus 21:1–24 * Luke 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:53–60
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 150 * Leviticus 20:1–27 * Luke 11:37–54 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:46–52
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 39 * Leviticus 19:9–37 * Luke 11:14–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:38–45
Readings* Psalm 119:1–8 * Psalm 116 * Leviticus 18:1—19:8 * Luke 11:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:31–37
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 89 * Leviticus 17:1–16 * Luke 10:23–42 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:23–30
Readings* Psalm 19 * Psalm 50 * Leviticus 16:1–24 * Luke 10:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:16–22
Readings* Psalm 25 * Psalm 141 * Leviticus 10:1–20 * Luke 9:37–62 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:7–15
Readings* Psalm 119:129–138 * Psalm 96 * Leviticus 9:1–24 * Luke 9:18–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VIII:1–6
Readings Psalm 45 * Psalm 132 * Leviticus 8:1–36 * Luke 9:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:124–128 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs*. Cyril and Methodius were brothers from a Greek family from Thessalonica. Ordained as priests, the brothers were sent, in AD 862, to what is today the Czech Republic, where they taught the Christian faith in the region’s native tongue. As part of this mission, Cyril created the alphabet that is today known as Cyrillic, in order to write down Scripture and liturgy. The use of the vernacular by Cyril and Methodius set an important precedent for future missionary work.
Readings* Psalm 41 * Psalm 76 * Exodus 40:17–38 * Luke 8:40–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:116–123
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 115 * Exodus 39:32—40:16 * Luke 8:22–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:107–115 CommemorationToday we commemorate Job. Job was a blameless and upright man from Uz — a land north of Canaan. God permitted Job to be severely tested, and Job held steadfast to his faith in his Redeemer and in the Resurrection. At the end of the Book of Job, God explains that it is not for man to know the mysteries of God. We commemorate Job for his staunch faith and as a model of Christian suffering.
Readings* Psalm 119:145–152 * Psalm 20 * Exodus 38:21—39:31 * Luke 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:104–106
Readings Psalm 84 * Psalm 23 * Exodus 34:29—35:21 * Luke 7:36–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:91–103 CommemorationToday we commemorate C. F. W. Walther, Theologian*. Father of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther emigrated from Saxony in Germany with other Lutherans in 1839. Settling in Missouri, he served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS in 1847. Walther would serve as president of the Synod from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. Walther worked tirelessly to promote Confessional Lutheranism in the US. A prolific writer and speaker, Walther’s works are still widely used today, particularly including his book on the distinction between Law and Gospel.
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 34 * Exodus 34:1–28 * Luke 7:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:85–90
Readings Psalm 80 * Psalm 27 * Exodus 33:1–23 * Luke 7:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:77–84 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich the Wise, Christian Ruler*. Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, Friedrich the Wise was instrumental to the Reformation. Although he never met Luther, Friedrich aided Luther significantly, including refusing to extradite Luther when the pope demanded it in 1518 and arranging for Luther to be ‘kidnapped’ and safely hidden in Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Beloved of his subjects, Friedrich was called “the Wise” for his sense of fairness and his justice. Upon his deathbed, Friedrich received the Lord’s Supper in both kinds — a clear confession of his Lutheran faith.
Readings Psalm 119:49–56 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 32:15–35 * Luke 6:39–49 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:73—76 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary*. Along with C. F. W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler, Friedrich Wyneken was one of the founding fathers of the LCMS. Born in Germany in 1810, Wyneken came to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1838, and then accepted a call to Friedheim and Fort Wayne in Indiana. During his life, Wyneken would serve as missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including among the Amerindian population; would help found — along with Wilhelm Loehe and Sihler — Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne; and would serve as the second president of the LCMS. Wyneken is remembered for his dedication to preaching and spreading the Word of God and for his commitment to right doctrine and the Lutheran faith.
Readings* Psalm 106 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 32:1–14 * Luke 6:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:69–72
Readings Psalm 92 * Exodus 31:1–18 * Luke 6:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:62–68 CommemorationToday we commemorate Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Born in Alexandria around AD 295, Athanasius would later serve as bishop of that city — a post he held for forty-five years. At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Athanasius defended Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heretics. Exiled five times and nearly murdered twice, Athanasius remained steadfast in his faith and lived his final days restored to his ecclesiastical office. The Athanasian Creed is named in his honor, because it confesses the truth of the divinity of Christ, which Athanasius championed during his life.
Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 9 * Exodus 25:1–22 * Luke 5:17–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:59–61 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. St. Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, was one of the first disciples called by Christ. In turn, Philip would bring Nathanael to Jesus. According to tradition, Philip labored and died in Phrygia. St. James, son of Alphaeus and Mary (one of the faithful women who stood at the foot of the cross), is little mentioned in the New Testament and there are no sure records concerning his work after the resurrection or his death. We commemorate these two men as followers of and workers for Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Readings* Psalm 99 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 24:1–18 * Luke 5:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:52–58
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 41 * Exodus 23:14–33 * Luke 4:31–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:48–51
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 103 * Exodus 22:20—23:13 * Luke 4:16–30 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:42–47
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 91 * Exodus 20:1–24 * Luke 4:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:35–41
Readings* Psalm 30 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 19:1–25 * Hebrews 13:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:28–34
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 94 * Exodus 18:5–27 * Hebrews 12:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:17–27 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist. Author of the second Gospel, Mark was originally from Jerusalem, where his mother’s home served as the center of the Church in that city. Mark would accompany Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch and then from Antioch on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas would then go on a second missionary journey with Mark to Cyprus. Tradition holds that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, where he served as the first bishop and died a martyr’s death.
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 136 * Exodus 17:1–16 * Hebrews 11:1–29 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:9–16
Readings* Psalm 80 * Deuteronomy 4:21–40 * Matthew 8:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 1–12
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 125 * Deuteronomy 4:1–20 * Matthew 7:13–29 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIV, 24–28
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 2 * Deuteronomy 3:1–29 * Matthew 7:1–12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIII, 14–23
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 51 * Deuteronomy 2:16–37 * Matthew 6:16–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIII, 1–13
Readings* Psalm 119:161–168 * Psalm 63 * Deuteronomy 1:37—2:15 * Matthew 6:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 77–81
Readings Psalm 19 * Psalm 34 * Deuteronomy 1:19–36 * Matthew 5:21–48 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 67–76 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels*. One of the archangels, tradition names Michael as patron and protector of the Church and of Christians. Mentioned in the Biblical books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, Michael leads the hosts of Heaven into battle against Satan and his demons — a victory assured by the blood of Christ, and announced in Revelation 12:10 by a voice from Heaven:
“Now the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down[.]”
Readings* Psalm 145 * Deuteronomy 1:1–18 * Matthew 5:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 58–66
Readings* Psalm 91 * Malachi 3:6—4:6 * Matthew 4:12–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 51–57
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 32 * Malachi 2:1—3:5 * Matthew 4:1–11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 43–50
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 12 * Malachi 1:1–14 * Matthew 3:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 34–42
Readings* Psalm 123 * Psalm 99 * Nehemiah 9:22–38 * 1 Timothy 6:3–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 25–33
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 12 * Nehemiah 9:1–21 * 1 Timothy 5:17—6:2 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 16–24
Readings* Psalm 133 * Psalm 119:97–104 * Nehemiah 7:1–4; 8:1–18 * 1 Timothy 5:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIb, 1–15 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jonah. Called by God to preach in Nineveh, capital of Assyria, Jonah initially refused his call and attempted to flee. Whereas all are familiar with the story of Jonah and the whale (or large fish), the Book of Jonah focuses more on God’s mercy, patience, and compassion. Christ Himself uses the story of Jonah and the whale in describing His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Readings* Psalm 55 * Psalm 119:89–96 * Nehemiah 5:1–16; 6:1–16 * 1 Timothy 4:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 83–97 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. An author of one of the four Gospels, Matthew was called to follow Jesus, and, in doing so, left behind a lucrative occupation as tax collector. Church tradition is uncertain as to whether Matthew died a martyr’s death, and, if so, where.
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 54 * Nehemiah 4:7–23 * 1 Timothy 3:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 68–82
Readings* Psalm 136 * Nehemiah 2:11–20; 4:1–6 * 1 Timothy 2:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 59–67
Readings* Psalm 118 * Nehemiah 1:1—2:10 * 1 Timothy 1:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 46–58
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 143 * 2 Chronicles 36:1–23 * Colossians 4:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 28–45
Readings Psalm 108 * 2 Chronicles 35:1–25 * Colossians 3:1–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 11–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr*. Living in the third century AD, Cyprian served as bishop of Carthage. Originally fleeing Carthage under the persecution of Roman Emperor Decius, Cyprian returned and set rules for those who had fallen away from the faith under persecution to return to the Church. Under later persecution by Roman Emperor Valerian, Cyprian initially hid himself, but later gave himself up to the authorities. He was beheaded in AD 258.
Readings* Psalm 1 * Psalm 4 * 2 Chronicles 34:1–33 * Colossians 2:8–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIa, 1–10
Readings* Psalm 38 * 2 Chronicles 33:1–25 * Colossians 1:24—2:7 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XI, 60–67 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of Holy Cross Day.
Readings* Psalm 27 * Psalm 31 * 2 Chronicles 32:1–22 * Colossians 1:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IX–XI
Readings* Psalm 94 * 2 Chronicles 31:1–21 * Philippians 4:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 36–50
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 100 * 2 Chronicles 29:1–24 * Philippians 3:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 25–35
Readings* Psalm 58 * Psalm 53 * 2 Kings 9:1—10:29 * Philippians 2:12–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 16–24
Readings* Psalm 61 * Psalm 59 * 2 Kings 6:1–23 * Philippians 1:21—2:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 1–15
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 69 * 2 Kings 5:9–27 * Philippians 1:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 269–279
Readings* Psalm 131 * Psalm 77 * 2 Kings 4:38—5:8 * Ephesians 6:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 262–268
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 128 * 2 Kings 4:8–37 * Ephesians 5:15–33 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 257–261
Readings* Psalm 56 * 2 Kings 2:19–25; 4:1–7 * Ephesians 4:25—5:14 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 249–256 CommemorationToday we commemorate Zacharias and Elizabeth. Remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety, Zacharias and Elizabeth became the parents of John the Baptist despite their old age. Initially disbelieving the promise, Zacharias was struck mute by the angel who announced that Zacharias and Elizabeth would have a son; upon confirming his wife’s chosen name for their son, John, Zacharias was restored to his ability to speak. Upon regaining his speech, Zacharias sang the Benedictus, a summary of the promises in the Old Testament and a prophecy of John the Baptist’s ministry as a forerunner of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 90 * Psalm 107 * 2 Kings 2:2–18 * Ephesians 4:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 241–248 CommemorationToday we commemorate Moses. Greatest amongst the Old Testament prophets, Moses spoke with God ‘face to face’. Moses’ life was divided into three parts of forty years each: First, he lived in Egypt in the royal court, having been rescued by the daughter of pharaoh (and the intervention of God); second, he lived as a shepherd in the land of Midian after fleeing Egypt; and, third, he led Israel during the wandering in the desert. Prohibited from entering the Promised Land due to disobedience at Meribah, Moses was nevertheless allowed to view the land from Mount Nebo, where he then died and was buried (in an unknown location) by God.
Readings Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 108 * 1 Kings 19:1–21 * Ephesians 3:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 235–240 CommemorationToday we commemorate Gregory the Great, Pastor*. Gregory served both as mayor and, later, as bishop of Rome. Before entering full-time service in the Church, Gregory helped to strengthen a Rome weakened by enemy invasions and plague, and sold his considerable possessions and donated the proceeds to help the poor. As bishop of Rome, Gregory contributed to the Church by establishing a Church Year calendar, which some church bodies still use to this day, and overseeing musical and liturgical development, advancing missionary work in Northern Europe, and composing a book on pastoral care that would long serve as a standard in the Church.
Readings* Psalm 135 * 1 Kings 18:20–40 * Ephesians 2:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 223–234 CommemorationToday we commemorate Hannah. The favored wife of her husband, Elkanah, Hannah suffered through years of barrenness, but never gave up hope in the Lord. For her devotion, she was repaid with the birth of a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the service of the Lord. Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary, which would come centuries later.
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 8 * 1 Kings 18:1–19 * Ephesians 1:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V 213–222 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joshua, son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Most noted for his succession of Moses as Israel’s commander-in-chief, Joshua led a life of devotion to and faith in God. From defeating the Amalekites and being in charge of the tent of meeting to scouting the land of Canaan and leading Israel across the Jordan, Joshua showed steadfast faith in God and His promises. Joshua is especially noted for his final address, in which he, like Moses before him, presented the Israelites with the path of life and the path of death, the path of obedience to God and the path of rebellion, and in which he spoke his most famous words: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 70 * 1 Kings 16:29—17:24 * 2 Corinthians 9:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 205–212
Readings* Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9 * Psalm 119:129–136 * Ephesians 6:10–20 * Mark 7:14–23
Readings* Psalm 29 * Psalm 75 * 1 Kings 12:20—13:34 * 2 Corinthians 8:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 195–204
Readings* Psalm 17 * 1 Kings 11:42—12:19 * 2 Corinthians 7:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 192–194 FestivalToday we observe the Festival of The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. In contrast to the Festival of The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, observed on the 24th of June, this festival commemorates John the Baptist’s beheading under Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist announced the imminent coming of Christ, and fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy regarding the return of ‘Elijah’ before the Day of the Lord. Although John the Baptist’s end may seem, to this world, a foolish and ignominious one, his martyrdom was, in truth, a profound and noble participation in the Cross of Christ.
Readings Psalm 48 * 1 Kings 11:1–26 * 2 Corinthians 6:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 183–191 CommemorationToday we commemorate Augustine of Hippo, Pastor and Theologian*. Numbered amongst the greatest of the Latin Church Fathers, Augustine’s early life was marked by participation in the moral laxity of his times. Converted to Christianity, in no small part due to the devotion of his mother and the preaching of Ambrose, bishop of Milan, Augustine became a staunch defender of the orthodox Christian faith. Augustine’s writings are still widely read and treasured by the Church.
Readings Psalm 72 * 1 Kings 9:1–9, 10:1–13 * 2 Corinthians 5:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 177–182 CommemorationToday we commemorate Monica, Mother of Augustine*. Despite being widowed at a young age, Monica devoted herself to the welfare, spiritual and physical, of her children. Monica would follow her son, Augustine, to Rome and then to Milan, where she would finally see the fruit of her efforts (and the Holy Spirit’s work) as Augustine converted to Christianity.
Readings* Psalm 36 * 1 Kings 8:22–63 * 2 Corinthians 4:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 170–176
Readings* Psalm 32 * 1 Kings 7:51—8:21 * 2 Corinthians 3:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 167–169
Readings* Psalm 27 * 1 Kings 5:1–18 * 2 Corinthians 1:23—2:17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 160–166 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle. Called by Christ in Galilee (in the town of Cana, where Christ performed His first miracle), Bartholomew would become one of the first of Jesus’ twelve disciples. According to Church tradition, Bartholomew brought the Gospel to Armenia, where he was martyred.
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 49 * 1 Kings 3:1–15 * 2 Corinthians 1:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 153–159
Readings* Psalm 97 * 1 Kings 2:1–27 * 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 148–152
Readings* Psalm 139 * 1 Kings 1:1–35 * 1 Corinthians 12:14–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 144–147
Readings* Psalm 51 * 2 Samuel 12:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 12:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 140–143 CommemorationToday we commemorate Samuel. Last among the judges and first among the post-Moses prophets, Samuel lived a life of devotion to God. Samuel, at God’s command, would anoint both Israel’s first king — Saul — and her second — David.
Readings Psalm 12 * Psalm 22 * 2 Samuel 11:1–27 * 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 137–139 CommemorationToday we commemorate Bernard of Clairvaux, Hymnwriter and Theologian*. Born into wealth, Bernard abandoned a life of affluence and entered a monastery at twenty-two. Eventually he was sent to start a new monastery, which monastery would go on to found many daughter houses, but he is best known for his preaching and hymn-writing.
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 106 * 2 Samuel 7:18–29 * 1 Corinthians 10:23—11:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 133–136
Readings Psalm 24 * 2 Samuel 7:1–17 * 1 Corinthians 9:24—10:22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 124–132 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Gerhard, Theologian. Born in Quedlinburg, Germany, in 1582, Gerhard would go on to become one of the most influential theologians of the Christian faith. A prolific author, Gerhard’s Loci Theologici* and many other writings, including sermons, are still widely published and read today.
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 84 * 2 Samuel 6:1–19 * 1 Corinthians 9:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 119–123 CommemorationToday we commemorate Isaac. Born to Abraham and Sarah when they were, respectively, one hundred years old and ninety-one years old, Isaac (whose name means ‘laughter’), would go on to father Jacob (who would become Israel) and Esau. Taken to Mount Moriah by his father to be sacrificed at the command of God, Isaac was spared at the last moment by the provision of a ram caught in a thicket — this episode pointed forward to the substitutionary sacrifice and atonement of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 132 * 2 Samuel 5:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 112–118 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord. Mentioned throughout the Gospels, Mary was present at many of the major events in her Son’s life. Mary is especially remembered for her unconditional obedience to the will of God, her trust in her Jesus (even when she did not understand all of His words), and, above all, for being honored as the mother of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 33 * 2 Samuel 1:1–27 * 1 Corinthians 7:25–40 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 104–111
Readings* Psalm 68 * 1 Samuel 31:1–13 * 1 Corinthians 7:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 97–103
Readings* Psalm 99 * 1 Samuel 28:3–25 * 1 Corinthians 6:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 89–96
Readings* Psalm 51 * 1 Samuel 26:1–25 * 1 Corinthians 5:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 82–88
Readings* Psalm 14 * Psalm 53 * 1 Samuel 25:23–44 * 1 Corinthians 4:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 74–81 CommemorationToday we commemorate Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. Most likely born in Spain, Lawrence eventually made his way to Rome and became chief of the seven deacons of the Church. Having control over Church property and finances, Lawrence was called before the Roman emperor, who believed the Church possessed valuable items that could be confiscated, and commanded to produce the “treasures of the Church”. In response, Lawrence brought before the emperor the poor who had benefited from Christian charity. The emperor jailed Lawerence and eventually ordered him executed — by gridiron.
Readings* Psalm 94 * 1 Samuel 25:1–22 * 1 Corinthians 3:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 68–73
Readings* Psalm 62 * 1 Samuel 24:1–22 * 1 Corinthians 1:26—2:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 62–67
Readings* Psalm 144 * 1 Samuel 20:24–42 * 1 Corinthians 1:1–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 58–61
Readings* Psalm 92 * 1 Samuel 20:1–23 * Acts 28:16–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 51–57
Readings* Psalm 21 * 1 Samuel 19:1–24 * Acts 28:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V 45–50
Readings* Psalm 56 * 1 Samuel 18:10–30 * Acts 27:27–44 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 38–44
Readings* Psalm 68 * 1 Samuel 17:48—18:9 * Acts 27:9–26 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 26–37 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joanna, Mary, and Salome, the three faithful women who visited Christ’s tomb early on the morning of the first Easter. These women bore myrrh and others items to dress the body of Christ, but instead found the tomb empty, Christ having risen. These women serve as examples of humble service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 98 * 1 Samuel 17:20–47 * Acts 26:24—27:8 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 15–25
Readings* Psalm 70 * Psalm 75 * 1 Samuel 17:1–19 * Acts 26:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 9–14
Readings* Psalm 80 * 1 Samuel 16:1–23 * Acts 25:13–27 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 1–8 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joseph of Arimathea. A wealthy man from the village of Arimathea, Joseph owned an unused tomb in the vicinity of Golgotha, where Christ was crucified. A devout man, and member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph was eagerly awaiting the Kingdom of God. In contrast to many who fled for fear of the Jews, Joseph went to Pilate and requested the body of Christ, and, together with Nicodemus, placed the body in the tomb.
