The theme of Lent 1 deals
with sin: origin, continuation, and conquest. In our Old Testament lesson, we
have the account of the first original sin through the yielding to temptation.
In the Gospel Jesus succeeded in overcoming temptation. In the Epistle, we are
told that sin is conquered through Christ. The theme is carried out in the
Prayer of the Day by reference to “the
wilderness of this world,” a wilderness of temptation. The refrain in verse
4a of Psalm 130 refers to the solution of sin as in the Epistle –
“forgiveness.” The Hymn of the Day is
appropriate in that Luther refers to “though
devils all the world should fill…one little word can fell him.”
Is the Devil real? He is very much alive. The evidence of
temptation and wickedness confirms his existence. For Jesus, the devil was a
reality in the wilderness experience. The origin of Satan is not the question.
Our problem is overcoming Satan’s temptation lest we sin.
Collect
for Tuesday before Ash Wednesday: God our Father, teach us to cherish
the gifts that surround us. Increase our faith in You and bring our trust to
its promised fulfillment in the joy of Your kingdom. Grant this through Christ
our Lord. Amen
Collect
for Ash Wednesday: Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and
contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we
may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
Collects
for Lent 1: O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the
wilderness and brought them to the Promised Land. Guide the people of Your
Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this
world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
Lord God, our strength, the battle of good and evil
rages within and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his deceits and
empty promises. Keep us steadfast in Your word, and, when we fall, raise us up
again and restore us through Your Son.
Monday, 3 March 2014—Psalm 91:9-13;
antiphon, Psalm 91:15-16—In the Introit for
Sunday, we pray, When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him
in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014—Psalm 32:1-7—key
verse, 7a—The Psalm appointed for this coming Sunday is an exuberant
proclamation of the happy and blessed state of those who experience God’s
forgiveness. Blessed…Blessed. Repetition underscores—are forgiven…are
covered…does not count against him. Repetition with variation emphasizes and
illumines. Paul will pick up on this theme in Romans 4:6-8.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014—Genesis
3:1-21—In the Old Testament lesson, we learn that yielding to temptation is a
sin as Adam and Eve yield to temptation. Before temptation, the human person
was good, in fact – perfect. He said, felt, and did no wrong. This is God’s
intention for the human family. In God’s sight, this is what it means to be
human. Since the fall of humanity, he constantly yields to temptation and sins
to the point of total depravity – sin permeates his whole being. Because of
this, he needs to be redeemed and reconciled to God that he may live as he was
originally created.
Thursday, 6
March 2014—Romans 5:12-19—In our Epistle lesson, sin’s solution is the one man Jesus Christ.
Through one man came sin; through another man came righteousness.
The solution to sin is death. The solution is Jesus, the one man who
lived perfectly, who died redemptively.
Through this one man, grace came to humanity, and with grace came life.
Through Jesus, humanity has the restoration of its original state;
righteousness and innocence in perfect accord with God.
Friday, 7 March 2014—Matthew
4:1-11—In the Gospel lesson,
temptation to sin can be conquered as Jesus overcomes temptation in the
wilderness. Jesus was “tempted by the
devil.” If Satan is the author of
temptation, why do we pray, “Lead us not into temptation?” In this petition, we
pray for strength to withstand temptation.
Saturday, 8 March 2014—Psalm 46–Tomorrow’s
hymn of the week is LSB #656, “A Mighty
Fortress.” This Psalm is
a triumphant confession of fearless trust in God, though the continents break
up and sink beneath the resurging waters of the seas, though the creation
itself may seem to become uncreated and all may appear to be going down before
the onslaught of the primeval deep. In
verses 4-6, we have a description of blessed Zion – a comforting declaration of
God’s mighty, sustaining presence in His city.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book
© 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A
by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima
OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for
and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi , NY
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS
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