Time in the
Word
Proper 28 - 2nd to Last Sunday of the
Church Year
November
7-12, 2011
Preparation
for the Lord’s Coming
The Lessons for this coming week again help us prepare for
the coming of our Lord. In the Old Testament lesson the prophet Zephaniah
reminds us of the reason the Lord must return. Sin will cause death and
destruction. In the Epistle lesson Paul assures his readers the children of
light will not be surprised when the day of the Lord suddenly comes. The
Christians of the first century were concerned about the exact date of Jesus’
return. Paul reminded them that no exact day can be determined, for Jesus will
come suddenly and unexpectedly as a thief comes in the night. In the Gospel
lesson we are given the parable of the talents. This is another parable related
to the Lord’s return. According to the parable, the return is long delayed (v.
19). The servants are asked to give an account of their investment. Two
servants doubled the investment and the third preserved what he was given. The
third servant was condemned for not making the most of his talent. It was taken
from him and given to the other two. Jesus has ascended and his return has been
delayed. When he comes, he will ask for an accounting whether they worked for
him while he was absent or whether they cared only for their security. A
hoarded gift is lost and the hoarder is condemned.
Monday, 07 November 2011 - Psalm 143:5-6, 10-11 - The Antiphon for this coming Sunday is from Psalm143:1 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my pleas
for mercy! In Your faithfulness answer me, in Your righteousness!” David
calls for deliverance from his enemies and for divine leading. As he makes his
appeal to the Lord he is confident the Lord will act on his account. Thus we
are directed to pray in the morning and evening “…into Thy hands I commend
myself…”
Tuesday, 08 November 2011 –
Zephaniah 1:7-16- The prophet reminds his hearers sin will cause
destruction and death. Zephaniah calls upon the nation to be “silent” before God.
Similarly a psalmist wrote, “Be still and know that I am God.” If one is to
hear what God has to say, there must be silence. Because of this, silence is
requested in a library or concert hall. But, there is greater reason for
silence. In the face of something catastrophic or terrible, our only reaction
is silence. When the seal is broken in heaven, there is a half hour of silence.
Zephaniah has a dreadful word from God: The day of the Lord is coming as a day
of doom, gloom, destruction, and death for all people. That is enough to shock
us into silence.
The “end” is final. There is nothing beyond or it would not
be the end. The wrath of God will not be spent until the end of everything. It
reminds us of the result of nuclear warfare and the end of the earth. This
passage gives us no hope, no solution. The end is promised and it will come,
unless.... Or, is it too late?
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 –
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -Since
Christians they are children of the day (righteousness) and not of the night
(wickedness), they are to remain sober and awake. To be ready and to be
equipped to do battle against evil, they are to be equipped with faith, hope,
and love. Paul comforts and assures them that God has not destined them to
wrath, but to salvation so that whether they live or die, they might be with
the Lord.
Thursday, 10 November 2011 – Matthew 25:14-30 –
What the servants have is not their own. The rich man of the parable gave his
property to his servants as a trust until he returned. As servants of God, all
we have has been given to us: our world, gifts, and our very own lives. Thus,
we are stewards of God’s wealth. We are not free to do with his possessions as
we wish. God holds us accountable for what we did or did not do with his
property.
The Bible teaches us to fear God, but not to be afraid of
him. The servant who did nothing with his talent was afraid of God. Though God
is a just God who demands justice, holiness, and righteousness, we need not be
afraid of him, for he loves us. Fear him? Yes! Fear him in terms of reverence
and awe! When we are afraid, we freeze, hold back, fear to venture. The servant
was afraid he would lose his one talent and he knew the master would demand a
return of his money. In all ways, fear in terms of being afraid, makes us
inhibited, cautious, and withholding. Love dares to venture and invest.
Friday, 11 November 2011 Psalm 90:1-12 - This Psalm is the appointed for this Sunday. Verse 17 is the key verse, ““Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon
us” David says, as You Lord only have been our security in the world so
also make our labors to be effective and enduring – though we are so transient.
Saturday, 12 November 2011 Luke 21:25-36 - Our reading is the inspiration for the hymn; “The Day is Surely Drawing Near”. As the
Church year comes to a close so we look to the time of Christ’s second coming.
We need not fear these days for we are confident of Him who orders our days and
directs our path.
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.
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