Readings* Psalm 50 * Psalm 130 * 1 Samuel 15:10–35 * Acts 24:24—25:12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 115–121 CommemorationToday we commemorate Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr. Born in England in the late 1400s, Robert Barnes studied theology and eventually became a prior of the Augustinian monastery at Cambridge. Exiled to Germany, partly for distributing Bibles in English and for having converted to Lutheranism, Dr. Barnes would meet Martin Luther in Wittenberg, and the two would become friends. Upon his return to England, Dr. Barnes would share his Lutheran faith with King Henry VIII, who was initially receptive. However, changing political and ecclesiastical winds in England would eventually spell Dr. Barnes’ downfall. On 30 July 1540, Robert Barnes was burned at the stake on a charge of heresy, becoming one of the first Lutheran martyrs. Luther would later publish Barnes’ confession of faith, noting of Barnes that he was “[a] good, pious dinner guest and houseguest … [a] holy martyr, St. Robert Barnes.”
Readings* Psalm 119:41–48 * Psalm 13 * 1 Samuel 14:47—15:9 * Acts 24:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 107–114 CommemorationToday we commemorate Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany, whose faith is recorded in the Gospels. When Lazarus died, Jesus raised him from the dead and spoke to Martha, Lazarus’s sister: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Later, shortly before Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed His feet with oil and wiped them with her hair — unknowingly readying Christ for burial.
Readings* Psalm 59 * Psalm 57 * 1 Samuel 13:1–18 * Acts 23:12–35 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 98–106 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor. Born in 1685, Bach would become one of history’s most prolific, and gifted, composers. Not only did Bach compose, but he also performed, conducted, and taught music. For the last twenty-seven years of his life, Bach was responsible for the music in the four Lutheran churches in Leipzig, where he died in 1750. A devout and devoted Lutheran, Bach bequeathed to the Church a wealth of music, which he wrote to the glory of God and for the edification of all Christians.
Readings* Psalm 119:17–24 * Psalm 141 * 1 Samuel 12:1–25 * Acts 22:30—23:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 88–97
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 70 * 1 Samuel 10:1–27 * Acts 22:17–29 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 86–87
Readings Psalm 63 * Psalm 149 * 1 Samuel 9:1–27 * Acts 21:37—22:16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 75–85 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle*. St. James, and his brother St. John, sons of Zebedee, were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Together with St. Peter and his brother St. Andrew, James and John were called to be disciples of Christ. Along with Peter and John, James formed a sort of ‘inner circle’ amongst the Twelve. In Acts, it is recorded that James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I, thus making James the first among the Twelve to die a martyr.
Readings* Psalm 24 * 1 Samuel 8:1–22 * Acts 21:15–36 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 61–74
Readings* Psalm 119:113–120 * Psalm 141 * 1 Samuel 6:19—7:17 * Acts 19:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 48–60
Readings* Psalm 137 * Psalm 56 * 1 Samuel 5:1—6:16 * Acts 18:1–28 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 36–47 CommemorationToday we commemorate St. Mary Magdalene. Present at the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene had become a follower of Jesus when He cast out seven demons from her. She was also the first to see Jesus alive again after the crucifixion. The Church has long identified her with the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil.
Readings* Psalm 106 * 1 Samuel 4:1–22 * Acts 16:23–40 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 22–35
Readings* Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 115 * 1 Samuel 3:1–21 * Acts 16:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 12–21 CommemorationToday we commemorate Elijah. Prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, largely during the reign of Ahab, Elijah condemned the Baal worship that had been promoted by Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. Through Elijah, God performed many miracles, demonstrating both Elijah’s status as a true prophet and the truth of Elijah’s message condemning Israel’s idolatry. At the end of his earthly life, Elijah was taken up to Heaven in a fiery chariot.
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 136 * 1 Samuel 2:18–36 * Acts 15:22–41 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, III & IV, 1–11
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 131 * 1 Samuel 1:21—2:17 * Galatians 6:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, II, 35–51
Readings* Psalm 92 * 1 Samuel 1:1–20 * Galatians 5:1–26 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, II, 23–34
Readings* Psalm 21 * Judges 16:4–30 * Galatians 4:12–31 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, II, 5–22 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ruth. A native of Moab, and therefore not a natural descendant of Abraham, Ruth is the subject of the biblical book that bears her name and a study in God’s grace. During a famine in Israel, Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem moved to Moab with their two sons; the sons married Moabite women and then a decade or so later died, leaving the women as widows. Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their people, but Ruth refused, stating: “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” After arriving in Bethlehem, Boaz, a relative of Naomi, agreed to marry Ruth and become her ‘redeemer’. Ruth gave birth to Obed, grandfather of Kind David, making Ruth great-grandmother to one of OT Israel’s most famous kings and an ancestress of Christ.
Readings* Psalm 33 * Psalm 27 * Judges 15:1—16:3 * Galatians 3:23—4:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, I & II, 1–4
Readings* Psalm 119:1–8 * Psalm 1 * Judges 14:1–20 * Galatians 3:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Introduction
Readings* Psalm 71 * Judges 13:1–25 * Galatians 2:1–21 * Augsburg Confession, Conclusion
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 108 * Judges 7:1–23 * Galatians 1:1–24 * Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 61–78
Readings* Psalm 125 * Psalm 7 * Judges 6:1–24 * Acts 14:19—15:5 * Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 30–42
Readings* Psalm 138 * Psalm 86 * Judges 4:1–24 * Acts 14:1–18 * Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 19–29
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 139 * Judges 3:7–31 * Acts 13:42–52 * Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 1–18
Readings* Psalm 2 * Psalm 78 * Judges 2:6–23 * Acts 13:13–41 * Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 44–62
Readings* Psalm 100 * Psalm 5 * Joshua 24:1–31 * Acts 13:1–12 * Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 24–43 CommemorationToday we commemorate Isaiah. Isaiah, son of Amoz, numbers amongst the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and is quoted more than any other in the New Testament. A contemporary of Amos, Hosea, and Micah, Isaiah prophesied to the people of Judah between about 740 and 700 BC. No Old Testament prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom. In the words of John, Isaiah ‘saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him’.
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 149 * Joshua 23:1–16 * Acts 12:1–25 * Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 1–23
Readings* Psalm 50 * Psalm 113 * Joshua 10:1–25 * Acts 11:19–30 * Augsburg Confession, XXVI, 21–45
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 45 * Joshua 8:1–28 * Acts 11:1–18 * Augsburg Confession, XXVI, 1–20
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 60 * Joshua 7:1–26 * Acts 10:34–48 * Augsburg Confession, XXV
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 75 * Joshua 6:6–27 * Acts 10:18–33 * Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 21–41
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 144 * Joshua 5:1—6:5 * Acts 10:1–17 * Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 1–20
Readings* Psalm 103 * Joshua 4:1–24 * Acts 9:23–43 * Augsburg Confession, XXIII CommemorationToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. Early Christian tradition holds that Ss. Peter and Paul were martyred on the same day in Rome under the persecution of Nero. In addition to their joint commemoration on June 29th (a festival the Church has observed since the third century or so), Ss. Peter and Paul are also commemorated separately in the calendar — St. Peter on the 18th of January for his confession of Christ and Paul on the 25th of January for his conversion. Both Peter and Paul are held up in Scripture as examples of men who, although flawed, became staunch defenders of and evangelists for the faith.
Readings Psalm 89 * Psalm 97 * Joshua 3:1–17 * Acts 9:1–22 * Augsburg Confession, XXII CommemorationToday we commemorate Irenaeus of Lyons, Pastor*. After studying in Rome, Irenaeus became a pastor in Lyons, France; during an absence from Lyons, a persecution arose against Christians and martyred Irenaeus’ bishop. Upon returning to Lyons, Irenaeus himself became bishop. As a writer, Irenaeus defended the Christian faith, and of particular note is a work of his against heresies — particularly Gnosticism.
Readings Psalm 51 * Joshua 2:1–24 * Acts 8:26–40 * Augsburg Confession, XXI CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Cyril became Archbishop of Alexandria in AD 412. A true defender of the faith and orthodoxy, Cyril produced a number of writings dealing with various theological matters. Cyril’s Christology had a significant impact on later theologians. Additionally, Cyril defended the truth that it is proper to call Mary the “Mother of God” or Theotokos, the ‘God-bearer’.
Readings* Psalm 31 * Joshua 1:1–18 * Acts 8:1–25 * Augsburg Confession, XX, 19–40 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jeremiah. Prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Through a lifetime of prophetic work, Jeremiah communicated God’s anger toward His rebellious people and often suffered at the hands of his countrymen. Although his death is unrecorded, it is believed that Jeremiah died in Egypt, after having been forcibly transported there.
Readings* Psalm 119:41–48 * Psalm 73 * Proverbs 31:10–31 * John 21:1–25 * Augsburg Confession, XX, 1–18 CommemorationToday we commemorate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. Presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on 25 June 1530, the Augsburg Confession presents the theology of the Lutheran Church and of the Reformation. At the heart of the Confession is justification by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ alone — presented primarily in Article IV, often called the ‘article on which the Church stands or falls’. Through the Augsburg Confession, the Lutheran Reformers began the arduous task of removing the corruption that had crept into the Church over centuries and restoring to its rightful place the true core of Christianity: Justificatio Sola Gratia Sola Fide Solo Christo — justification by grace alone through faith alone by and through Christ alone.
Readings* Psalm 85 * Proverbs 30:1–33 * John 20:19–31 * Augsburg Confession, XVII–XIX FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The birth of St. John the Baptist was announced, by an angel, to his father, Zechariah. Initially unbelieving, Zechariah was struck mute until his son was born, but then proclaimed a hymn of praise, the Benedictus — which traditionally serves as the Gospel Canticle in the Church’s Service of Morning Prayer. John’s life is known from all four of the Gospels. Preaching and baptizing in the wilderness near the Jordan River, John prepared the way for the Messiah — Christ. Upon seeing Christ, John announced to the crowds: “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!” Martyred by the Herodians, whose immoral lifestyle he denounced, John is remembered for his preaching which pointed to the coming Messiah, the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world.
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 16 * Proverbs 27:1–24 * John 20:1–18 * Augsburg Confession, XIV–XVI
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 21 * Proverbs 24:1–22 * John 19:1–22 * Augsburg Confession, IX–XI
Readings* Psalm 45 * Proverbs 22:22—23:12 * John 18:15–40 * Augsburg Confession, VII–VIII
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 102 * Proverbs 22:1–21 * John 18:1–14 * Augsburg Confession, V–VI
Readings* Psalm 147 * Proverbs 16:1–24 * John 16:1–16 * Augsburg Confession, Preface, 12–24
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 10 * Proverbs 15:1–29 * John 15:12–27 * Augsburg Confession, Preface, 1–11
Readings* Psalm 66 * Proverbs 14:1–27 * John 15:1–11 * Small Catechism, Table of Duties CommemorationToday we commemorate Elisha. Son of Shaphat from the tribe of Issachar, Elisha was the prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for decades. A vocal opponent of Baal worship, Elisha, unlike his predecessor and mentor, Elijah, played an active role in political affairs. In the course of his ministry, Elisha performed many miracles, confirming his status as a prophet sent by God.
Readings* Psalm 68 * Psalm 85 * Proverbs 13:1–25 * John 14:18–31 * Small Catechism, Table of Duties
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 101 * Proverbs 10:1–23 * John 14:1–17 * Small Catechism, Morning & Evening Prayer and Asking a Blessing & Returning Thanks CommemorationToday we commemorate the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Convoked in AD 325 by Roman Emperor Constantine, the Council of Nicaea ruled against the Arians, who taught that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God, but was a created being. The chief opponents of the Arians were Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and Athanasius, deacon to Alexander. It was at this council that an early version of the Nicene Creed was adopted — the full version being adopted in its entirety at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.
Readings* Psalm 34 * Psalm 109 * Proverbs 9:1–18 * John 13:21–38 * Small Catechism, VI FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Barnabas, Apostle. A Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas sold some land that he owned and donated the proceeds to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Sent to oversee the Church in Antioch, Barnabas retrieved Paul from Tarsus and accompanied him back to Antioch, and from there to Paul’s first missionary journey. Tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus, by being stoned.
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 106 * Proverbs 8:1–21 * John 12:36b–50 * Small Catechism, IV
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 44 * Proverbs 5:1–23 * John 12:20–36a * Small Catechism, III
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 118 * Proverbs 4:1–27 * John 12:1–19 * II of the Small Catechism, II
Readings* Psalm 119:169–176 * Psalm 89 * Proverbs 3:5–24 * John 11:38–57 * Small Catechism, I
Readings Psalm 72 * Psalm 63 * Proverbs 1:8–33 * John 11:17–37 * Small Catechism, Preface, 19–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans*. Born in England, educated as a monk, and ordained a presbyter, Boniface decided to become a missionary. Granted a papal commission in AD 719, Boniface set to work planting, organizing, and reforming churches in Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria. In AD 743, now as an archbishop, Boniface was assigned to the See of Mainz. A little over a decade later, in AD 754, Boniface was martyred by a group of pagans while working in (what would become) the Netherlands. Boniface is remembered for his faith and his tireless work in spreading the Word to Germanic Europe.
Readings* Psalm 61 * Psalm 27 * Ecclesiastes 12:1–14 * John 11:1–16 * Small Catechism, Preface, 9–18
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 82 * Ecclesiastes 11:1–10 * John 10:22–42 * Small Catechism, Preface, 1–8
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 23 * Ecclesiastes 10:1–20 * John 10:1–21 * the Doctors and Preachers Who Subscribed to the Augsburg Confession and Apology
Readings Psalm 97 * Psalm 115 * Ecclesiastes 9:1–17 * John 9:24–41 * Power and Primacy of the Pope, 68–82 CommemorationToday we commemorate Justin, Martyr*. Raised in a pagan family, Justin was a convert to Christianity who would become a Christian teacher in Ephesus and Rome. Arrested due to his refusal to make pagan sacrifices, Justin was tried and executed along with six other Christians. The record of the trial proceedings before Rusticius, a Roman prelate, documents Justin’s confession of faith, and served as a source of great encouragement for other believers.
Readings* Psalm 146 * Ecclesiastes 8:1–17 * John 9:1–23 * Power and Primacy of the Pope, 52–67
Readings* Psalm 43 * Psalm 111 * Ecclesiastes 7:11–29 * John 8:39–59 * Power and Primacy of the Pope, 39–51
Readings* Psalm 104 * Ecclesiastes 6:1—7:10 * John 8:21–38 * Power and Primacy of the Pope, 25–38
Readings* Psalm 32 * Ecclesiastes 5:1–20 * John 8:1–20 * Power and Primacy of the Pope, 1–24
Readings* Psalm 86 * Song of Solomon 1:1—2:7 * John 5:1–18 * Preface to the Book of Concord, 1–4
Readings* Psalm 97 * Psalm 85 * Numbers 32:1–6, 16–27 * Luke 24:1–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XII, 39–40
Readings* Psalm 132 * Psalm 38 * Numbers 27:12–23 * Luke 23:26–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XII, 28–38
Readings* Psalm 1 * Psalm 37 * Numbers 24:1–25 * Luke 23:1–25 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XII, 1–27
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 102 * Numbers 23:4–28 * Luke 22:47–71 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 94–96
Readings* Psalm 94 * Psalm 149 * Numbers 22:21—23:3 * Luke 22:24–46 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 87–93
Readings* Psalm 128 * Psalm 72 * Numbers 22:1–20 * Luke 22:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 76–86
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 58 * Numbers 21:10–35 * Luke 21:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 65–75
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 109 * Numbers 20:22—21:9 * Luke 20:45—21:19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 53–64
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 110 * Numbers 20:1–21 * Luke 20:19–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 45–52
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 16:23–40 * Luke 19:29–48 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 33–37
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 45 * Numbers 16:1–22 * Luke 19:11–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 27–32
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 142 * Numbers 14:26–45 * Luke 18:35—19:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 14–26
Readings* Psalm 81 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 14:1–25 * Luke 18:18–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 8–13
Readings Psalm 119:97–104 * Psalm 122 * Numbers 13:1–3, 17–33 * Luke 18:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 1–7 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs*. Cyril and Methodius were brothers from a Greek family from Thessalonica. Ordained as priests, the brothers were sent, in AD 862, to what is today the Czech Republic, where they taught the Christian faith in the region’s native tongue. As part of this mission, Cyril created the alphabet that is today known as Cyrillic, in order to write down Scripture and liturgy. The use of the vernacular by Cyril and Methodius set an important precedent for future missionary work.
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 8 * Numbers 11:24—12:16 * Luke 17:20–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 26–31
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 47 * Numbers 11:1–35 * Luke 17:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 19–25
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 19 * Numbers 10:11–36 * Luke 16:19–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 13–18
Readings Psalm 85 * Psalm 18 * Numbers 9:1–23 * Luke 16:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 5–12 CommemorationToday we commemorate C. F. W. Walther, Theologian*. Father of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther emigrated from Saxony in Germany with other Lutherans in 1839. Settling in Missouri, he served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS in 1847. Walther would serve as president of the Synod from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. Walther worked tirelessly to promote Confessional Lutheranism in the US. A prolific writer and speaker, Walther’s works are still widely used today, particularly including his book on the distinction between Law and Gospel.
Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 70 * Numbers 8:5–26 * Luke 15:11–32 * Article IX and ¶¶ 1–4 of Article X of the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IX and X, 1–4
Readings Psalm 135 * Psalm 60 * Numbers 3:1–16, 39–48 * Luke 14:25—15:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 88–96 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich the Wise, Christian Ruler*. Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, Friedrich the Wise was instrumental to the Reformation. Although he never met Luther, Friedrich aided Luther significantly, including refusing to extradite Luther when the pope demanded it in 1518 and arranging for Luther to be ‘kidnapped’ and safely hidden in Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Beloved of his subjects, Friedrich was called “the Wise” for his sense of fairness and his justice. Upon his deathbed, Friedrich received the Lord’s Supper in both kinds — a clear confession of his Lutheran faith.
Readings Psalm 63 * Psalm 78 * Leviticus 26:21–44 * Luke 14:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 85–87 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary*. Along with C. F. W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler, Friedrich Wyneken was one of the founding fathers of the LCMS. Born in Germany in 1810, Wyneken came to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1838, and then accepted a call to Friedheim and Fort Wayne in Indiana. During his life, Wyneken would serve as missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including among the Amerindian population; would help found — along with Wilhelm Loehe and Sihler — Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne; and would serve as the second president of the LCMS. Wyneken is remembered for his dedication to preaching and spreading the Word of God and for his commitment to right doctrine and the Lutheran faith.
Readings* Psalm 119:33–40 * Psalm 81 * Leviticus 26:1–20 * Luke 13:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 77–84
Readings Psalm 52 * Psalm 107 * Leviticus 24:1–23 * Luke 12:54—13:17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 71–76 CommemorationToday we commemorate Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Born in Alexandria around AD 295, Athanasius would later serve as bishop of that city — a post he held for forty-five years. At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Athanasius defended Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heretics. Exiled five times and nearly murdered twice, Athanasius remained steadfast in his faith and lived his final days restored to his ecclesiastical office. The Athanasian Creed is named in his honor, because it confesses the truth of the divinity of Christ, which Athanasius championed during his life.
