Peace for
the world
Proper 9
June 30 – July 5, 2014
Peace (rest) is the obvious theme for the coming week.
Zechariah tells of the king of peace coming to Israel; the passage is often
used on Palm Sunday. This promise is
fulfilled by the Messiah – Jesus – who invites the burdened to Himself where
they will find rest for their souls. In the Epistle lesson Paul dramatically
describes his inner conflict and its resolution in Christ the Deliverer. This
theme of peace is carried forward in the Prayers of the Day with references to
God as the source of peace and to us as being peacemakers. The Psalm mentions
the King and thus refers to the Old Testament lesson. The Hymn of the week is
related to the Gospel lesson
Collect for Proper 9 – Gracious
God, our heavenly Father, Your mercy attends us all our days. Be our strength
and support amid the wearisome changes of this world, and at life’s end grant
us Your promised rest and the full joys of Your salvation; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Monday, June 30, 2014 – Psalm
91:1-10 - This is the Psalm portion from which the Introit for
next Sunday is taken. The antiphon is taken from verse 1, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow
of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in
whom I trust.”
Tuesday, July 1, 2014 – Zechariah 9:9-12
– Peace for the nations. Jerusalem has
promised that her king is coming to bring peace to the nations. Rejoice (v.
9). What is there to rejoice about? Can we rejoice over the shortage of
energy, the arms race, the pollution of the earth, the racial unrest, and
political corruption? God gives Israel reason to rejoice — a world ruler is
coming in peace for the peace of the world. If we could have world peace, a
world government of justice, a ruler of compassion, we would have reason to
shout with joy. Has this King not come in Jesus? Christians should be a
celebrating people.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014– Romans 7:14-25a
– Peace for the individual. Christ
delivers Paul from the raging war between the carnal and spiritual selves. A
Christian has a dual nature: a carnal and spiritual nature that are in conflict
with each other. It results in one’s doing what one does not want to do and
vice versa. This struggle between good and evil continues to the point where
one exclaims, “Wretched man that I am.” It is not a matter of a good higher
nature and a lower evil nature. The whole person is in need of redemption, not
only the lower self. The only solution is the redemption of the whole body of
Christ from the body of death. For this Paul gives thanks.
Deliverance (v. 24). If a Christian has not only a dual but a duel nature, the
conflict that persists leads to despair of self. The victim of this civil war
cries out in despair, “Wretched man that
I am!” Is there no end, no way out? Paul found the solution in Christ for
whom he gives thanks for the deliverance. Christ is our peace who brings
together the two warring selves into one integrated, harmonious person.
Thursday, July 3, 2014 – Matthew 11:25-30
– Peace for the followers of Christ. They who put on the yoke of Christ will
receive rest for their souls. This pericope is in sharp contrast to Jesus’
earlier teachings about the price of discipleship and to his harsh warnings to
cities that rejected him. The passage is warm, intimate, and consoling. He
thanks the Father for revealing the truth to his “babes,” his simple unlearned
disciples. His reference to God as Father indicates his unity with his Father
whom alone knows him and whom he knows alone. Though tough demands are made on
the disciples, Jesus promises rest to those heavily burdened if they will take
his yoke upon them, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
A new religion (vv. 28-30). Jesus invites us to leave an old religion for a new one, His
religion. It is not a religion of Jesus but about Jesus. His religion gives
rest from a religion of law, duty, and obligation — a religion of works to be
saved. As the object of our worship, He is gentle and humble. Our commitment to
him is easy and light because our service to Him is voluntary (“Come”). His
yoke is “easy,” because it fits us
perfectly. This should save our religion from being a bore or a burden.
Instead, the Christian religion is one of joy.
Friday,
July 4, 2014 – Psalm 145:1-5 – This Psalm is suggested for next
Sunday. The key verse “I will extol thee, my God and my King” (v. 1a).
Saturday, July 5, 2014 –John 6:35 – This
passage is the inspiration for the hymn “I
heard the Voice of Jesus say.” {LSB
752}.
Sources:
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN
WORSHIP © 1989 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LECTIONALRY
PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is
limited to personal and congregational use.
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