Time in the Word - Proper 15 - August 11-16, 2008

No one is excluded for God’s favor and help. This is illustrated in Jesus’ healing of a Canaanite woman’s daughter, who at that time had no claim for held from a Jew. The Old Testament lesson gives us the picture of foreigners from all over the world gathering in God’s house as a house of prayer for all peoples. Paul in the Epistle lesson says the disobedience of the Jews, resulted in the gospel’s going to the Gentiles. The theme is the universalism, but it deals with God’s acceptance of all who repent and believe regardless of national or social identification. God is not for Jews only as was once considered in the time of Jonah and Ruth. Faith which clings and cries out to God “have mercy Lord” is what unifies.

Collect for Proper 15 – Almighty and everlasting Father, You give Your children many blessings even though we are undeserving. In every trial and temptation grant us steadfast confidence in Your loving-kindness and mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Monday, August 11, 2008 – Psalm 28: 1-2, 6-8; Antiphon, Vs.8 The Lord is the strength of His people He is the saving refuge of His anointed. In the Introit for next Sunday, His mighty and saving acts are shown. He saves them as circumstances require – He remains a refuge to His people. God’s reputation and character is at stake. He must save. He must redeem. He must be a refuge to His people. We remain safe and secure as He has come to redeem His own. All who come to Him in faith find security in His saving acts.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 – Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 – God’s house is for all peoples. God promises to gather all people to Himself. Everyone (v. 6). Though God desires everyone to enter the kingdom, not all will enter. God makes a universal appeal. His will is for all people to be saved. This is not universalism, the teaching that in the end all will be saved and none shall go to hell. For the Jews of Isaiah’s time that was a revolutionary thought: that Gentiles and foreigners would be brought to God and would share in the worship of God. In this pericope, a non-Jew will be with God and in God’s house if he keeps the Sabbath and is faithful to the covenant.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 – Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32 – God’s kingdom includes Gentiles. The disobedience of the Jews resulted in the reconciliation of the Gentiles. The Jews’ rejection of Christ results in the world’s reconciliation. Paul now turns to address Gentiles, for he is the apostle to the Gentiles. He discusses the salvation of Jews and Gentiles. This aroused the Jews’ jealousy who will in the end accept Christ. Their disobedience caused salvation to come to the Gentiles, a blessing in disguise. However, God has not disowned his people, for his all and gifts are irrevocable. Both Jews and Gentiles will receive mercy for their disobedience.

Thursday, August 14, 2008 – Matthew 15:21-28 – God’s Son heals one of another race. Jesus hears the persistent appeal of a Canaanite woman. Jesus yields to the persistent pleas of a Canaanite mother. Jesus retired to a territory outside Israel and consequently he is approached by a pagan Gentile mother, a Canaanite, to heal her mentally-ill daughter. Is Jesus’ ministry limited to the Jews? At first it seems so, because Jesus told her that his ministry was for the Jews. She persisted in her appeals until he was impressed with her faith in him. As a result, she was complimented and her daughter was instantly healed. In this story we learn of the universality of Christ’s ministry and we see that faith has no racial boundaries.

Friday, August 15, 2008 - Psalm 67- The Psalm appointed for next Sunday is a communal prayer seeking the Lord’s blessing. Possibly it was used as a benediction at the close of worship. God’s blessing His people as well as His saving acts on their behalf will catch the attention of the nations and move them to praise His holy name.

Saturday, August 16, 2008 –2 Corinthians 3:18 – This passage is the inspiration for the hymn “Renew Me, O Eternal light.” In contrast to Moses, being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory Christ Himself is the glory of God in the fullness of its radiance, his is the eternal and unfading glory which He has with the Father before the world began. We who believe are made partakers in this glory by being gradually transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Sources:
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts Zachariah names John, Jesus feeds the 5,000 © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.