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 123 * Leviticus 23:23–44 * Luke 12:35–53 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 66–70 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. St. Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, was one of the first disciples called by Christ. In turn, Philip would bring Nathanael to Jesus. According to tradition, Philip labored and died in Phrygia. St. James, son of Alphaeus and Mary (one of the faithful women who stood at the foot of the cross), is little mentioned in the New Testament and there are no sure records concerning his work after the resurrection or his death. We commemorate these two men as followers of and workers for Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 92 * Leviticus 23:1–22 * Luke 12:13–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 61–65
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 25 * Leviticus 21:1–24 * Luke 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 53–60
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 150 * Leviticus 20:1–27 * Luke 11:37–54 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 46–52
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 39 * Leviticus 19:9–37 * Luke 11:14–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 38–45
Readings* Psalm 119, vv 1–8 * Psalm 116 * Leviticus 18:1—19:8 * Luke 11:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 31–37
Readings* Psalm 17 * Psalm 89 * Leviticus 17:1–16 * Luke 10:23–42 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 23–30 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist. Author of the second Gospel, Mark was originally from Jerusalem, where his mother’s home served as the center of the Church in that city. Mark would accompany Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch and then from Antioch on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas would then go on a second missionary journey with Mark to Cyprus. Tradition holds that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, where he served as the first bishop and died a martyr’s death.
Readings Psalm 19 * Psalm 50 * Leviticus 16:1–24 * Luke 10:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 16–22 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Walter, Kantor*. Having begun his service — as a composer and bass singer — in the court of Frederick the Wise at the age of twenty-one, Johann Walter would go on to publish a collection of hymns that would become the basis of many subsequent hymnals. Walter would serve for a total of thirty years as kantor in the cities of Torgau and Dresden. Additionally, he aided Martin Luther in the preparation of the German Mass.
Readings* Psalm 25 * Psalm 141 * Leviticus 10:1–20 * Luke 9:37–62 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 7–15
Readings* Psalm 119:129–138 * Psalm 96 * Leviticus 9:1–24 * Luke 9:18–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 1–6
Readings Psalm 45 * Psalm 132 * Leviticus 8:1–36 * Luke 9:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 124–128 CommemorationToday we commemorate Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian. Born in Italy, St. Anselm is most strongly and closely associated with England, where he served as Archbishop of Canterbury for many years. A brilliant scholar and writer, Anselm is best remembered for his work Why God Became Man*, which professes Christ crucified for sinners.
Readings* Psalm 41 * Psalm 76 * Exodus 40:17–38 * Luke 8:40–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 116–123
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 115 * Exodus 39:32—40:16 * Luke 8:22–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 107–115
Readings* Psalm 119:145–152 * Psalm 20 * Exodus 38:21—39:31 * Luke 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 104–106
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 23 * Exodus 34:29—35:21 * Luke 7:36–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 91–103
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 34 * Exodus 34:1–28 * Luke 7:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 85–90
Readings* Psalm 80 * Psalm 27 * Exodus 33:1–23 * Luke 7:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 77–84
Readings* Psalm 119:49–56 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 32:15–35 * Luke 6:39–49 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 73–76
Readings* Psalm 106 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 32:1–14 * Luke 6:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 69–72
Readings* Psalm 92 * Exodus 31:1–18 * Luke 6:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 62–68
Readings* Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 9 * Exodus 25:1–22 * Luke 5:17–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 59–61
Readings* Psalm 99 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 24:1–18 * Luke 5:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 52–58
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 41 * Exodus 23:14–33 * Luke 4:31–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 48–51
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 103 * Exodus 22:20—23:13 * Luke 4:16–30 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 42–47
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 91 * Exodus 20:1–24 * Luke 4:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 35–41
Readings* Psalm 30 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 19:1–25 * Hebrews 13:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 28–34
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 94 * Exodus 18:5–27 * Hebrews 12:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 17–27
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 136 * Exodus 17:1–16 * Hebrews 11:1–29 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 9–16
Readings* Psalm 134 * Psalm 135 * Exodus 16:13–35 * Hebrews 10:19–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 1–8
Readings* Psalm 81 * Psalm 40 * Exodus 15:19—16:12 * Hebrews 10:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 21–26
Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 107 * Exodus 14:10–31 * Hebrews 7:23—8:13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 7–14
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 76 * Psalm 102 * Exodus 13:17—14:9 * Hebrews 7:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 1–6
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 136 * Psalm 51 * Exodus 12:29—13:16 * Hebrews 6:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 23–27
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 110 * Psalm 38 * Exodus 12:1–28 * Hebrews 5:1–14 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 16–22
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 32 * Exodus 10:21—11:10 * Hebrews 4:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 11–15
Readings* Isaiah 52:13—53:12 * Psalm 22 * Psalm 31 * Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9 * John 18:1—19:42
Readings* Psalm 88 * Psalm 77 * Psalm 6 * Exodus 9:29—10:20 * Hebrews 3:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 7–10
Readings* Psalm 35 * Psalm 71 * Psalm 143 * Exodus 9:1–28 * Hebrews 2:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 1–6 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she had found favor with the Lord and would bear a son. The same Spirit that hovered overs the water back in Genesis would “come upon” and “overshadow” Mary, and conceive in her virgin womb Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Ancient Church believed the crucifixion took place on the 25th, and so we celebrate the Annunciation on the same day, as the day of one’s conception and the day of one’s death were linked in antiquity.
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 45 * Psalm 130 * Exodus 8:1–32 * Hebrews 1:1–14 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 37–40
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 51 * Exodus 7:1–25 * Mark 16:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 33–36
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 38 * Exodus 5:1—6:1 * Mark 15:33–47 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 21–32
Readings* Zechariah 9:9–12 * Psalm 118:19–29 * Psalm 31:9–16 * Philippians 2:5–11 * Mark 14:1—15:47 * John 12:20–43
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 32 * Exodus 4:19–31 * Mark 15:16–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 14–20
Readings* Psalm 18 * Psalm 23 * Psalm 6 * Exodus 4:1–18 * Mark 15:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 6–13
Readings* Psalm 39 * Psalm 5 * Psalm 143 * Exodus 2:23—3:22 * Mark 14:53–72 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 1–5
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 116 * Psalm 130 * Exodus 2:1–22 * Mark 14:32–52 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 59–67
Readings* Psalm 129 * Psalm 81 * Psalm 102 * Exodus 1:1–22 * Mark 14:12–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 54–58
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 49:29—50:26 * Mark 14:1–11 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 44–53
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 17 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 47:1–31 * Mark 13:24–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 36–43
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 18 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 45:1–28 * Mark 13:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 30–35
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 16 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 44:1–34 * Mark 12:28–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 24–29
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 43:1–28 * Mark 12:13–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 18–23
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 7 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 42:1–38 * Mark 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 8–17
Readings* Psalm 60 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 41:28–57 * Mark 11:20–33 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 1–7
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 118 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 41:1–27 * Mark 11:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 84–90
Readings* Psalm 49 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 40:1–23 * Mark 10:32–52 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 74–83
Readings Psalm 106 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 39:1–23 * Mark 10:13–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 67–73 CommemorationToday we commemorate Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs*. In the third century AD, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus forbade converting to Christianity. Among the many who disobeyed his edict were Perpetua and Felicitas, a noblewoman and her maidservant. During their imprisonment, they witnessed to others in prison, even the jailer, who himself became a Christian. Executed on 07 March 203, Perpetua and Felicitas are remembered for the firmness of their faith — even unto death.
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 37:1–36 * Mark 10:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 61–66
Readings* Psalm 105 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 35:1–29 * Mark 9:33–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 55–60
Readings* Psalm 38 * Psalm 54 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 29:1–30 * Mark 9:14–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 48–54
Readings* Psalm 129 * Psalm 73 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 27:30—28:22 * Mark 9:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 39–47
Readings* Psalm 2 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 27:1–29 * Mark 8:22–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 27–38
Readings* Psalm 13 * Psalm 59 * Exodus 15:1–18 * Hebrews 9:1–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 15–20
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 24:32–67 * Mark 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 24–26
Readings* Psalm 28 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 24:1–31 * Mark 7:24–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 18–23
Readings* Psalm 66 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 22:1–19 * Mark 7:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 14–17
Readings* Psalm 126 * Psalm 127 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 21:1–21 * Mark 6:35–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 9–13
Readings* Psalm 91 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 18:1–15 * Mark 6:14–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 5–8
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 16:1—17:22 * Mark 6:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 1–4
Readings* Psalm 32 * Psalm 3 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 15:1–21 * Mark 5:21–43 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 58–62 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. Matthias, Apostle. A lesser-known apostle, Matthias was one of the seventy-two sent out by Jesus and was selected by lot to replace Judas. Early Church tradition is split on Matthias, with some contending that he journeyed to Ethiopia and others contending he journeyed to Armenia. However, it is in Trier, Germany, at the Church of St. Matthias, that the body of the apostle is interred. He is the only apostle buried in Europe north of the Alps.
Readings* Psalm 73 * Psalm 133 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 13:1–18 * Mark 5:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 50–57
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 47 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 11:27—12:20 * Mark 4:21–41 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 43–49
Readings* Psalm 74 * Psalm 126 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 8:13—9:17 * Mark 4:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 33–42
Readings* Psalm 104 * Psalm 124 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 7:11—8:12 * Mark 3:20–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 16–32
Readings* Psalm 2 * Psalm 77 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 6:1—7:5 * Mark 3:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 5–15
Readings Psalm 79 * Psalm 42 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 4:1–26 * Mark 2:18–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 1–4 CommemorationToday we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor*. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the “Ninety-Five Theses” on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.
Readings* Psalm 12 * Psalm 14 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 3:1–24 * Mark 2:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Comprehensive Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 14–20
Readings* Psalm 9 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 2:4–25 * Mark 1:29–45 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Comprehensive Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 9–13
Readings* Psalm 8 * Psalm 128 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 1:20—2:3 * Mark 1:14–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Comprehensive Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 1–8 CommemorationToday we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.
Readings* Psalm 136 * Psalm 90 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 1:1–19 * Mark 1:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Introduction
Readings* Psalm 95 * Psalm 70 * Job 9:1–35 * John 4:46–54 * Smalcald Articles, III, III, 20–28 CommemorationToday we commemorate Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos. Remembered as missionaries, Aquila, and his wife, Priscilla, met Paul in Corinth, where he joined them in their trade — tent-making. Later traveling with Paul from Corinth to Ephesus, they established a home in the city which served as a sort of headquarters for new converts to Christianity. One such convert was Apollos, who would become known for his preaching and teaching of the Christian faith. He would later travel to Achaia to continue his efforts to spread the Gospel.
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 99 * Job 8:1–22 * John 4:27–45 * Smalcald Articles, III, III, 10–19
Readings* 2 Kings 2:1–12 * Exodus 34:29–35 * Psalm 50:1–6 * 2 Corinthians 3:12—4:6 * Mark 9:2–9
Readings* Psalm 23 * Psalm 87 * Job 6:1–13 * John 3:1–21 * Smalcald Articles, II, IV, 10–16
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 122 * Job 5:1–27 * John 2:13–25 * Smalcald Articles, II, IV, 1–9
Readings* Psalm 4 * Psalm 18 * Job 4:1–21 * John 2:1–12 * Smalcald Articles, II, 25–29, III
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 74 * Job 3:11–26 * John 1:35–51 * Smalcald Articles, II, II, 11–24
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 88 * Job 2:1—3:10 * John 1:19–34 * Smalcald Articles, II, II, 1–10 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jacob, Patriarch of OT Israel. Born the younger of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, Jacob was the third of the patriarchs of OT Israel. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob (whose name means ‘deceiver’) was renamed to Israel (which means ‘he strives with God’). Jacob lived a life of strife and trouble, due in no small part to his own deceptions toward his brother and father. The deceptive nature of Jacob would carry on to his sons, who would sell their brother Joseph into slavery and lie to their father. By the grace of God, Joseph became prominent in Egypt and was reunited with Jacob, who then died in Egypt after blessing and prophesying about his sons.
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 128 * Job 1:1–22 * John 1:1–18 * Smalcald Articles, I & II, Art. II
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 135 * Zechariah 14:1–21 * Titus 2:7—3:15 * Smalcald Articles, Preface, 8–15
Readings* Psalm 75 * Psalm 104 * Zechariah 12:1—13:9 * Titus 1:1—2:6 * Smalcald Articles, Preface, 1–7
Readings* Psalm 28 * Psalm 48 * Zechariah 11:4–17 * 2 Timothy 4:1–18 * Large Catechism, V, 75–87
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 68 * Zechariah 10:1—11:3 * 2 Timothy 3:1–17 * Large Catechism, V, 58–74
Readings* Psalm 12 * Psalm 133 * Zechariah 6:1—7:14 * Romans 16:17–27 * Large Catechism, V, 15–30
Readings Psalm 1 * Psalm 109 * Zechariah 4:1—5:11 * Romans 15:14–33 * Large Catechism, V, 1–14 CommemorationToday we commemorate John Chrysostom, Preacher*. Born around AD 347, St. John was instructed in the Christian faith by his mother, Anthusa. After holding a number of lesser offices, John became patriarch of Constantinople in AD 398. John was given the added name “Chrysostom”, which means ‘golden-mouthed’ in Greek, for his simple, but direct, messages that were beloved by all who heard them. Eventually exiled from Constantinople, after coming into conflict with the local authorities due to his determination to reform the church, the court, and the city, John continued to preach and write right up until his death in AD 407. His reported last words were “Glory be to God for all things! Amen.”
Readings* Psalm 18 * Psalm 134 * Zechariah 2:1—3:10 * Romans 15:1–13 * Large Catechism, IV, 68–86
Readings* Psalm 6 * Psalm 67 * Zechariah 1:1–21 * Romans 14:1–23 * Large Catechism, IV, 56–67 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul. Originally a zealous persecutor of the Church, St. Paul (then Saul of Tarsus) met Christ on the road to Damascus. Blinded by a bright light, Saul heard the words “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” to which Saul replied “Who are You, Lord?” to which Christ replied “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.” Upon arriving in Damascus, Saul was sought by a disciple named Ananias, who had been sent by the Lord to heal Saul. Upon receiving his sight, Saul was baptized and went on to become the Apostle Paul, a man whom God called ‘a chosen instrument … to carry [Christ’s] name before the nations’.
Readings* Psalm 131 * Psalm 84 * Joel 3:1–21 * Romans 12:14—13:14 * Large Catechism, IV, 47–55 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor. Best remembered as a companion of St. Paul, St. Timothy grew up in a Christian household. After meeting Paul on his (Paul’s) second missionary journey, Timothy accompanied Paul on further missionary journeys and was with Paul in Rome. According to tradition, Timothy was martyred in Ephesus around AD 97, where he served as bishop after Paul’s martyrdom in Rome.
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 81 * Joel 2:18–32 * Romans 11:25—12:13 * Large Catechism, IV, 32–46
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 121 * Joel 2:1–17 * Romans 11:1–24 * Large Catechism, IV, 17–31
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 13 * Joel 1:1–20 * Romans 10:1–21 * Large Catechism, IV, 1–16
Readings* Psalm 117 * Psalm 97 * Ezekiel 47:1–23 * Romans 9:19–33 * Large Catechism, III, 112–124 CommemorationToday we commemorate Sarah. Wife (and half-sister) of the patriarch Abraham, Sarah followed Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans on his journey to Canaan. Childless until old age, Sarah was eventually blessed with a son — Isaac — who would become the second of the three major patriarchs of OT Israel, and carry on the line of the promised Messiah. Sarah is remembered for her faithfulness and her hospitality. She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, the same cave where Abraham would also later be buried.
Readings* Psalm 15 * Psalm 126 * Ezekiel 44:1–29 * Romans 9:1–18 * Large Catechism, III, 99–111
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 124 * Ezekiel 40:1–4; 41:1–12 * Romans 8:18–39 * Large Catechism, III, 85–98 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of The Confession of St. Peter. In response to Christ’s challenge: “But who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This — Peter’s confession — is the rock upon which the Church is built. As Christ makes clear, it is not “flesh and blood [that] [reveals]” this truth, but “[the] Father Who is in Heaven”.
Here in Matthew, and elsewhere in the NT, Christ makes clear that He gives the Keys to the entire Church, not to Peter alone, and with the Keys the power to bind and to loose: “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” As the Smalcald Articles state:
The Keys are an office and power given by Christ to the Church for binding and loosing sin. This applies not only to gross and well-known sins, but also the subtle, hidden sins that are known only to God. As it is written, “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm 19:12).
It is truly this confession of Peter — that Christ is the Son of the living God — upon which the Church is founded, with Christ as cornerstone.
Readings* Psalm 76 * Psalm 137 * Ezekiel 39:1–29 * Romans 7:21—8:17 * Large Catechism, III, 71–84
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 54 * Ezekiel 38:1–23 * Romans 7:1–20 * Large Catechism, III, 59–70
Readings* Psalm 104 * Psalm 79 * Ezekiel 36:33—37:14 * Romans 5:1–21 * Large Catechism, III, 35–48
Readings* Psalm 32 * Psalm 51 * Ezekiel 36:13–28 * Romans 4:1–25 * Large Catechism, III, 25-34
Readings* Psalm 63 * Psalm 59 * Ezekiel 34:1–24 * Romans 3:19–31 * Large Catechism, III, 14–24
Readings* Psalm 7 * Psalm 14 * Ezekiel 33:1–20 * Romans 3:1–18 * Large Catechism, III, 1–13
Readings Psalm 85 * Psalm 58 * Ezekiel 18:1–32 * Romans 2:17–29 * Large Catechism, II, 63–70 CommemorationToday we commemorate Basil the Great of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, Pastors and Confessors*. Collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil and the two Gregorys were leaders of the Christian Church in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers, and Gregory of Nazianzus was their friend. All three men were influential in shaping the theology ratified by the Council of Constantinople, which would later be enshrined in the Nicene Creed. All three men are commemorated for their contributions to the Church — particularly to the liturgy of the Eastern Church and to the theology of the Church universal.
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 32 * Ezekiel 3:12–27 * Romans 2:1–16 * Large Catechism, II, 55–62
Readings* Psalm 19 * Psalm 100 * Ezekiel 2:1—3:11 * Romans 1:18–32 * Large Catechism, II, 47–54
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 45 * Ezekiel 1:1–28 * Romans 1:1–17 * Large Catechism, II, 34–46 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. As recounted in the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (and in parallel passages in Mark, Luke, and John), Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although John initially hesitated when asked to baptize Christ, because Christ was without sin and John knew he was in the presence of one greater than he, Christ spoke His first words in Matthew so that John would agree:
“Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
On Christ’s Baptism, Luther said that:
“[Christ] accepted it from John for the reason that He was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is, becoming a sinner for us, taking upon Himself the sins which He had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in His Holy Baptism.”
This Baptism in the River Jordan marked the beginning of Christ’s ministry.
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”.
- Numbers 6:22–27
- Psalm 8
- Galatians 3:23–29
- Luke 2:21 We will ignore the Gospel today — the Gospel reading anyway, and, even then, only until the end of this homily. Instead, let us, somewhat appropriately, begin with the first reading:
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, / and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, / and her salvation as a burning torch.— Isaiah 62:1 (ESV)
Before we turn to the Christian understanding of this verse, let us look at how a Dispensationalist or a so-called American ‘Evangelical’ might interpret it. First, they will typically conflate Zion and Jerusalem — this is sometimes permissible and so of only minor concern. Second, they will interpret both terms as referring to physical locations: the city of Jerusalem and the hill on which David built his city. This is the heart of their error, but they go further. Third, they will restrict both of these terms by making them refer explicitly to the Jews. This, of course, gives away the game even more obviously than the second point: They are simply rank Judaizers.
