The theme for the Third Sunday after Pentecost is The Creator and the Creature. The Introit sets the theme by recounting how the Lord delivered His people when they were at the mercy of the elements. They responded by thanking the Lord for His ‘steadfast love,’ that is, His mercy, His undeserved favor. When Job demanded to be able to question God and His actions, the Lord responded that He is the Creator of all things. No one was there to assist Him or tell Him how to do things. In the Gospel, Jesus, who created all things, stills a storm which terrified His disciples. Why? Because of His steadfast love, His mercy, His undeserved favor.
The Lord continues to shower His mercy upon us. The catechism’s definition of the Gospel is ‘what God has done for us in Christ and continues to do.’ Jesus died for we who were beset by sin, death, and the devil. But His steadfast love, His mercy, His undeserved favor, He continues to show to us daily.
Monday, 15 June 2009—Psalm 107:29–32; Antiphon, Psalm 107:28—This psalm recounts many of the things that the Lord has done for His people, and exhorts them to praise Him for them. In the section appointed for Sunday’s Introit, the Lord is given praise for manifesting His might by delivering His people from the storms of nature. This sets the theme for the day, where all the readings point to the authority of the Creator over His creation, and His continuing governance.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009—Psalm 124—This Song of Ascents, that pilgrims sang on their way up to Jerusalem, praises the Lord for His deliverance of His people from catastrophes of nature. Twice, it is sung, If the Lord had not been on our side…Those who sing the psalm recognize that their only hope of salvation is in the Lord. We echo this in the daily offices, such as Matins and Vespers, and when we confess our sins in the Divine Service, when we repeat verse eight: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009—Job 38:1–11—At the end of the book of Job, God answers Job, who has demanded the opportunity to interrogate Him for the calamities which have befallen Job. God answers with an interrogation of His own: Who is Job to question the Creator of all things? The Lord, who laid the foundation of the earth and determined its measurements, who prescribed limits for the sea, knows what He is doing. How can the creature second-guess the Creator?
Thursday, 18 June 2009—2 Corinthians 6:1–13—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul speaks of his experiences as Christ’s Ambassador of Reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20). He tells of these things not to boast, but because what people see in the messenger affects the credibility of the message. In verse 6, he speaks of the reason he was able to withstand these hardships and still bring forth the fruits of righteousness: it is solely the work of God, especially the Holy Spirit. God, the Creator of all things, is also able to create the New Man, who lives before God in righteousness and purity,
Friday, 19 June 2009—Mark 4:35–41—Terrified by a storm which came upon them quickly on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were powerless to escape it or overcome it. Jesus, however, through whom all things were created (John 1:3), is able to calm the seas by the command of His voice. After all, He is God, who brought all things into existence by speaking, ‘Let there be…’ (Genesis 1)
Saturday, 20 June 2009—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (LSB 715), uses the imagery of a stormy sea to represent the trials and tribulations which are part of our lives as long as we live in this fallen, sinful world. But Jesus is able to still those seas, as He did the Sea of Galilee, and bring comfort to us. True comfort can come only through Jesus, for He is our Salvation.
Collect for Pentecost 3—Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 by Concordia Publishing House
Schnorr vin Carolsfeld woodcuts copyright by WELS The permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.
June daily devotionals are written by Pr. Keffrey Keuning who serves the congregations of St. John Dexter and Zion in Casey, IA
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