From a little earlier in Isaiah:
It shall come to pass in the latter days / that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
— Isaiah 2:2 (ESV)
The Judaizers would have us believe this is a literal, physical mountain. Well, we have survey data and satellite imagery. How tall is ‘Mount’ Zion? It is a hill outside Jerusalem and it is approximately twenty-five hundred feet above sea level. There is a peak nearby, under which the Appalachian Trail passes; that peak, Clingman’s Dome, is the tallest peak in Tennessee, and it is six thousand, six hundred, and forty-three feet tall. It is more than two and a half times the height of Mount Zion, which the Judaizers would tell us is literally the tallest literal mountain. I have included in the written (which is to say online) version of this homily a picture of my dog from one of my camping trips with him; the picture was taken on a rock outcropping just north of Big Baldy, which is the same height in meters as Mount Zion is in feet, which is to say that Big Baldy is more than eight thousand feet tall. The claim of the Judaizers is laughable, but is is even more pernicious. If the Old Testament is meant merely for the Israelites — the ‘Jews’ —, then it is not actually good news at all. But the Old Testament is good news and it is not the ‘book of the Jews’ or any other such nonsense. Was Adam a Jew? Was Noah a Jew? Was Japheth a Jew? Was Job a Jew? Was Abraham a Jew? The answer for all of these is, of course: No. The Gospel was first delivered to Adam and Eve (and Satan, but it is not good news for him, or for his children); neither Adam nor Eve was a Jew.
When Scripture speaks in terms of promises and ultimate things, ‘Jerusalem’ is the true city of God — the heavenly Jerusalem, the new Earth. Similarly, ‘Zion’ is the gathering of all believers into the presence of God; where God is, there Zion is. These terms are, thus, somewhat interchangeable, even if there is a difference in nuance. As a Christian, you should find comfort and truth in the Old Testament; and you should read the Old Testament with the sure, certain, and firm faith that the promises therein contained apply to you as an adopted son of God. We, the Church, are the true Israel of God, the promises have always been ours and will always be ours.
Thus, let us turn to the twin issues of adoption and inheritance. A central part of the Christian religion is the adoption of Christians as sons of God. Now, there are some very important differences between Roman adoption (the context of Scripture) and modern adoption (a false lens), but I will write more on that in the near future. For our purposes, it suffices for us to recognize that what is in view is inheritance. To be an adopted son of God in Christ is to inherit eternal life. This, of course, is the heart of the Gospel. Christ’s work, His life, His death, and His resurrection are good news because they enable us to become adopted sons of God and inheritors of eternal life in Paradise — in Zion, in the new Jerusalem.
But what do we say to those who would draw some distinction between Israel and the Church? On the one hand, we should not forget that mockery is a Christian option, but, on the other hand, we should also give a substantive answer, if not to the Judaizers, then at least for our Christian brothers. One of God’s names in Scripture is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For now and here, I will not focus on why this is one of God’s names; rather, I will focus on what it means, in the context of Scripture, to be a ‘son of Abraham’. Hear the words of Christ as recorded by St. John:
“If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.
….
“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
John 8:39b–41a, 42b–47 (ESV)
He calls those Jews sons of Satan instead of sons of Abraham, and He says that true sons of Abraham would follow in his works. Now, we must remember that the works for which Abraham is praised were undertaken in faith — only those works undertaken by the faithful have any value. But let us turn to the great Epistle to the Galatians to see what Scripture says about the ‘sons of Abraham’:
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; / break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more / than those of the one who has a husband.”Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
— Galatians 4:21–31 (ESV)
It is not those who are born “according to the flesh”, sondern those who are “born through promise” who are these true sons of Abraham. How is one born through promise? Look no further than the baptismal font. To be born through promise to be born again — it is to have faith. It is those who believe whom Scripture calls sons of Abraham. But what of the physical, blood descendants of Abraham who have no faith in Christ? Christ Himself calls them ‘children of their father, the devil’. For Christians, then, the matter is closed. Christians (i.e., those who believe in Christ) are children of Abraham according to the promise, and the Jews are children of Satan.
But let us look at another aspect of this. Naturally, adoption and inheritance are matters of headship and to be children of Abraham means to be inheritors of the promised Seed (i.e., Christ), but the promise did not come first to Abraham. The promise traces to the Garden:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”
— Genesis 3:15 (LXX)
It is to Adam — the father of us all — that the Gospel is first delivered — from the very mouth of Christ, no less. We speak often of ‘the old Adam’, but we would do well to remember that there is also ‘the new Adam’, which is often used to refer to Christ, but is also true of Father Adam. Adam was no dullard — he heard and believed the promise of God spoken in the Garden. Adam believed; Adam was and is a Christian. With regard to this new, reborn Adam, you and I and all Christians are sons of Adam — both literally by blood descent and according to promise, for Christ is His head as well as ours. Adam in his day was prophet, priest, and king and he taught the faith to his sons; not all were faithful, but the one true faith was preserved down the line to faithful Noah, who taught his sons: faithful Japheth, faithful Shem, and faithless Ham. (We could draw, here, an interesting parallel: Satan took one-third of the angels with him and one-third of man found damnation in Ham’s wickedness, but let us leave that aside for now.)
We — and I mean my European brothers and sisters — are true sons and daughters of Japheth, for we share his faith. It is no less correct to call ourselves sons of Japheth than to call ourselves sons of Abraham, for the promise was for Urvater Japheth no less than for Shem, the father of Abraham.
When we are brought to faith, we are restored into the godly line that descends from Adam through Noah to his sons and then into all the world where believers may be found. The believing Shemite may look to Shem as a true father of his great race. The believing Hamite may not be able to look to wicked, faithless Ham, but he may look to Grandfather Noah. And we, sons and daughters of Japheth and Europa, may look both to our many faithful ancestors before the fall into paganism and after the restoration of Christianity. None has a spotless genealogy; even Christ must count the pagan, the unbeliever, the apostate, and the prostitute among His ancestors. We do not honor our ancestors — a demand of the Fourth Commandment — by following in their unfaithfulness, but by faithfulness to the one true ancestral faith — Christianity.
When we are adopted as sons of God, we do not cease to be lineal, blood descendants of our forefathers — the African remains a Hamite and the European remains a Japhethite; rather, we return to the faith of our godly forefathers. The Christian is no rootless cosmopolitan, sondern one who honors both God and his forefathers. God does not play with dice and God does not make mistakes; He Who formed you in the womb and knew the number of your days even before you drew your first breath is also He Who set the times and the boundaries of the nations. What God does, He does not do idly or without purpose. Scripture tells us that the kings of the nations will bring the glory of the nations into the new Jerusalem. You were born into a body, a time, a place, a nation, a people. Your blood is neither accident nor incident, but essential and immutable. If you were born a man, then you will be a man in and for eternity; if you were born a woman, then you will be a woman in and for eternity; and the same holds for German, French, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and American. Faithful sons and daughters do not deny or denigrate their ancestry or their ancestors, and Christians are true and faithful sons and daughters, for this is commanded by God:
Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother [that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth].
Let us end, then, as promised, with the Gospel reading, or, more accurately, a (very close) paraphrase of a portion of it:
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the nations and the glory of Thy people Israel.
We end our Service of the Sacrament with these words, for they express the hope of all Christians: To depart in peace and grace, having seen and believed the promises of the Lord. We see these promises every Sunday in the Sacrament and we confess our belief every Sunday in the Creeds. It is the Gottesdienst, the Divine Service, that prepares each and every one of us for death. God knows the number of our days, but we do not; the Christian takes from this comfort instead of fear or anxiety. I am Christ’s and He is mine. And the Good Shepherd has never yet — and never will — lose one of his sheep. He is the Light to lighten the nations and we are His people — the true Israel. Whenever — and however — death may come — and it will certainly come for each of us —, we know that Christians depart in peace, for our eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord, and will behold His face when they open on the other side of the veil of death, for our God has defeated death and the grave.
Amen.
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* Psalm 146 * Psalm 80 * Isaiah 30:27—31:9 * Revelation 3:1–22 * Large Catechism, I, 120–128
Readings* Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 * Psalm 126 * 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 * John 1:6–8, 19–28
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* Psalm 75 * Psalm 108 * Daniel 6:1–28 * Revelation 22:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 20–27
Readings* Psalm 48 * Daniel 5:1–30 * Revelation 21:9–27 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 15-19
Readings* Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24 * Psalm 95:1–7a * 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 * Matthew 25:31–46
Readings* Psalm 41 * Daniel 4:1–37 * Revelation 21:1–8 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 11–14
Readings Psalm 39 * Psalm 38 * Daniel 3:1–30 * Revelation 20:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 6–10 CommemorationToday we commemorate Clement of Rome, Pastor*. An early father of the Church, Clement lived in the first century AD and helped to establish the pattern of apostolic authority that governed the Early Church. In a letter to the Christians in Corinth, Clement emphasized that Christ must remain at the center of our faith:
“Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ, realizing how precious it is to His Father, since it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to the whole world.”
Clement helped to lay the foundation upon which the Western Church would be built. He is commemorated for his steadfast love and perseverance in the faith. Clement of Rome was martyred in approximately AD 100 by drowning.
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 92 * Daniel 2:24–49 * Revelation 19:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 1–5
Readings* Deuteronomy 8:1–10 * Psalm 67 * Philippians 4:6–20 * 1 Timothy 2:1–4 * Luke 17:11–19
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 16 * Daniel 2:1–23 * Revelation 18:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 64–69
Readings* Psalm 118 * Daniel 1:1–21 * Matthew 28:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 57–63
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 18 * Jeremiah 38:1–28 * Matthew 27:57–66 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 47–56
Readings* Psalm 22 * Jeremiah 37:1–21 * Matthew 27:33–56 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 40–46
Readings* Psalm 148 * Jeremiah 33:1–22 * Matthew 27:11–32 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 34–39
Readings* Psalm 54 * Psalm 139 * Jeremiah 31:1–34 * Matthew 27:1–10 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 28–33
Readings* Psalm 51 * Jeremiah 30:1–24 * Matthew 26:57–75 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 24–27
Readings* Psalm 53 * Psalm 55 * Jeremiah 29:1–19 * Matthew 26:36–56 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 18–23
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 50 * Jeremiah 26:1–19 * Matthew 26:20–35 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 11–17
- Amos 5:18–24
- Psalm 70
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
- Matthew 25:1–13 I assure you, the balance of the homily will be in English, but:
Mit ihrem heil’gen Wetterschlage,
Mit Unerbittlichkeit vollbringt
Die Noth an Einem großen Tage,
Was kaum Jahrhunderten gelingt;
Und wenn in ihren Ungewittern
Selbst ein Elysium vergeht,
Und Welten ihrem Donner zittern —
Was groß und göttlich ist, besteht. —
If you will permit me, an English approximation, also in rhyme:
Necessity, with bolt and thunder,
inescapably she weaves,
what scarcely centuries may ponder,
one great day she achieves.
And when she with tempest razes,
e’en an Elysium secure,
And with her storms worlds unsettles,
— the great and godly does endure.
Surely the day of the Lord swiftly approaches, and, just as surely will all flesh stand before the Lord and give account. As the plans of princes perish with them, so all the plans — whether they be the construction of a utopia or the construction of a new hell — of all mankind pass away with the passing of this creation on that ultimate Day of the Lord. And yet there is not one day of the Lord. Yes, if we capitalize “Day” or emphasize the definite article, then, certainly there is but one Day of the Lord, for that is the Last Day (of this creation) — the great and terrible Day of Lord, the Last Judgement —, but there are many (lowercase, indefinite) days of the Lord, for every day in which the Lord visits judgement upon a man, a family, a tribe, a nation, a race, is, indeed, a day of the Lord.
I may not live to see the Day of the Lord; you may not live to see the Day of the Lord; no man knows the day or the hour, and, personally, I refuse to speculate on such things (and I suggest you also refrain from such speculation). It hardly matters anyway — whether we are raised from the dust or merely changed on that day, we will certainly stand before the Judge and Lord of all things, and we are all always only a moment away from that day. I could drop dead here and now (although, as I am writing and recording this homily, and not delivering it live, it would be fairly unlikely you would read or hear any of this if I should die before I finish writing, recording, et cetera). You are neither more nor less mortal than I. We are all but a moment — but a heartbeat — away from the great and awesome Day of the Lord. But we are also some unknown period of time away from any number of other days of the Lord. How long will God ‘tolerate’ our worship of Moloch — abortion and hormonal ‘birth control’ — before He destroys us as He did the Canaanites and the Carthaginians? How long will He ‘tolerate’ our not mere acceptance but promotion of sodomy and all manner of sexual perversion before He wipes us away like Sodom and Gomorrah? How long will He ‘tolerate’ our worship of Mammon before He destroys us with a foreign foe as He did the Northern Kingdom with the Assyrians or at least takes us into captivity as He did the Southern Kingdom with the Babylonians? How long will He ‘tolerate’ our obstinacy before He sends upon us plague and desolation as He did with the Egyptians? How long will He ‘tolerate’ our impenitent, high-handed wickedness before He gives us up to our sins as Romans 1 warns? There have been many days of the Lord and there will undoubtedly be more before the end finally comes. Or are we such fools that we hold to some sort of theological version of the secular foolishness that is the ‘end of history’? ‘Oh,’ the fool says, ‘God may have judged and intervened in ages past, but surely now, in these modern days, He no longer does so.’ Do you not know that God kills each man who dies? And I do mean ‘man’ in the general sense, for He surely kills every woman and child as well. Were you operating under the delusional belief that death is a part of nature? Hear the Word of the Lord:
»Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned[.]«
— Romans 5:12 (ESV)
Death was not part of God’s good plan, part of His good ordering of Creation; rather, death entered the world only through and as a consequence of sin. God hates sin and God hates sinners. Without sinners, there would be no sin, and you are not a sinner because you sin, but, rather, you sin because you are a sinner — it is an inborn and inescapable (in this life) corruption of your nature. You are inwardly tempted by your fallen and corrupt nature — this we term concupiscence; even when you do not actively sin, you still desire to sin, and that desire is itself sin. The Gospel is good news precisely because we cannot avoid sin in this life. We are born under an irremovable death sentence, and God will carry out His perfect justice just as surely as He has, does, and will uphold each and every one of His promises. In Adam, as the federal head of all mankind, we all fell, and so our status, from birth until death, is sinner, and God will kill every sinner, for God will see all sin destroyed. For those of us who are being prepared for everlasting glory, this means that, having already passed from death to life in the waters of Holy Baptism, we will never taste the second death, which is the eternal and inescapable fires of Hell. The perfect justice of God requires atonement for sin. Christ’s work on the cross (and during His perfect earthly life) atoned for all sin — not just the sin of the Elect, not even just the sin of men. Why, then, are not all men saved? Because it is possible to reject this free gift. If I were to ship you a nice bottle of wine, you could refuse shipment, and you would, therefore, not be able to enjoy said wine; this would not in any way change that I had paid for the wine. Similarly, the refusal of any man to believe is not in any way relevant to the fact that Christ redeemed all things in and by His work.
And let us take heed lest we fall: Those who believe may fall away. Look to the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Did the five foolish virgins have fake fire? Certainly not. They had true fire — saving faith — and they allowed it to die. ‘If you were of your father Abraham, then you would do his works.’ ‘Faith without works is dead.’ ‘Show me faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works.’
Are you saved by works? Yes. You are saved — as are all who are numbered among the Elect — by the works of one Man, Christ. Your own works surely cannot save you — cannot contribute anything to your justification —, and yet sanctification is synergistic — in sanctification, we coöperate with the Spirit. Or we do not coöperate and we permit our faith to die. All ten of the virgins were given faith (the fire) and yet only five of them kept that fire alive (i.e., produced works — the oil). A living faith will necessarily produce good works. A bit of grammar and philosophy: It matters where we place the modifier and what the modifier is. If someone says that ‘works are necessary for salvation’, then he is a heretic; if someone says that ‘works are necessary to salvation’, then he is being dangerously vague, and should be corrected; if someone says that ‘works will necessarily flow from saving faith’, then he is speaking the truth, for he is just echoing Scripture — a living faith will produce works. To be abundantly clear: Your works will not save you, but, if you have been given the gift of faith and it is a living faith, then it will necessarily produce good works. The good news is that your good works will not save you (in isolation, this certainly sounds like bad news), but Christ’s good works will save you — through faith. You are accounted righteous via the attribution to you of the alien righteousness of Christ; His righteousness is not yours by nature or by right, but by the grace of God, Who applied this righteousness to you when He claimed you as His own in the waters of Holy Baptism. Baptizatus sum ergo salvatus sum — I am baptized, therefore I am saved. If just those two works — Baptizatus Sum — were on my headstone, they would surely be sufficient. Now, Baptism does not destroy or change our nature — I am still male, German, and pertinacious — my Baptism changed none of these things, for they are my nature, and God made my nature, just as surely as He made me —, but Baptism is, in this life, your most important attribute, for it is Baptism that marks you as a child of God. As a great Christian king once said:
I think more of the chapel where I was baptized than of the cathedral where I was crowned king. So the dignity of a child of God which was bestowed on me at Baptism is greater than that of the ruler of this kingdom. The latter I will lose at death, the other will be my passport to everlasting glory.
The great and the small alike take nothing with them when they leave this world, but your Baptism is your ticket to everlasting life. Your works may demonstrate that your faith is living — and God will reward you for them —, but you cannot plead them at the Judgement. Like your wealth or your intelligence, your works contribute nothing to your justification, which will be the matter at issue when you stand before the Judgement Seat; it is only Christ’s blood that you may plead, and you were washed in His blood in Holy Baptism. Your pastor did not baptize you — God did, using your pastor’s hands.
Thus, on the ultimate Day of the Lord, we must all plead sola gratia sola fide solo Christo — by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ alone. With empty hands, but white robes, we will plead only the blood of the Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world: ‘I know that there is nothing good in me, that is in my fallen flesh, but I know beyond all doubt that He Who dwells in me is my righteousness, my justification, my salvation — and He has promised to confess me before the Father as I have, in faith, confessed Him before men. I plead Christ and Christ alone.’ This is the Gospel. Or, in the words of Christ from the cross: “It is finished.”
And yet we must return to those other days of the Lord. What are we to do about those? Here we return to sanctification and works. God was pleased with Abraham because he had a living faith from which good works flowed; on the other hand, God was (and is) angry with the Jews because they did not have a living faith and thus did not do the works of Abraham. The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament; the God of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament; the God Who walked in the Garden is the God Who hung on the tree is the God Who will judge both the living and the dead. If you have ever said ‘that was the Old Testament’, then you had best be certain that it was in reference to the ceremonial law, the civil law, or some basic fact, and not in regard to the Moral Law, for the Moral Law flows from the nature of God and is, therefore, unchanging, and to deny the Moral Law is to deny God. The God Who cast Adam and Eve from the Garden is the God Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and to Abraham at the oak of Mamre; the God who burned Sodom and Gomorrah to ash — so thoroughly that the location can still be identified today — is the God Who walked with fishermen and tax collectors along the Sea of Galilee; and the God Who guided Old Testament Israel through the desert is the God Who will judge you from His holy throne. He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever. If your god does not slaughter the wicked, open the earth to swallow the apostate, close the heavens to starve the impenitent, send plagues to punish sinners, and actively hate evil, then he is not the Lord God and you are no Christian. God is as active today as He has ever been or will ever be, for God does not change. The faithless and the wicked are still punished; the faithful and the righteous are still rewarded. Children and rain alike are still gifts from God. Plants still do not grow without His good pleasure. He is the God Who raises up and no one breaks down, Who tears down and no one rebuilds, Who sets the boundaries of the nations, Who brings nations into being and destroys nations for faithlessness, and Who holds all things in the palm of His hand and together by His power. Your next breath is contingent on His good pleasure and your every cell division relies upon His guidance. If your god is any smaller than this, then I do not know who he is, but he is not the Lord God. If you do not hold that He blesses the faithful and punishes the wicked, then you accuse Him of hypocrisy and mendacity. Yes, the wicked may flourish for a season, and, in the words of the Psalmist, it may seem a wearisome task to understand this, but we can be absolutely certain that not only does God always settle accounts, but He does so perfectly and at the perfect time. For God, kairos is simply the perpetual and eternal state of things. He sets the wicked in slippery places that their fall may be the more poignant and the more damning — that it may serve as warning and blessing to the faithful. During the (brief) period of Old Testament Israel’s faithfulness, God blessed them both spiritually and materially — and the same holds true for us today. Both we and our fathers have sinned, and so we find ourselves persecuted and in the most desperate of straits in these evil days, but God promises that He will avenge Himself on those Who persecute and harm His sheep. How, then, do we benefit from such promises? By being His sheep — by obedience.
It is overlooked by many — perhaps most — these days, but many of God’s blessings are phrased conditionally — ‘If you will obey my voice, then I will…’ The Jews believed that they would be blessed without faith and without the works of Abraham; God disabused them of this with exile, subjugation by the Romans, destruction of the Temple, expulsion from the land, and many other such signs. Are we truly such fools that we believe we will be blessed if we are faithless? Look at the state of our nation, our country, our civilization, and tell me that we are not cursed, but blessed. Surely God must be close to removing our lampstand entirely, for we are a wicked and faithless generation, an apostate people, a rebellious nation.
And so our task is twofold: We must implore God not to sweep away the righteous (i.e., the faithful) with the wicked and we must endeavor to return our nation to God. The Christian faith is not a matter of quiescence or pacifism — both of which are sin; rather, the Christian faith is an active faith, seeking the conversion of all nations to Christ. The Lord is a Man of war, and we, His servants, must do His work while it is yet day. Christianity is neither a death cult nor a faith that calls upon us to abandon or to accept this wicked world. We are sheep with regard to the Shepherd, but we are soldiers with regard to this, His war. The powers and principalities are most certainly defeated, but we must announce this victory, this good news, this Gospel, first to our brothers according to the flesh and then to the whole world. All of His enemies will be crushed under His feet as He has already crushed the serpent, and it is, in the words of the Psalmist, ‘the glory of His chosen ones’ — of us, the Elect — ‘to strike our feet in the spilt blood of His enemies’. If you do not have one, sell your cloak and buy a sword.
Some will tell you that Christians are called to be ‘meek’, but they will never tell you what meekness actually is. To be meek is to exercise control over one’s strength. Christ is meek; the weak cannot be meek, for they have no strength to control. To be meek is to know when to restrain and when to employ one’s strength; so, yes, let us be meek in the proper sense of the term: Kind and caring toward the sheep, but ruthless to the wolves. Let us, again in the words of the Psalmist, see that ‘our dogs have their portion from the foes’, portions won by our ‘two-edged swords’. Just as we are not to tolerate false doctrine or false teachers in the Church — the Kingdom of the right hand of Christ —, so we are not to tolerate the wicked in the State — the kingdom of the left hand of Christ. As Christ owns both His hands, so He owns both kingdoms, and we, His servants, serve Him best by rendering unto Him what is His. But surely this raises the question: What is God’s? The answer is simple: To the Creator of all things belong all things. Everything is God’s. Thus let us render unto God what is God’s: Heaven and Earth and all that is therein contained.
Amen.
Readings* Psalm 137 * Psalm 130 * Jeremiah 25:1–18 * Matthew 26:1–19 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 9–10
Readings* Psalm 143 * Psalm 105 * Jeremiah 23:21–40 * Matthew 25:31–46 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 1–8
Readings* Psalm 24 * Psalm 25 * Jeremiah 23:1–20 * Matthew 25:14–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 96–99
Readings Psalm 147 * Jeremiah 22:1–23 * Matthew 25:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 89–95 CommemorationToday we commemorate the birth of Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor. Known as “the other Martin”, Martin Chemnitz stands as, aside from Martin Luther, the most important theologian in the history of the Lutheran Church. When disagreements arose in the wake of Luther’s death, it was Chemnitz who became the driving force behind the Formula of Concord, which restored unity. Among his many works, the four-volume Examination of the Council of Trent stands as one of Chemnitz’s greatest works; in the Examen*, Chemnitz subjected the teachings of the Roman church to Scripture and to the Church Fathers — Rome has never responded.
Readings Psalm 143 * Psalm 144 * Jeremiah 20:1–18 * Matthew 24:29–51 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 78–88 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor*. Vicar-General of the Augustinian order in Germany, Johannes von Staupitz was born in Saxony. Called in 1503, by Frederick the Wise, to serve as dean of the theological faculty at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Staupitz would go on to encourage Luther to obtain his doctorate in theology and to appoint Luther to be his successor as professor of Bible at Wittenberg. It was Staupitz who counseled Luther early on in Luther’s life, when Luther was an Augustinian monk struggling with the idea of God’s grace, to focus not upon himself but upon Christ.
Readings* Psalm 121 * Psalm 135 * Jeremiah 11:1–23 * Matthew 24:1–28 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 68–77
Readings* Psalm 118 * Jeremiah 8:18—9:12 * Matthew 23:13–39 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 60–67
Readings* Psalm 38 * Jeremiah 7:1–29 * Matthew 23:1–12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 52–59
Readings* Psalm 110 * Psalm 108 * Jeremiah 5:1–19 * Matthew 22:23–46 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 41–51
Readings* Psalm 15 * Psalm 26 * Jeremiah 3:6—4:2 * Matthew 22:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 35–40
Readings* Psalm 118 * Jeremiah 1:1–19 * Matthew 21:23–46 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 30–34
Readings* Psalm 150 * Psalm 147 * Deuteronomy 34:1–12 * Matthew 21:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 27–29 FestivalToday we celebrate the feast of All Saints’ Day. As Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ, so All Saints’ Day celebrates the resurrection of all those who believe in Him. On this day, we contemplate the scope and scale of Christ’s work — winning for His Kingdom men, women, and children from every tribe and nation. We are, indeed, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. It is such resurrection that allows us to confess that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed”. Today we celebrate with the entire Church catholic the coming eternal Kingdom and the consummation of all things.
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 115 * Deuteronomy 32:28–52 * Matthew 20:17–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 22–26 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of Reformation Day. On 31 October 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ninety-five theses, points for discussion, to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg. Dr. Martin Luther did not, at the time, intend a break with the Roman church; rather, he sought only to address a number of pressing matters, among them indulgences. Rome, however, wanted nothing of Luther’s suggested discussion, and would eventually excommunicate him, declare him a heretic, and seek his death. Refusing to compromise on the rediscovered Gospel, Luther would go on to translate the New Testament, publish numerous works, and, above all, spark a Reformation that would see the restoration of Christ’s Church, over and against the heresies of Rome. We celebrate Reformation Day in remembrance of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love, of His work through Martin Luther that rescued the Gospel, enabling us to stand and, with Luther, declare of the Truth:
“Hier stehe ich — ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen.”
Or, in English:
“Here I stand — I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
Readings* Psalm 90 * Deuteronomy 31:30—32:27 * Matthew 20:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 16–21
Readings* Psalm 56 * Psalm 58 * Deuteronomy 31:1–29 * Matthew 19:16–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 9–15
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 132 * Deuteronomy 30:1–20 * Matthew 19:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 1–8 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles. Simon and Jude are typically listed tenth and eleventh when the Apostles are named; Simon is called “the Zealot” and Jude is also known as Judas (not Iscariot) or Thaddeus. According to tradition Simon and Jude, together, spread the Gospel to Persia, where they were martyred, hence we commemorate them on the same day.
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 25 * Deuteronomy 29:1–29 * Matthew 18:21–35 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 60–71
Readings* Revelation 14:6–7 * Psalm 46 * Romans 3:19–28 * John 8:31–36 * Matthew 11:12–19
Readings Psalm 12 * Psalm 9 * Deuteronomy 28:1–22 * Matthew 18:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 50–59 CommemorationToday we commemorate Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters*. Philipp Nicolai was a German pastor who lived through the Great Plague, which took the lives of thirteen hundred members of his parish. Despite hardships, he contributed hymns which the Church uses to this day — among them, “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” and “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”. Johann Heermann was a German pastor who lived through the Thirty Years’ War, and contributed a number of hymns to the corpus. Paul Gerhardt was a German pastor who also lived through the Thirty Years’ War, lost his pastoral position for refusing to compromise his beliefs, and wrote over one hundred hymns; he is regarded as one of Lutheranism’s finest hymnwriters.
Readings Psalm 93 * Psalm 87 * Deuteronomy 27:1–26 * Matthew 17:14–27 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 40–49 CommemorationToday we commemorate Dorcas (also known as Tabitha), Lydia, and Phoebe, Faithful Women*. These three faithful women exemplified what it means to live a Christian life. Tabitha is remembered for her charitable acts in Joppa, particularly for making clothing for the poor. When Tabitha died suddenly, Peter came from nearby Lydda and raised her from the dead. Lydia was a dealer in purple dye, an expensive and in-demand product in the ancient world; converted to Christianity by Paul’s preaching, Lydia became a patron of the church in Philippi. Phoebe was a deaconess in Cenchreae who delivered Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, in which Paul praises her support of the Church.
Readings* Psalm 99 * Psalm 97 * Deuteronomy 25:17—26:19 * Matthew 17:1–13 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 28–39
Readings* Psalm 107 * Deuteronomy 24:10—25:10 * Matthew 16:13–28 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 18–27 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr. Also known as “James the Just”, St. James of Jerusalem did not believe in the divinity of Christ until after the Resurrection. After converting, James became a leader in the early Christian community, and, after Peter’s departure from that city, James became bishop of the Church in Jerusalem. According to Josephus, James was stoned to death by the Sadducees in AD 62. James authored the Epistle that bears his name and exhorts Christians to remain in and live out the one true Faith.
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 119:137–144 * Deuteronomy 21:1–23 * Matthew 16:1–12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 7–17
Readings* Psalm 142 * Psalm 91 * Deuteronomy 20:1–20 * Matthew 15:21–39 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 1–6
Readings* Psalm 138 * Psalm 140 * Deuteronomy 19:1–20 * Matthew 15:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXII, 9–17
Readings* Psalm 80 * Deuteronomy 18:1–22 * Matthew 14:22–36 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXII, 1–8
Readings* Psalm 75 * Psalm 77 * Deuteronomy 17:1–20 * Matthew 14:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 38–44 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. Luke, Evangelist. A traveling companion of St. Paul, St. Luke was a Greek physician, who would author one of the four Gospels and the Book of Acts. It is Luke who gives us details of Christ’s birth and many other events. Taken together, The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts comprise over a third of the New Testament.
Readings Psalm 39 * Psalm 38 * Deuteronomy 15:19—16:22 * Matthew 13:44–58 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 31–37 CommemorationToday we commemorate Ignatius of Antioch, Pastor and Martyr. Serving as bishop of Antioch in the beginning of the second century AD, Ignatius was a proponent of orthodox Christian doctrine. Arrested under Emperor Trajan, Ignatius, like Paul, was taken in chains to Rome, where he was executed by being thrown to wild beasts in the arena. In his letters, written on the way to Rome, Ignatius warned against false teachings, encouraged his fellow pastors, emphasized Christ’s full humanity and* full deity, defended the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, and stressed the unity of the Church (being the first to use the term “catholic” in describing her). Ignatius left behind a lasting legacy for the Church.
Readings* Psalm 37 * Deuteronomy 14:1—15:15 * Matthew 13:24–43 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 21–30
Readings* Psalm 119:33–40 * Psalm 34 * Deuteronomy 13:1–18 * Matthew 13:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 14–20
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 124 * Deuteronomy 12:13–32 * Matthew 12:38–50 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 1–13
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 115 * Deuteronomy 11:26—12:12 * Matthew 12:22–37 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XX, 86–92
Readings* Psalm 119:97–104 * Psalm 146 * Deuteronomy 11:1–25 * Matthew 12:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XX, 78–85
Readings* Psalm 23 * Psalm 114 * Deuteronomy 9:23—10:22 * Matthew 11:20–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XVIII–XIX CommemorationToday we commemorate Philip the Deacon. One of the seven men appointed to help the Apostles handle the work of the rapidly expanding Early Church by overseeing the distribution of food to the poor, Philip would go on to work as an evangelist in Samaria. Pursuant to the word of God brought to him by an angel, Philip encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, an official in the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, on the road that goes south from Jerusalem to Gaza. In preaching the Good News to this man (and baptizing him), Philip became indirectly responsible for transmitting the Gospel to the continent of Africa.
Readings* Psalm 106 * Deuteronomy 9:1–22 * Matthew 11:1–19 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XVI, 61–65, & XVII
Readings* Psalm 103 * Deuteronomy 8:1–20 * Matthew 10:24–42 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XVI, 53–60 CommemorationToday we commemorate Abraham. Selected from among the nations and called by God to become the father of a great nation, Abraham left his home and all that he had ever known, at the age of seventy-five, and moved to the land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and to his descendants (a promise fulfilled under the reign of Israel’s monarchs). At the age of one hundred, Abraham had Isaac with his wife Sarah — a miraculous birth according to the promise from God. Demonstrating his obedience to and trust in God in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (a sacrifice God stopped by speaking from Heaven and providing a ram), Abraham is commended for his trusting faith in God and His promises. Through the Seed of Abraham, that is Christ Jesus, all nations have been blessed.
Readings* Psalm 126 * Psalm 141 * Deuteronomy 7:1–19 * Matthew 10:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 45–52
Readings* Psalm 121 * Psalm 131 * Deuteronomy 6:10–25 * Matthew 9:18–38 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 31–44
Readings* Psalm 91 * Psalm 97 * Deuteronomy 5:22—6:9 * Matthew 9:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 22–30
Readings* Psalm 86 * Deuteronomy 5:1–21 * Matthew 8:18–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 13–21
Readings* Psalm 80 * Deuteronomy 4:21–40 * Matthew 8:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 1–12
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 125 * Deuteronomy 4:1–20 * Matthew 7:13–29 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIV, 24–28
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 2 * Deuteronomy 3:1–29 * Matthew 7:1–12 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIII, 14–23
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 51 * Deuteronomy 2:16–37 * Matthew 6:16–34 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIII, 1–13
Readings Psalm 119:161–168 * Psalm 63 * Deuteronomy 1:37—2:15 * Matthew 6:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 77–81 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jerome, Translator of Holy Scripture*. Beginning his studies in Rome, Jerome would choose a monastic life and spend five years in the Syrian desert, there learning Hebrew. After settling in Bethlehem, Jerome set about translating Scripture into Latin, a task that would produce the Vulgate — the authoritative translation used by the Western Church for over a thousand years. Originally buried in Bethlehem, Jerome’s remains were moved and now reside in Rome.
Readings Psalm 19 * Psalm 34 * Deuteronomy 1:19–36 * Matthew 5:21–48 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 67–76 Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels*. One of the archangels, tradition names Michael as patron and protector of the Church and of Christians. Mentioned in the Biblical books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, Michael leads the hosts of Heaven into battle against Satan and his demons — a victory assured by the blood of Christ, and announced in Revelation 12:10 by a voice from Heaven:
“Now the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down[.]”
Readings* Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32 * Psalm 25:1–10 * Philippians 2:1–18 * Matthew 21:23–32
Readings* Psalm 145 * Deuteronomy 1:1–18 * Matthew 5:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 58–66
Readings* Psalm 91 * Malachi 3:6—4:6 * Matthew 4:12–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 51–57
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 32 * Malachi 2:1—3:5 * Matthew 4:1–11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 43–50
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 12 * Malachi 1:1–14 * Matthew 3:1–17 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 34–42
Readings* Psalm 123 * Psalm 99 * Nehemiah 9:22–38 * 1 Timothy 6:3–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 25–33
Readings* Psalm 51 * Psalm 12 * Nehemiah 9:1–21 * 1 Timothy 5:17—6:2 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 16–24
Readings* Psalm 133 * Psalm 119:97–104 * Nehemiah 7:1–4; 8:1–18 * 1 Timothy 5:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIB, 1–15 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jonah. Called by God to preach in Nineveh, capital of Assyria, Jonah initially refused his call and attempted to flee. Whereas all are familiar with the story of Jonah and the whale (or large fish), the book of Jonah focuses more on God’s mercy, patience, and compassion. Christ Himself uses the story of Jonah and the whale in describing His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Readings* Psalm 55 * Psalm 119:89–96 * Nehemiah 5:1–16; 6:1–16 * 1 Timothy 4:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 83–97 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. An author of one of the four Gospels, Matthew was called to follow Jesus, and, in doing so, left behind a lucrative occupation as tax collector. Church tradition is uncertain as to whether Matthew died a martyr’s death, and, if so, where.
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 54 * Nehemiah 4:7–23 * 1 Timothy 3:1–16 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 68–82
Readings* Psalm 136 * Nehemiah 2:11–20; 4:1–6 * 1 Timothy 2:1–15 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 59–67
Readings* Psalm 118 * Nehemiah 1:1—2:10 * 1 Timothy 1:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 46–58
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 143 * 2 Chronicles 36:1–23 * Colossians 4:1–18 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 28–45
Readings Psalm 108 * 2 Chronicles 35:1–25 * Colossians 3:1–25 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 11–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr*. Living in the third century AD, Cyprian served as bishop of Carthage. Originally fleeing Carthage under the persecution of Roman Emperor Decius, Cyprian returned and set rules for those who had fallen away from the faith under persecution to return to the Church. Under later persecution by Roman Emperor Valerian, Cyprian initially hid himself, but later gave himself up to the authorities. He was beheaded in AD 258.
Readings* Psalm 1 * Psalm 4 * 2 Chronicles 34:1–33 * Colossians 2:8–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIIA, 1–10
Readings* Psalm 38 * 2 Chronicles 33:1–25 * Colossians 1:24—2:7 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XI, 60–67 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of Holy Cross Day. Traditionally, Holy Cross Day is celebrated on the 14th of September in commemoration of the discovery of the original cross of Jesus by Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, in AD 320. The festival was made official by Constantine in AD 335.
- Psalm 27
- Psalm 31
- 2 Chronicles 32:1–22
- Colossians 1:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IX, X, XI, 58–59
- Psalm 94
- 2 Chronicles 31:1–21
- Philippians 4:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 36–50
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 100 * 2 Chronicles 29:1–24 * Philippians 3:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 25–35
Readings* Psalm 58 * Psalm 53 * 2 Kings 9:1—10:29 * Philippians 2:12–30 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 16–24
Readings* Psalm 61 * Psalm 59 * 2 Kings 6:1–23 * Philippians 1:21—2:11 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, VII, 1–15
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 69 * 2 Kings 5:9–27 * Philippians 1:1–20 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 269–279
- Psalm 131
- Psalm 77
- 2 Kings 4:38—5:8
- Ephesians 6:1–24
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 262–268
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 128 * 2 Kings 4:8–37 * Ephesians 5:15–33 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 257–261
- Psalm 56
- 2 Kings 2:19–25; 4:1–7
- Ephesians 4:25—5:14
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 249–256
Readings* Psalm 90 * Psalm 107 * 2 Kings 2:2–18 * Ephesians 4:1–24 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 241–248 CommemorationToday we commemorate Moses. Greatest amongst the Old Testament prophets, Moses spoke with God ‘face to face’. Moses’ life was divided into three parts of forty years each: First, he lived in Egypt in the royal court, having been rescued by the daughter of pharaoh (and the intervention of God); second, he lived as a shepherd in the land of Midian after fleeing Egypt; and, third, he led Israel during the wandering in the desert. Prohibited from entering the Promised Land due to disobedience at Meribah, Moses was nevertheless allowed to view the land from Mount Nebo, where he then died and was buried (in an unknown location) by God.
Readings Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 108 * 1 Kings 19:1–21 * Ephesians 3:1–21 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 235–240 CommemorationToday we commemorate Gregory the Great, Pastor*. Gregory served both as mayor and, later, as bishop of Rome. Before entering full-time service in the Church, Gregory helped to strengthen a Rome weakened by enemy invasions and plague, and sold his considerable possessions and donated the proceeds to help the poor. As bishop of Rome, Gregory contributed to the Church by establishing a Church Year calendar, which some church bodies still use to this day, and overseeing musical and liturgical development, advancing missionary work in Northern Europe, and composing a book on pastoral care that would long serve as a standard in the Church.
Readings* Psalm 135 * 1 Kings 18:20–40 * Ephesians 2:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 223–234 CommemorationToday we commemorate Hannah. The favored wife of her husband, Elkanah, Hannah suffered through years of barrenness, but never gave up hope in the Lord. For her devotion, she was repaid with the birth of a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the service of the Lord. Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary, which would come centuries later.
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 8 * 1 Kings 18:1–19 * Ephesians 1:1–23 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 213–222 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joshua, son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Most noted for his succession of Moses as Israel’s commander-in-chief, Joshua led a life of devotion to and faith in God. From defeating the Amalekites and being in charge of the tent of meeting to scouting the land of Canaan and leading Israel across the Jordan, Joshua showed steadfast faith in God and His promises. Joshua is especially noted for his final address, in which he, like Moses before him, presented the Israelites with the path of life and the path of death, the path of obedience to God and the path of rebellion, and in which he spoke his most famous words: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
- Psalm 68
- Psalm 70
- 1 Kings 16:29—17:24
- 2 Corinthians 9:1–15
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 205–212
- Psalm 29
- Psalm 75
- 1 Kings 12:20—13:34
- 2 Corinthians 8:1–24
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 195–204
- Psalm 17
- 1 Kings 11:42—12:19
- 2 Corinthians 7:1–16
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 192–194
- Psalm 48
- 1 Kings 11:1–26
- 2 Corinthians 6:1–18
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 183–191
Readings
Psalm 72 1 Kings 9:1–9, 10:1–13 2 Corinthians 5:1–21 Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 177–182
Commemoration Today we commemorate Monica, Mother of Augustine. Despite being widowed at a young age, Monica devoted herself to the welfare, spiritual and physical, of her children. Monica would follow her son, Augustine, to Rome and then to Milan, where she would finally see the fruit of her efforts (and the Holy Spirit’s work) as Augustine converted to Christianity.
- Psalm 72
- 1 Kings 9:1–9, 10:1–13
- 2 Corinthians 5:1–21
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 177–182
- Psalm 36
- 1 Kings 8:22–63
- 2 Corinthians 4:1–18
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 170–176
- Psalm 27
- 1 Kings 5:1–18
- 2 Corinthians 1:23—2:17
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 160–166
- Psalm 111
- Psalm 49
- 1 Kings 3:1–15
- 2 Corinthians 1:1–22
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 153–159
- Psalm 97
- 1 Kings 2:1–27
- 1 Corinthians 13:1–13
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 148–152
- Psalm 139
- 1 Kings 1:1–35
- 1 Corinthians 12:14–31
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 144–147
- Psalm 51
- 2 Samuel 12:1–25
- 1 Corinthians 12:1–13
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 140–143
- Psalm 12
- Psalm 22
- 2 Samuel 11:1–27
- 1 Corinthians 11:17–34
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 137–139
- Psalm 107
- Psalm 106
- 2 Samuel 7:18–29
- 1 Corinthians 10:23—11:16
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 133–136
- Psalm 24
- 2 Samuel 7:1–17
- 1 Corinthians 9:24—10:22
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 124–132
- Psalm 11
- Psalm 84
- 2 Samuel 6:1–19
- 1 Corinthians 9:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 119–123
- Psalm 132
- 2 Samuel 5:1–25
- 1 Corinthians 8:1–13
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 112–118
- Psalm 33
- 2 Samuel 1:1–27
- 1 Corinthians 7:25–40
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 104–111
- Psalm 68
- 1 Samuel 31:1–13
- 1 Corinthians 7:1–24
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 97–103
- Psalm 99
- 1 Samuel 28:3–25
- 1 Corinthians 6:1–20
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 89–96
- Psalm 51
- 1 Samuel 26:1–25
- 1 Corinthians 5:1–13
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 82–88
- Psalm 14
- Psalm 53
- 1 Samuel 25:23–44
- 1 Corinthians 4:1–21
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 74–81
- Psalm 94
- 1 Samuel 25:1–22
- 1 Corinthians 3:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 68–73
- Psalm 62
- 1 Samuel 24:1–22
- 1 Corinthians 1:26—2:16
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 62–67
- Psalm 144
- 1 Samuel 20:24–42
- 1 Corinthians 1:1–25
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 58–61
- Psalm 71
- Psalm 98
- 1 Samuel 17:20–47
- Acts 26:24—27:8
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 15–25
- Psalm 70
- Psalm 75
- 1 Samuel 17:1–19
- Acts 26:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, V, 9–14
- Psalm 50
- Psalm 130
- 1 Samuel 15:10–35
- Acts 24:24—25:12
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 115–121
- Psalm 119:41–48
- Psalm 13
- 1 Samuel 14:47—15:9
- Acts 24:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 107–114
- Psalm 59
- Psalm 57
- 1 Samuel 13:1–18
- Acts 23:12–35
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 98–106
- Psalm 119:17–24
- Psalm 141
- 1 Samuel 12:1–25
- Acts 22:30—23:11
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 88–97
- Psalm 69
- Psalm 70
- 1 Samuel 10:1–27
- Acts 22:17–29
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 86–87
- Psalm 63
- Psalm 149
- 1 Samuel 9:1–27
- Acts 21:37—22:16
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 75–85
- Psalm 119:113–120
- Psalm 141
- 1 Samuel 6:19—7:17
- Acts 19:1–22
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 48–60
- Psalm 137
- Psalm 56
- 1 Samuel 5:1—6:16
- Acts 18:1–28
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 36–47
title
Readings * Psalm 119:57–64 * Psalm 115 * 1 Samuel 3:1–21 * Acts 16:1–22 * Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 12–21
Reader Corey J. Mahler
url
- Psalm 82
- Psalm 136
- 1 Samuel 2:18–36
- Acts 15:22–41
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, III and IV, 1–11
- Psalm 20
- Psalm 131
- 1 Samuel 1:21—2:17
- Galatians 6:1–18
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, II, 35–51
- Psalm 92
- 1 Samuel 1:1–20
- Galatians 5:1–26
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, II, 23–34
- Psalm 33
- Psalm 27
- Judges 15:1—16:3
- Galatians 3:23—4:11
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, I and II, 1–4
- Psalm 119:1–8
- Psalm 1
- Judges 14:1–20
- Galatians 3:1–22
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Introduction, 1–19
Readings
Psalm 103 Joshua 4:1–24 Acts 9:23–43 Augsburg Confession, XXIII
Commemoration Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. Early Christian tradition holds that Ss. Peter and Paul were martyred on the same day in Rome under the persecution of Nero. In addition to their joint commemoration on June 29th (a festival the Church has observed since the third century or so), Ss. Peter and Paul are also commemorated separately in the calendar — St. Peter on the 18th of January for his confession of Christ and Paul on the 25th of January for his conversion. Both Peter and Paul are held up in Scripture as examples of men who, although flawed, became staunch defenders of and evangelists for the faith.
Podcast
- Psalm 37
- Psalm 101
- Proverbs 10:1–23
- John 14:1–17
- Small Catechism, Morning & Evening Prayer and Asking a Blessing & Returning Thanks
Readings* Psalm 119:169–176 * Psalm 89 * Proverbs 3:5–24 * John 11:38–57 * Small Catechism, I PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 72 * Psalm 63 * Proverbs 1:1–33 * John 11:1–37 * Small Catechism, Preface, 1–27 CommemorationToday we commemorate Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans*. Born in England, educated as a monk, and ordained a presbyter, Boniface decided to become a missionary. Granted a papal commission in AD 719, Boniface set to work planting, organizing, and reforming churches in Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria. In AD 743, now as an archbishop, Boniface was assigned to the See of Mainz. A little over a decade later, in AD 754, Boniface was martyred by a group of pagans while working in the Netherlands. Boniface is remembered for his faith and his tireless work in spreading the Word to Germanic Europe.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 97 * Psalm 85 * Numbers 31:1–27 * Luke 24:1–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XII, 39–40 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 132 * Psalm 38 * Numbers 27:12–23 * Luke 23:26–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XII, 28–38 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 22 * Psalm 102 * Numbers 23:4–28 * Luke 22:47–71 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 94–96 FeastToday we observe the Visitation. While pregnant with Jesus, the Virgin Mary visited her relative, Elizabeth, who was then pregnant with John the Baptist, another child conceived under miraculous circumstances. In the presence of Christ, John ‘leaps’ in his mother’s womb, foreshadowing his role as forerunner of the Messiah. This presence of the Messiah also caused Elizabeth to proclaim Mary’s blessedness and Mary responded with the Magnificat, a summation of her place in salvation history and God’s gracious gifts.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
- Psalm 94
- Psalm 149
- Numbers 22:21—23:3
- Luke 22:24–46
- Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 87–93
Readings* Psalm 128 * Psalm 72 * Numbers 22:1–20 * Luke 22:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 76–86 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 58 * Numbers 21:10–35 * Luke 21:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 65-75 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 109 * Numbers 20:22—21:9 * Luke 20:45—21:19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 53–64 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Numbers 11:24–30 * Psalm 25:1–15 * Acts 2:1–21 * John 7:37–39 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 110 * Numbers 20:1–21 * Luke 20:19–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 45–52 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 80 * Psalm 91 * Numbers 16:41—17:13 * Luke 20:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 38–44 CommemorationToday we commemorate Bede the Venerable, Theologian*. Bede was the last of the Early Church Fathers. Placed in a monastery at the age of seven, Bede rarely left his monastery home and devoted his life to teaching and writing. A prolific writer, Bede produced both histories and theological works — his commentaries are still used today. Bede’s most well-known disciple, Cuthbert, reported that Bede was working on translating the Gospel of John at the time of his death. Bede is buried in Durham Cathedral.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 16:23–40 * Luke 19:29–48 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 33–37 CommemorationToday we commemorate Esther. Esther, who is the heroine of the Biblical book that bears her name, became the queen of King Ahasuerus. Using her position of power, Esther was able to uncover a plot to exterminate her people and have the architect of that plot hanged, and his office filled by her uncle and guardian, Mordecai. Esther’s story reveals to us how God works to preserve His saints and to deliver them from evil.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 111 * Psalm 45 * Numbers 16:1–22 * Luke 19:11–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 27–32 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 142 * Numbers 14:26–45 * Luke 18:35—19:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 14-26 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 81 * Psalm 9 * Numbers 14:1–25 * Luke 18:18–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 8–13 CommemorationToday we commemorate Emperor Constantine, Christian Ruler, and Helena, Mother of Constantine*. Emperor Constantine converted from paganism to Christianity and became both a defender and a supporter of the Church. Pursuant to the Edict of Milan, issued in AD 313, persecution of Christians became illegal in the Roman Empire. And it was Constantine who called the Council of Nicaea in AD 325; it was this council that defined and defended orthodox Christianity. Helena, Constantine’s mother, took a particular interest in archaeology and in locating historical sites related to Christianity; she would become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, and she identified a number of Biblical sites — some of which are still, to this day, maintained as places of worship.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:97–104 * Psalm 122 * Numbers 13:1–3, 17–33 * Luke 18:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 1–7 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 1:12–26 * Psalm 68:1–10 * 1 Peter 4:12–19, 5:6–11 * John 17:1–11 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 8 * Numbers 11:24—12:16 * Luke 17:20–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 26–31 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 130 * Psalm 47 * Numbers 11:1–35 * Luke 17:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 19–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 19 * Numbers 10:11–36 * Luke 16:19–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 13–18 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 1:1–11 * Psalm 47 * Ephesians 1:15–23 * Luke 24:44-53 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 85 * Psalm 18 * Numbers 9:1–23 * Luke 16:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 5–12 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 103 * Psalm 70 * Numbers 8:5–26 * Luke 15:11–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IX and X, 1-4 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 60 * Numbers 3:1–16, 39–48 * Luke 14:25—15:10 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 88–96 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 63 * Psalm 78 * Leviticus 26:21–44 * Luke 14:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 85–87 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 17:16–31 * Psalm 66:8–20 * 1 Peter 3:13–22 * John 14:15–21 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:33–40 * Psalm 81 * Leviticus 26:1–20 * Luke 13:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 77–84 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 52 * Psalm 107 * Leviticus 24:1–23 * Luke 12:54—13:17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 71–76 CommemorationToday we commemorate Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs*. Cyril and Methodius were brothers from a Greek family from Thessalonica. Ordained as priests, the brothers were sent, in AD 862, to what is today the Czech Republic, where they taught the Christian faith in the region’s native tongue. As part of this mission, Cyril created the alphabet that is today known as Cyrillic, in order to write down Scripture and liturgy. The use of the vernacular by Cyril and Methodius set an important precedent for future missionary work.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 116 * Psalm 123 * Leviticus 23:23–44 * Luke 12:35–53 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 66–70 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 92 * Leviticus 23:1–22 * Luke 12:13–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 61–65 CommemorationToday we commemorate Job. Job was a blameless and upright man from Uz — a land north of Canaan. God permitted Job to be severely tested, and Job held steadfast to his faith in his Redeemer and in the Resurrection. At the end of the Book of Job, God explains that it is not for man to know the mysteries of God. We commemorate Job for his staunch faith and as a model of Christian suffering.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 25 * Leviticus 21:1–24 * Luke 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 53–60 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 37 * Psalm 150 * Leviticus 20:1–27 * Luke 11:37–54 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 46–52 CommemorationToday we commemorate C. F. W. Walther, Theologian*. Father of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther emigrated from Saxony in Germany with other Lutherans in 1839. Settling in Missouri, he served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS in 1847. Walther would serve as president of the Synod from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. Walther worked tirelessly to promote Confessional Lutheranism in the US. A prolific writer and speaker, Walther’s works are still widely used today, particularly including his book on the distinction between Law and Gospel.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 39 * Leviticus 19:9–37 * Luke 11:14–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 38–45 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:1–8 * Psalm 116 * Leviticus 18:1—19:8 * Luke 11:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 31–37 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51–60 * Psalm 146 * 1 Peter 2:2–10 * John 14:1–14 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 17 * Psalm 89 * Leviticus 17:1–16 * Luke 10:23–42 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 23–30 CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary*. Along with C. F. W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler, Friedrich Wyneken was one of the founding fathers of the LCMS. Born in Germany in 1810, Wyneken came to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1838, and then accepted a call to Friedheim and Fort Wayne in Indiana. During his life, Wyneken would serve as missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including among the Amerindian population; would help found — along with Wilhelm Loehe and Sihler — Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne; and would serve as the second president of the LCMS. Wyneken is remembered for his dedication to preaching and spreading the Word of God and for his commitment to right doctrine and the Lutheran faith.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 19 * Psalm 50 * Leviticus 16:1–24 * Luke 10:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 16–22 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 25 * Psalm 141 * Leviticus 10:1–20 * Luke 9:37–62 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 7–15 CommemorationToday we commemorate Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor*. Born in Alexandria around AD 295, Athanasius would later serve as bishop of that city — a post he held for forty-five years. At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Athanasius defended Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heretics. Exiled five times and nearly murdered twice, Athanasius remained steadfast in his faith and lived his final days restored to his ecclesiastical office. The Athanasian Creed is named in his honor, because it confesses the truth of the divinity of Christ, which Athanasius championed during his life.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:129–138 * Psalm 96 * Leviticus 9:1–24 * Luke 9:18–36 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 1–6 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. St. Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, was one of the first disciples called by Christ. In turn, Philip would bring Nathanael to Jesus. According to tradition, Philip labored and died in Phrygia. St. James, son of Alphaeus and Mary (one of the faithful women who stood at the foot of the cross), is little mentioned in the New Testament and there are no sure records concerning his work after the resurrection or his death. We commemorate these two men as followers of and workers for Jesus Christ, our Lord.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 45 * Psalm 132 * Leviticus 8:1–36 * Luke 9:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 124–128 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 41 * Psalm 76 * Exodus 40:17–38 * Luke 8:40–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 116–123 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 115 * Exodus 39:32—40:16 * Luke 8:22–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 107–115 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:145–152 * Psalm 20 * Exodus 38:21—39:31 * Luke 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 104–106 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 23 * Exodus 34:29—35:21 * Luke 7:36–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 91–103 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 86 * Psalm 34 * Exodus 34:1–28 * Luke 7:18–35 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 85–90 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist. Author of the second Gospel, Mark was originally from Jerusalem, where his mother’s home served as the center of the Church in that city. Mark would accompany Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch and then from Antioch on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas would then go on a second missionary journey with Mark to Cyprus. Tradition holds that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, where he served as the first bishop and died a martyr’s death.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 80 * Psalm 27 * Exodus 33:1–23 * Luke 7:1–17 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 77–84 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johann Walter, Kantor*. Having begun his service — as a composer and bass singer — in the court of Frederick the Wise at the age of twenty-one, Johann Walter would go on to publish a collection of hymns that would become the basis of many subsequent hymnals. Walter would serve for a total of thirty years as kantor in the cities of Torgau and Dresden. Additionally, he aided Martin Luther in the preparation of the German Mass.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:49–56 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 32:15–35 * Luke 6:39–49 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 73–76 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 106 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 32:1–14 * Luke 6:20–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 69–72 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 2:14a, 36–41 * Psalm 116:1–14 * 1 Peter 1:17–25 * Luke 24:13–35 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 92 * Exodus 31:1–18 * Luke 6:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 62–68 CommemorationToday we commemorate Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian. Born in Italy, St. Anselm is most strongly and closely associated with England, where he served as Archbishop of Canterbury for many years. A brilliant scholar and writer, Anselm is best remembered for his work Why God Became Man*, which professes Christ crucified for sinners.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 119:25–32 * Psalm 9 * Exodus 25:1–22 * Luke 5:17–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 59–61 CommemorationToday we commemorate Johannes Bugenhagen, Pastor*. Appointed pastor of Wittenberg in 1523, due to the efforts of Martin Luther, Bugenhagen would serve for several decades in that post. During this time, Bugenhagen would help translate the New Testament (into Low German), write a commentary on the Psalms, and help to organize the Lutheran Church in Germany and Denmark. After Luther’s death, Bugenhagen would help care for Luther’s widow and children.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 99 * Psalm 79 * Exodus 24:1–18 * Luke 5:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 52–58 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 41 * Exodus 23:14–33 * Luke 4:31–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 48–51 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 103 * Exodus 22:20—23:13 * Luke 4:16–30 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 42–47 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 119:9–16 * Psalm 91 * Exodus 20:1–24 * Luke 4:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 35–41 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 30 * Psalm 68 * Exodus 19:1–25 * Hebrews 13:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 28–34 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 5:29–42 * Psalm 148 * 1 Peter 1:3–9 * John 20:19–31 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 145 * Psalm 94 * Exodus 18:5–27 * Hebrews 12:1–24 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 17–27 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 114 * Psalm 136 * Exodus 17:1–16 * Hebrews 11:1–29 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 9–16 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 134 * Psalm 135 * Exodus 16:13–35 * Hebrews 10:19–39 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 1–8 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 81 * Psalm 40 * Exodus 15:19—16:12 * Hebrews 10:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 21-26 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 13 * Psalm 59 * Exodus 15:1–18 * Hebrews 9:1–28 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 15-20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 96 * Psalm 107 * Exodus 14:10–31 * Hebrews 7:23—8:13 * Formula of Concord, VI, 7–14 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 76 * Psalm 102 * Exodus 13:17—14:9 * Hebrews 7:1–22 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VI, 1-6 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 136 * Psalm 51 * Exodus 12:29—13:16 * Hebrews 6:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 23–27 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Exodus 14:10—15:1 * Psalm 118:15–29 * 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 * John 20:1–18 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Acts 10:34–43 * Jeremiah 31:1–6 * Psalm 16 * Colossians 3:1–4 * Matthew 28:1–10 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 110 * Exodus 12:1–28 * Hebrews 5:1–14 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 16–22 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 32 * Exodus 10:21—11:10 * Hebrews 4:1–16 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 11–15 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 88 * Psalm 77 * Psalm 6 * Exodus 9:29—10:20 * Hebrews 3:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 7–10 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 35 * Psalm 71 * Psalm 143 * Exodus 9:1–28 * Hebrews 2:1–18 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, V, 1–6 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 45 * Psalm 130 * Psalm 118 * Exodus 8:1–32 * Hebrews 1:1–14 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 37–40 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 78 * Psalm 51 * Exodus 7:1–25 * Mark 16:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 33–36 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 22 * Psalm 38 * Exodus 5:1—6:1 * Mark 15:33–47 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 21–32 CommemorationToday we commemorate Joseph, Patriarch*. Son of the patriarch Jacob and his beloved wife Rachel, Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, who told his father that he was dead. Unjustly accused in Egypt, because he refused the invitation of his master’s wife to commit adultery with her, Joseph was thrown into prison, where he interpreted dreams for two fellow prisoners. When pharaoh, some time later, had a pair of dreams that none of his wise men could interpret, one of the men who had been in prison with Joseph recalled the earlier interpretation of his dream and Joseph was called to stand before pharaoh. God granted Joseph the right interpretation of pharaoh’s dreams, and Joseph was made overseer of Egypt — instructed and empowered to preserve Egypt from the coming years of famine. Eventually, Joseph’s brothers would come from Canaan to Egypt to buy grain (as the famine was severe and widespread). Joseph used the opportunity to test them, to see what kind of men they had become. Finally reunited with his brothers and, later, his father, Joseph lived to old age in Egypt and was embalmed, but his body was transported from Egypt to the Promised Land when the OT Israelites were later led out of Egypt during the Exodus. Joseph is remembered, in particular, for his uprightness and for his forgiveness of his brothers.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 32 * Exodus 4:19–31 * Mark 15:16–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 14–20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 18 * Psalm 23 * Psalm 6 * Exodus 4:1–18 * Mark 15:1–15 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 6–13 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 39 * Psalm 5 * Psalm 143 * Exodus 2:23—3:22 * Mark 14:53–72 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IV, 1–5 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 116 * Psalm 130 * Exodus 2:1–22 * Mark 14:32–52 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 59–67 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 129 * Psalm 81 * Psalm 102 * Exodus 1:1–22 * Mark 14:12–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 54–58 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 49:29—50:26 * Mark 14:1–11 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 44–53 FeastToday we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she had found favor with the Lord and would bear a son. The same Spirit that hovered over the water back in Genesis would “come upon” and “overshadow” Mary, and conceive in her virgin womb Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Ancient Church believed the crucifixion took place on the 25th, and so we celebrate the Annunciation on the same day, as the day of one’s conception and the day of one’s death were linked in antiquity.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Ezekiel 37:1–14 * Psalm 130 * Romans 8:1–11 * John 11:1–53 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 17 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 47:1–31 * Mark 13:24–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 36–43 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 18 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 45:1–28 * Mark 13:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 30–35 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 26 * Psalm 16 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 44:1–34 * Mark 12:28–44 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 24–29 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 43:1–28 * Mark 12:13–27 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 18–23 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 7 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 42:1–38 * Mark 12:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 8–17 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 60 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 41:28–57 * Mark 11:20–33 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, III, 1–7 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus. Believing the words of the angel who instructed him not to fear to take Mary, then pregnant with Christ, as his wife, Joseph showed himself to be a just and believing man. Serving as Christ’s earthly guardian, Joseph protected and provided for Mary and Jesus, led them in their flight to Egypt, and brought them back to Nazareth. Joseph is remembered for his faith, believing the bare word of God delivered by the angel, and for his role as a parent and guardian.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 11 * Psalm 118 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 41:1–27 * Mark 11:1–19 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 84–90 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 49 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 40:1–23 * Mark 10:32–52 * Formula of Concord: solid Declaration, II, 74–83 CommemorationToday we commemorate St. Patrick, Missionary to Ireland*. Born around AD 389 in Britain, St. Patrick is one of the best known saints. Captured by raiders as a teenager, he was transported to Ireland and forced to work as a shepherd. After escaping from captivity and living in France (as a monk), he returned to Ireland to spread the Gospel. Tradition holds that St. Patrick died on 17 March around the year AD 466.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 42:14–21 * Psalm 142 * Ephesians 5:8–14 * John 9:1–41 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 106 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 39:1–23 * Mark 10:13–31 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 67–73 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 37:1–36 * Mark 10:1–12 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 61–66 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 105 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 35:1–29 * Mark 9:33–50 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 55-60 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 38 * Psalm 54 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 29:1–30 * Mark 9:14–32 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 48-54 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 129 * Psalm 79 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 27:30—28:22 * Mark 9:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 39–47 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 2 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 27:1–29 * Mark 8:22–38 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 27–38 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Exodus 17:1–7 * Psalm 95:1–9 * Romans 5:1–8 * John 4:5–26, 39–42 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 118 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 24:32–67 * Mark 8:1–21 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 24–26 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 28 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 24:1–31 * Mark 7:24–37 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 18–23 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 66 * Psalm 6 * Genesis 22:1–19 * Mark 7:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 14–17 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 126 * Psalm 127 * Psalm 143 * Genesis 21:1–21 * Mark 6:35–56 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 9–13 CommemorationToday we commemorate Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs*. In the third century AD, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus forbade converting to Christianity. Among the many who disobeyed his edict were Perpetua and Felicitas, a noblewoman and her maidservant. During their imprisonment, they witnessed to others in prison, even the jailer, who himself became a Christian. Executed on 07 March 203, Perpetua and Felicitas are remembered for the firmness of their faith — even unto death.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 91 * Psalm 130 * Genesis 18:1–15 * Mark 6:14–34 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 5–8 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 102 * Genesis 16:1—17:22 * Mark 6:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, II, 1–4 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 32 * Psalm 3 * Psalm 51 * Genesis 15:1–21 * Mark 5:21–43 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 50–62 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Genesis 12:1–9 * Psalm 121 * Romans 4:1–8, 13–17 * John 3:1–17 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 73 * Psalm 133 * Psalm 38 * Genesis 13:1–18 * Mark 5:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 16–48 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 107 * Psalm 47 * Psalm 32 * Genesis 11:27—12:20 * Mark 4:21–41 * Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, I, 1–15 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 82 * Psalm 140 * Job 33:1–18 * John 10:22–42 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, VII, 1–20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 66 * Psalm 119:169–176 * Job 31:1–40 * John 9:24–41 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, VI PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 146 * Psalm 119:89–96 * Job 30:16–31 * John 9:1–23 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, V PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 3 * Psalm 119:73–80 * Job 21:1–21 * John 8:39–59 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, IV, 5–19 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 112 * Psalm 119:57–64 * Job 20:1–29 * John 8:21–38 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, III, 12–23, & IV, 1–4 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 30 * Psalm 22 * Job 19:1–27 * John 8:1–20 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, III, 1–11 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Genesis 3:1–21 * Psalm 32:1–7 * Romans 5:12–19 * Matthew 4:1–11 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 42 * Psalm 52 * Job 18:1–21 * John 7:32–53 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, II, 7–19 CommemorationToday we commemorate Polycarp of Smyrna, Pastor and Martyr. A disciple of John, Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna for many years before he was arrested, tried, and executed for his faith in approximately AD 155. The Martyrdom of Polycarp*, an eyewitness narrative, continues to encourage believers, particularly in times of persecution, even to this day.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 25 * Psalm 114 * Job 17:1–16 * John 7:14–31 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, II, 1–6 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 84 * Psalm 64 * Job 16:1–22 * John 7:1–13 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, I, 11–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Joel 2:12–19 * Psalm 51 * 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:10 * Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 16 * Psalm 90 * Job 15:1–35 * John 6:60–71 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, I, 1–10 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 53 * Psalm 30 * Job 14:1–22 * John 6:41–59 * Formula of Concord: Epitome, Summary Content, Rule, and Norm PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 105 * Job 13:13–28 * John 6:22–40 * Smalcald Articles, III:XIV–XV CommemorationToday we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor*. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the "Ninety-Five Theses" on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Exodus 24:8–18 * Psalm 2:6–12 * 2 Peter 1:16–21 * Matthew 17:1–9 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 37 * Psalm 77 * Job 13:1–12 * John 6:1–21 * Smalcald Articles, III:IX–XIII PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 91 * Psalm 119:1–8 * Job 12:1–25 * John 5:30–47 * Smalcald Articles, III:VIII CommemorationToday we commemorate the Birth of Philipp Melanchthon, Confessor*. Philipp Melanchthon, an academic by nature, became one of the leading proponents of Lutheranism when he took up the task of drafting the Augsburg Confession that was presented to the Emperor on 25 June 1530. Earlier, Melanchthon had been encouraged by Martin Luther (who was under papal excommunication and an imperial ban, and so could not attend Augsburg) to take up teaching theology and Scripture. A fellow professor at Wittenberg, Melanchthon’s writings and reforms would have far-reaching and long-lasting impact.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 57 * Psalm 1 * Job 11:1–20 * John 5:19–29 * Smalcald Articles, III:IV–VIII CommemorationToday we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 119:153–160 * Psalm 35 * Job 10:1–22 * John 5:1–18 * Smalcald Articles, III:III, 29–45 CommemorationToday we commemorate Valentine, Martyr*. Executed under Emperor Claudius on account of his refusal to renounce the Christian faith, Valentine has long been remembered in the Western Church as an example for all Christians. Today, Valentine’s Day continues to celebrate Valentine, and the tradition of exchanging written expressions of love derives from a note with words of encouragement that Valentine wrote for one of the children of his jailer. Even the irregularity of the shape of the piece of paper on which Valentine wrote his note has carried forward, after a fashion, into modern commemorations on Valentine’s Day.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 95 * Psalm 70 * Job 9:1–35 * John 4:46–54 * Smalcald Articles, III:III, 20–28 CommemorationToday we commemorate Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos. Remembered as missionaries, Aquila, and his wife, Priscilla, met Paul in Corinth, where he joined them in their trade — tent-making. Later traveling with Paul from Corinth to Ephesus, they established a home in the city which served as a sort of headquarters for new converts to Christianity. One such convert was Apollos, who would become known for his preaching and teaching of the Christian faith. He would later travel to Achaia to continue his efforts to spread the Gospel.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 71 * Psalm 99 * Job 8:1–22 * John 4:27–45 * Smalcald Articles, III:III, 10–19 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 147 * Job 7:1–21 * John 4:7–26 * Smalcald Articles, III:III, 1–9 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Deuteronomy 30:15–20 * Psalm 119:1–8 * 1 Corinthians 3:1–9 * Matthew 5:21–37 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 38 * Job 6:14–30 * John 3:22—4:6 * Smalcald Articles, III:I–II CommemorationToday we commemorate Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul. A leader in the Church at Jerusalem, Silas was chosen by Paul to accompany him on his second missionary journey. Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi, Silas also experienced the rioting in Thessalonica and Berea. Tradition holds that Silas was the first Bishop of Corinth.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 23 * Psalm 87 * Job 6:1–13 * John 3:1–21 * Smalcald Articles, II:IV, 10–16 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 122 * Job 5:1–27 * John 2:13–25 * Smalcald Articles, II:IV, 1–9 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 4 * Psalm 18 * Job 4:1–21 * John 2:1–12 * Smalcald Articles, II:II, 25–29, :III PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 77 * Psalm 74 * Job 3:11–26 * John 1:35–51 * Smalcald Articles, II:II, 11–24 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 31 * Psalm 88 * Job 2:1—3:10 * John 1:19–34 * Smalcald Articles, II:II, 1–10 CommemorationToday we commemorate Jacob, Patriarch of OT Israel. Born the younger of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, Jacob was the third of the patriarchs of OT Israel. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob (whose name means ‘deceiver’) was renamed to Israel (which means ‘he strives with God’). Jacob lived a life of strife and trouble, due in no small part to his own deceptions toward his brother and father. The deceptive nature of Jacob would carry on to his sons, who would sell their brother Joseph into slavery and lie to their father. By the grace of God, Joseph became prominent in Egypt and was reunited with Jacob, who then died in Egypt after blessing and prophesying about his sons.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 127 * Psalm 128 * Job 1:1–22 * John 1:1–18 * Smalcald Articles, I, II:I PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 58:3–9a * Psalm 112:1–9 * 1 Corinthians 2:1–16 * Matthew 5:13–20 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 47 * Psalm 135 * Zechariah 14:1–21 * Titus 2:7—3:15 * Smalcald Articles, Preface, 8–15 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 75 * Psalm 104 * Zechariah 12:1—13:9 * Titus 1:1—2:6 * Smalcald Articles, Preface, 1–7 CommemorationToday we celebrate the Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord. Thirty-two days after Jesus was circumcised, He comes to the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Torah. In offering the alternative sacrifice (two turtledoves or two pigeons instead of a lamb), Joseph and Mary reveal their humble circumstances. In his Nunc Dimmitis, Simeon announces the inauguration of God’s consolation and redemption in and through Christ, and also prophesies concerning the destiny of Jesus.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 28 * Psalm 48 * Zechariah 11:4–17 * 2 Timothy 4:1–18 * Large Catechism, V, 75–87 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 135 * Psalm 68 * Zechariah 10:1—11:3 * 2 Timothy 3:1–17 * Large Catechism, V, 58–74 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 33 * Zechariah 9:1–17 * 2 Timothy 2:1–26 * Large Catechism, V, 42–57 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 107 * Zechariah 8:1–23 * 2 Timothy 1:1–18 * Large Catechism, V, 31–41 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 12 * Psalm 133 * Zechariah 6:1—7:14 * Romans 16:17–27 * Large Catechism, V, 15–30 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 1 * Psalm 109 * Zechariah 4:1—5:11 * Romans 15:14–33 * Large Catechism, V, 1–14 CommemorationToday we commemorate John Chrysostom, Preacher*. Born around AD 347, St. John was instructed in the Christian faith by his mother, Anthusa. After holding a number of lesser offices, John became patriarch of Constantinople in AD 398. John was given the added name “Chrysostom”, which means ‘golden-mouthed’ in Greek, for his simple, but direct, messages that were beloved by all who heard them. Eventually exiled from Constantinople, after coming into conflict with the local authorities due to his determination to reform the church, the court, and the city, John continued to preach and write right up until his death in AD 407. His reported last words were “Glory be to God for all things! Amen.”
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Micah 6:1–8 * Psalm 15 * 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 * Matthew 5:1–12 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 18 * Psalm 134 * Zechariah 2:1—3:10 * Romans 15:1–13 * Large Catechism, IV, 68–86 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor. Like Timothy, St. Titus was a friend and coworker of St. Paul. Whereas it is not known if Titus accompanied Paul on his first and second missionary journeys, it is known that Titus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey, along with Barnabas, to Jerusalem to bring aid during a famine. Likely after the trip to Jerusalem, Paul and Titus parted ways, with Titus staying in Crete and eventually working in Dalmatia and then, according to tradition, serving as bishop in Crete until his death in about AD 96.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 6 * Psalm 67 * Zechariah 1:1–21 * Romans 14:1–23 * Large Catechism, IV, 56–67 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul. Originally a zealous persecutor of the Church, St. Paul (then Saul of Tarsus) met Christ on the road to Damascus. Blinded by a bright light, Saul heard the words “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” to which Saul replied “Who are You, Lord?” to which Christ replied “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.” Upon arriving in Damascus, Saul was sought by a disciple named Ananias, who had been sent by the Lord to heal Saul. Upon receiving his sight, Saul was baptized and went on to become the Apostle Paul, a man whom God called ‘a chosen instrument … to carry [Christ’s] name before the nations’.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 131 * Psalm 84 * Joel 3:1–21 * Romans 12:14—13:14 * Large Catechism, IV, 47–55 FestivalToday we celebrate the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor. Best remembered as a companion of St. Paul, St. Timothy grew up in a Christian household. After meeting Paul on his (Paul’s) second missionary journey, Timothy accompanied Paul on further missionary journeys and was with Paul in Rome. According to tradition, Timothy was martyred in Ephesus around AD 97, where he served as bishop after Paul’s martyrdom in Rome.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 139 * Psalm 81 * Joel 2:18–32 * Romans 11:25—12:13 * Large Catechism, IV, 32–46 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 69 * Psalm 121 * Joel 2:1–17 * Romans 11:1–24 * Large Catechism, IV, 17-31 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 20 * Psalm 13 * Joel 1:1–20 * Romans 10:1–21 * Large Catechism, IV, 1–16 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 9:1–4 * Psalm 27:1–14 * 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 * Matthew 4:12–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 117 * Psalm 97 * Ezekiel 47:1–23 * Romans 9:19–33 * Large Catechism, III, 112–124 CommemorationToday we commemorate Sarah. Wife (and half-sister) of the patriarch Abraham, Sarah followed Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans on his journey to Canaan. Childless until old age, Sarah was eventually blessed with a son — Isaac — who would become the second of the three major patriarchs of OT Israel, and carry on the line of the promised Messiah. Sarah is remembered for her faithfulness and her hospitality. She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, the same cave where Abraham would also later be buried.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 15 * Psalm 126 * Ezekiel 44:1–29 * Romans 9:1–18 * Large Catechism, III, 99–111 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 44 * Psalm 124 * Ezekiel 40:1–4—41:1–12 * Romans 8:18–39 * Large Catechism, III, 85–98 FestivalToday we celebrate the festival of The Confession of St. Peter. In response to Christ’s challenge: “But who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This — Peter’s confession — is the rock upon which the Church is built. As Christ makes clear, it is not “flesh and blood [that] [reveals]” this truth, but “[the] Father Who is in Heaven”.
Here in Matthew, and elsewhere in the NT, Christ makes clear that He gives the Keys to the entire Church, not to Peter alone, and with the Keys the power to bind and to loose: “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” As the Smalcald Articles state:
The Keys are an office and power given by Christ to the Church for binding and loosing sin. This applies not only to gross and well-known sins, but also the subtle, hidden sins that are known only to God. As it is written, “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm 19:12).
It is truly this confession of Peter — that Christ is the Son of the living God — upon which the Church is founded, with Christ as cornerstone.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 76 * Psalm 137 * Ezekiel 39:1–29 * Romans 7:21—8:17 * Large Catechism, III, 71–84 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 36 * Psalm 54 * Ezekiel 38:1–23 * Romans 7:1–20 * Large Catechism, III, 59–70 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 29 * Ezekiel 37:15–28 * Romans 6:1–23 * Large Catechism, III, 49–58 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 104 * Psalm 79 * Ezekiel 36:33—37:14 * Romans 5:1–21 * Large Catechism, III, 35–48 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 9:1–4 * Psalm 27 * 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 * Matthew 4:12–25 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 32 * Psalm 51 * Ezekiel 36:13–28 * Romans 4:1–25 * Large Catechism, III, 25–34 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 63 * Psalm 59 * Ezekiel 34:1–24 * Romans 3:19–31 * Large Catechism, III, 14–24 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 7 * Psalm 14 * Ezekiel 33:1–20 * Romans 3:1–18 * Large Catechism, III, 1–13 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings Psalm 85 * Psalm 58 * Ezekiel 18:1–32 * Romans 2:17–29 * Large Catechism, II, 63–70 CommemorationToday we commemorate Basil the Great of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, Pastors and Confessors*. Collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil and the two Gregorys were leaders of the Christian Church in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers, and Gregory of Nazianzus was their friend. All three men were influential in shaping the theology ratified by the Council of Constantinople, which would later be enshrined in the Nicene Creed. All three men are commemorated for their contributions to the Church — particularly to the liturgy of the Eastern Church and to the theology of the Church universal.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 62 * Psalm 32 * Ezekiel 3:12–27 * Romans 2:1–16 * Large Catechism, II, 55–62 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 19 * Psalm 100 * Ezekiel 2:1—3:11 * Romans 1:18–32 * Large Catechism, II, 47–54 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 46 * Psalm 45 * Ezekiel 1:1–28 * Romans 1:1–17 * Large Catechism, II, 34–46 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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 42:1–9 * Psalm 29 * Romans 6:1–11 * Matthew 3:13–17 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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”.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Psalm 89 * Psalm 132 * Isaiah 58:1—59:21 * Luke 1:26–38 * Large Catechism, I, 276–291 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Numbers 6:22–27 * Psalm 8 * Galatians 3:23-29 * Luke 2:21 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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.”
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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’.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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* Psalm 115 * Psalm 125 * Isaiah 43:1–24 * Revelation 9:13—10:11 * Large Catechism, I, 189–198 PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
Readings* Isaiah 7:10–14 * Psalm 110:1–4 * 1 John 4:7–16 * Matthew 1:18–25 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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.’
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.’
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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”.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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.
PodcastOvercastApple PodcastsSpotify
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
- Psalm 75
- Psalm 108
- Daniel 6:1–28
- Revelation 22:1–21
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 20-–27
- Psalm 48
- Daniel 5:1–30
- Revelation 21:9–27
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 15–19
- Psalm 41
- Daniel 4:1–37
- Revelation 21:1–8
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 11–14
- Psalm 39
- Psalm 38
- Daniel 3:1–30
- Revelation 20:1–15
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 6–10
- Psalm 111
- Psalm 92
- Daniel 2:24–49
- Revelation 19:1–21
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII, 1–5
- Psalm 114
- Psalm 16
- Daniel 2:1–23
- Revelation 18:1–24
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 64–69
- Psalm 118
- Daniel 1:1–21
- Matthew 28:1–20
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 57–63
- Psalm 20
- Psalm 18
- Jeremiah 38:1–28
- Matthew 27:57–66
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 47–56
- Psalm 22
- Jeremiah 37:1–21
- Matthew 27:33–56
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 40–46
- Psalm 148
- Jeremiah 33:1–22
- Matthew 27:11–32
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 34–39
- Psalm 54
- Psalm 139
- Jeremiah 31:1–34
- Matthew 27:1–10
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 28–33
- Psalm 51
- Jeremiah 30:1–24
- Matthew 26:57–75
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 24–27
- Psalm 53
- Psalm 55
- Jeremiah 29:1–19
- Matthew 26:36–56
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 18–23
- Psalm 116
- Psalm 50
- Jeremiah 26:1–19
- Matthew 26:20–35
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 11–17
- Psalm 137
- Psalm 130
- Jeremiah 25:1–18
- Matthew 26:1–19
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 9–10
- Psalm 143
- Psalm 105
- Jeremiah 23:21–40
- Matthew 25:31–46
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVII, 1–8
- Psalm 24
- Psalm 25
- Jeremiah 23:1–20
- Matthew 25:14–30
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 96–99
- Psalm 147
- Jeremiah 22:1–23
- Matthew 25:1–13
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 89–95
- Psalm 143
- Psalm 144
- Jeremiah 20:1–18
- Matthew 24:29–51
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 78–88
- Psalm 121
- Psalm 135
- Jeremiah 11:1–23
- Matthew 24:1–28
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 68–77
- Psalm 118
- Jeremiah 8:18—9:12
- Matthew 23:13–39
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 60–67
- Psalm 38
- Jeremiah 7:1–29
- Matthew 23:1–12
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 52–59
- Psalm 110
- Psalm 108
- Jeremiah 5:1–19
- Matthew 22:23–46
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 41–51
- Psalm 15
- Psalm 26
- Jeremiah 3:6—4:2
- Matthew 22:1–22
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 35–40
- Psalm 118
- Jeremiah 1:1–19
- Matthew 21:23–46
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 30–34
- Psalm 150
- Psalm 147
- Deuteronomy 34:1–12
- Matthew 21:1–22
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 27–29
- Psalm 46
- Psalm 115
- Deuteronomy 32:28–52
- Matthew 20:17–34
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 22–26
- Psalm 90
- Deuteronomy 31:30—32:27
- Matthew 20:1–16
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 16–21
- Psalm 56
- Psalm 58
- Deuteronomy 31:1–29
- Matthew 19:16–30
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 9–15
- Psalm 127
- Psalm 132
- Deuteronomy 30:1–20
- Matthew 19:1–15
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIV, 1–8
- Psalm 20
- Psalm 25
- Deuteronomy 29:1–29
- Matthew 18:21–35
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 60–71
- Psalm 12
- Psalm 9
- Deuteronomy 28:1–22
- Matthew 18:1–20
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 50–59
- Psalm 93
- Psalm 87
- Deuteronomy 27:1–26
- Matthew 17:14–27
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 40–49
- Psalm 99
- Psalm 97
- Deuteronomy 25:17—26:19
- Matthew 17:1–13
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 28–39
- Psalm 107
- Deuteronomy 24:10—25:10
- Matthew 16:13–28
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 18–27
- Psalm 62
- Psalm 119:137–144
- Deuteronomy 21:1–23
- Matthew 16:1–12
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 7–17
- Psalm 142
- Psalm 91
- Deuteronomy 20:1–20
- Matthew 15:21–39
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXIII, 1–6
- Psalm 138
- Psalm 140
- Deuteronomy 19:1–20
- Matthew 15:1–20
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXII, 9–17
- Psalm 80
- Deuteronomy 18:1–22
- Matthew 14:22–36
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXII, 1–8
- Psalm 75
- Psalm 77
- Deuteronomy 17:1–20
- Matthew 14:1–21
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 38–44
- Psalm 39
- Psalm 38
- Deuteronomy 15:19—16:22
- Matthew 13:44–58
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 31–37
- Psalm 37
- Deuteronomy 14:1—15:15
- Matthew 13:24–43
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 21–30
- Psalm 119:33–40
- Psalm 34
- Deuteronomy 13:1–18
- Matthew 13:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 14–20
- Psalm 114
- Psalm 124
- Deuteronomy 12:13–32
- Matthew 12:38–50
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 1–13
- Psalm 111
- Psalm 115
- Deuteronomy 11:26—12:12
- Matthew 12:22–37
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XX, 86–92
- Psalm 119:97–104
- Psalm 146
- Deuteronomy 11:1–25
- Matthew 12:1–21
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XX, 78–85
- Psalm 23
- Psalm 114
- Deuteronomy 9:23—10:22
- Matthew 11:20–30
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XVIII, 67–76, & XIX, 77
- Psalm 106
- Deuteronomy 9:1–22
- Matthew 11:1–19
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XVI, 61–65, & XVII, 66
- Psalm 103
- Deuteronomy 8:1–20
- Matthew 10:24–42
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XVI, 53–60
- Psalm 126
- Psalm 141
- Deuteronomy 7:1–19
- Matthew 10:1–23
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 45–52
- Psalm 121
- Psalm 131
- Deuteronomy 6:10–25
- Matthew 9:18–38
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 31–44
- Psalm 91
- Psalm 97
- Deuteronomy 5:22—6:9
- Matthew 9:1–17
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 22–30
- Psalm 86
- Deuteronomy 5:1–21
- Matthew 8:18–34
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XV, 13–21
- Psalm 80
- Deuteronomy 4:21–40
- Matthew 8:1–17
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XI, 1–12
- Psalm 119:9–16
- Psalm 125
- Deuteronomy 4:1–20
- Matthew 7:13–29
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIV, 24–28
- Psalm 3
- Psalm 2
- Deuteronomy 3:1–29
- Matthew 7:1–12
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XIII, 14-23
Exodus 17:1–7 Psalm 95:1–9 Romans 5:1–8 John 4:5–30, 39–42
Why do we test God? Has not our Father told us that He watches over and cares for us? And yet we doubt. At Meribah, the Jews grumbled against Moses because they did not trust God. In the words of Moses: “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
Why do we test the Lord? We test the Lord because we do not truly trust Him. We worry about almost everything. We fear what tomorrow may bring. We harden our hearts and refuse to cast our cares upon our Lord. We want to have control. We want to believe that what will happen in our lives is in our own hands, and the outcome will depend upon our own efforts — upon our work. More, we want to keep parts of our lives secret; we want to hide — even from God — so much of what we think and do. Do you not know that what is done in secret will be proclaimed? Before God, deep darkness is as light and night as day. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. And it is not only your actions that condemn you, for God knows also all that you have failed to do and He knows your every thought. He knows the anger and the malice you harbor toward others, and He knows the zeal with which you pursue your own selfish ends. In fact, God knows everything — yes, He has even seen every social media post. If you were to ascend to Heaven, there you would find Him; if you were to dig to the depths of Sheol, there you would not escape Him. He knows your thoughts before you think them and your words before you speak them. You can hide nothing from Him. So what do you bring before the Judgement Seat? You cannot plead ‘not guilty’ before an omniscient Judge. You have not yet lived your full life, but His records have everything from your conception to your death. One sin is enough to condemn you. Your situation is hopeless. Where the worm does not die and the flames do not consume, there will all those who are separated from God spend eternity. There will be no escape — the saints, whether in Paradise or here on Earth, cannot pray for those lost souls and indulgences avail nothing. It is appointed for man but once to die and then the Judgement. All will face Christ at the Final Judgement, and He has only two roles in that court: Judge or Savior. How you will face Him then depends upon how you relate to Him now and, more importantly, how He relates to you. At Meribah, God stood atop the rock and brought forth water for His rebellious desert children. That same God Who appeared at Meribah would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and die on a cross at Calvary. His blood has washed away our sins. And He still comes to us today — in Word, in Water, and in Blood. In the desert, He provided the water that sustains life; to the woman at the well, He offered living water; and today in the cleansing waters of Baptism, He comes to each of us. He is the Rock of our salvation, the firm foundation upon which all our hopes are built. And He did not leave us at the Ascension. In assuming His authority as the Right Hand of God, He has placed all other authorities under Himself. We will meet Him at the Judgement, but not as Judge. In the cleansing flood of Baptism, He washed away all our sins. When the books are opened before the Judgement Seat, a great many of those pages will be blank, for not only have your sins been washed away, but God has promised He will forget them. Your sins are gone, and Christ will welcome you with open arms; you are a child of the Kingdom. In the desert, He provided manna to sustain His people; to the incredulous Jews, He said they must eat His flesh; and today, He offers us His body and blood in the Sacrament. He is not gone, for He promises to be present where two or three gather in His Name, and He comes to us in, with, and under the bread and the wine, where He gives us His true body and His true blood. He has promised to be with us even to the very end of the age, and His promises never fail. It may seem, at times,
Genesis 12:1–9 Psalm 121 Romans 4:1–8,13–17 John 3:1–17
Abram was called forth from Ur of the Chaldeans; he was called to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house; he was called to sojourn in a land he would never own, except for a small plot of land with a cave — a cave in which he would bury his wife, and in which his children would later bury him. And what did he find in this land? Canaanites — the cursed progeny of cursed Ham. Although their iniquity was not yet “complete” in the time of Abraham, they would later be sentenced to annihilation. Does that mean these tribes were good in the time of Abraham? Were they more Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner or were they more Sodom and Gomorrah? From God’s words to Abraham in Genesis 15, we must presume the latter.
For their iniquity, God burned Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from Heaven. For their iniquity, God sentenced the Canaanites to be devoted to destruction. For our iniquity, what will God visit upon us? Are we better than Sodom? Are we more moral than Gomorrah? Are we spared like Zoar due only to some small number of saints? Let us not delude ourselves by closing our eyes to the reality of our culture. Pornography is rampant, and children are increasingly exposed to it at younger and younger ages. Promiscuity is now not only ‘normal’, but even promoted as healthy or good. An incredible number of marriages end in divorce, and a significant percentage of children — a majority, in some communities — are born out of wedlock. Our ‘entertainment’ is increasingly explicit both in terms of sexual content and in terms of violence. We worship the gods of the marketplace — we pay greater attention to the Dow and the NASDAQ than to our neighbor, we care more for our 401(k)s than for our communities, and we decline to take God up on His outright invitation to test Him with regard to tithing. More than sixty million children have gone to their graves — or, more likely, the incinerator or even the research lab — in the name of ‘convenience’ and ‘privacy’. Pick an empire, or a political entity, from history — any empire, or any political entity. With vanishingly few exceptions, what we do on a daily basis would make even history’s most despised and depraved blush. Our god is not El Shaddai — not God Almighty; our gods are Mammon and Moloch. We worship our wealth and sacrifice our children to ensure GDP continues to grow. We live in a dark and blind world. The natural man is spiritually dead — totally unable to move toward or even to respond to God. Yet think of that call of Abram. He was called forth from dark Ur — a center of moon worship, which included human sacrifice. God gave Abram the faith to respond to the call, and that faith was counted to Abram as righteousness. Like Noah, Abram found favor with God — he did not win it with works. For what came first: The faith of the works? Only after he believed did Abram leave Ur, sojourn in Canaan, circumcise himself and his household, offer up Isaac, and otherwise obey the Lord. Works follow belief. When Christ came in the flesh, He found a world just as dark and just as blind as ours. The Jews, despite having the Scriptures, did not recognize the Messiah. Nicodemus, a well-known teacher, did not recognize Christ, and could not grasp how one could be born again; he went so far as to ask how one could return to the womb to be born a second time. But what does Christ say? The Greek is deliberately vague: It can mean one must be born ‘again’ or ‘from above’. These are, of course, both true, and Christ further clarifies: One must be born of water and the Spirit. What is this other than Holy Baptism? “What benefits does Baptism give?” “It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.” And do not let the enthusiasts tempt you to doubt: The Word of God promises that Baptism works forgiveness of sins and that the promis...
Exodus 24:8–18 Psalm 2:6–12 2 Peter 1:16–21 Matthew 17:1–9
Joel 2:12–19 Psalm 51:1–19 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10 Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Yesterday, with ashes imposed upon your foreheads, many of you were forced to confront your fallen, sinful state and the mortality that flows from the same: 'For thou art dust, and to dust shalt thou return.'
Death is the end of all flesh, the end of the whole of this creation that has been subjected to futility. In Adam, all men sinned. Original sin is "that horrible, dreadful hereditary sickness by which the entire human nature is corrupted." Original sin is not your nature — for your nature was created by God and is "very good"; rather, original sin is a disease that clings to your nature — it is a disease that is always fatal. You will die from original — and your own actual — sin. This is the end of all flesh. When God descended in His glory as a devouring fire at Mount Sinai, He delivered unto Moses and the Old Testament Israelites the Law, and the Law proved to be death. Adam and Eve failed — they ate of the fruit; Old Testament Israel failed — they rebelled and whored after other gods; and you and I fail — we sin daily, constantly, unceasingly. Does your mind wander when you read or hear the Word of God? Do you trust — absolutely and without any doubt — in every promise of God? You have failed to keep the First Commandment. You worry because you do not trust God; you grasp because you do not believe His promises; you do not tithe and give of your blessings because you do not trust His Word. He tells you to turn and be healed, but you continue in your stubbornness and your rebellion. Adam and Eve chose death in the Garden; Old Testament Israel chose death in the desert and in the Promised Land; and you and I choose death every day. If we were to rely upon ourselves and our own efforts, then there would be absolutely no hope. We cannot fear, love, and trust God as we ought and our hearts are forever seeking idols before which we can prostrate ourselves. Those ashes on your forehead were not a mere reminder — they are a promise: for the wages of sin is death. "Yet even now." Yet even now, turn and He will heal you. Rend your hearts and not your garments, for the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. And yet you could not have turned from your evil ways. In sin and trespass, you were dead, and the dead do not turn. And yet God is generous and merciful beyond measure and abounding in steadfast love. The Church Year is divided into three parts: the Time of Christmas, the Time of Easter, and the Time of the Church. Ash Wednesday marks the end of the Time of Christmas and the beginning of the Time of Easter. In under six weeks, we will be celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, but let us return, for a moment, to the just-concluded Time of Christmas and then refocus on Lent, because there is no Easter without Christmas and there is no life without His death. In His steadfast love, God sent Christ to the little town of Bethlehem, to a humble birth in a manger to a virgin betrothed to a poor carpenter. The eternal Word, Who was with and Who is God, became flesh. That same child just a few decades later would be nailed to a cross for your sins. Christmas leads to Easter, but only through Lent, just as death leads to resurrection, but only through the Cross. 'Yet even now, turn.' God knew that you could never turn on your own — the dead do not act — but death cannot stop Christ. "For our sake, He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Although those ashes on your forehead were meant to remind you of sin and death, you must also remember that your sins were nailed to a cross in Jerusalem — just outside the city — nearly two thousand years ago. The Son of God and Son of Man — true God and true Man — died so that you might live. The ashes remind us of the price paid — the blood that ha...
Deuteronomy 30:15–20 Psalm 119:1–8 1 Corinthians 3:1–9 Matthew 5:21–37
The great ‘promise’ of the Law is ‘if…, then…’. “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, / who walk in the Law of the Lord!” “Blessed are those” who are “blameless”, “who keep His testimonies”, “who seek Him with their whole heart”, “who … do no wrong”, and who “walk in His ways”. But what are His testimonies? The Jews contend that there are six hundred and thirteen mitzvot — commandments — in the Torah, but let us not concern ourselves with such enumerations, for God Himself provides us a full statement of His Law in the Ten Commandments.
Thou shalt have no other gods. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord, thy God, in vain. Thou shalt sanctify the hold day. Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. Thou shalt not cover thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
You may be thinking ‘So far, so good. I have neither murdered, committed adultery, nor borne false witness against my neighbor.’ Surely blessing and abundance will be ours for our great obedience! But wait. Does not Christ speak of these commandments?
Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV): ““You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
How fares your obedience to the Fifth Commandment?
Matthew 5:27–28 (ESV): “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
How fares your obedience to the Sixth Commandment? Have you divorced or married a spouse who was divorced?
Matthew 5:31–32 (ESV): “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
How fares your obedience to the Sixth Commandment?
Matthew 5:33–37 (ESV): “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Have you ever failed to keep your promises? Have you ‘merely’ failed to do what you said you would do? perhaps even failed to do what you told God you would do? How fares your obedience to the Eighth Commandment? Perhaps you yet believe that you have kept one of the other commandments. But what does Christ command? ‘Be perfect, as your Father in Heaven is perfect.’ The law demands perfect obedience. The ‘promise’ of ‘if…, then…’ is no promise at all, for the “if” is “if you are perfect”, but ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ and ‘none is righteous, no not one’. Therefore, the cry of the psalmist is practically a lament, a cry for mercy:
Psalm 119:8 (ESV): I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
The Law always kills. You will find neither peace in nor comfort under the Law.
Romans 2:12 (ESV): For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
Romans 3:20 (ESV):
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.