Collect for the
Circumcision and Name of Jesus (1 January): Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and
caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of
the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
Collect for the
Commemoration of St Stephen (26 December): Heavenly Father, in the midst of
our sufferings for the sake of Christ, grant us grace to follow the example of
the first martyr, Stephen, that we also may look to the One who suffered and
was crucified on our behalf, and pray for those who do us wrong; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Collect for the
Commemoration of St John (27 December): Merciful
Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being
instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist John, may
come to the light of everlasting life;
Collect for the
Commemoration of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem (28 December): Almighty God, the martyred innocents of
Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death
in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to
the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Prayer for the New
Year: Eternal God, we commit to Your
mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love
the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit
that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Prayer for grace to
receive the Word: Blessed Lord, You
have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we
may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience
and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed
hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Prayer before the
study of God’s Word: Almighty God,
our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your
light our search is in vain. Invigorate our study of Your holy Word that, by
due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in
Your holy faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Circumcision, the covenant God made with Abraham and his
Seed, sealed His promises and blessings in the flesh, but it also signified the
burden of the Law. When the Lord Jesus came in the flesh to redeem His people,
He subjected Himself to that Law in order to fulfill the Law and release all
people from its bondage. “He was called Jesus” (Luke 2:21), because He came to
save His people from their sins. Jesus first shed His blood on our behalf when
“He was circumcised” (Luke 2:21), thus foreshadowing His shedding of blood as
He sacrificed Himself upon the Cross. We are “justified by faith” in His blood
(Gal. 3:24). Therefore, we “are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to
promise” (Gal. 3:29), not by the circumcision of our flesh, but in the flesh
and blood of Christ Jesus, the true Seed of Abraham. “Baptized into Christ,” we
belong to Him and are clothed and covered by His righteousness (Gal. 3:27).
Holy Baptism is the true circumcision made without hands, by which the Lord
Jesus puts His Name on us and blesses us (Num. 6:22, 27).
Monday, 26 December
2011—Psalm 40:6–8 ; antiphon,
Psalm 40:16 —Jesus
has come in the flesh and fulfilled the entire Law for us, beginning with His
fulfilling of the Law of Circumcision. Neither are animal sacrifices necessary
any longer, for these were only meant to point to the One who became the
supreme, once-for-all Sacrifice for the sins of the world; hence, David writes:
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an
open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. What is
required for salvation is faith, received by the ear which God opens and into
which He speaks His saving Gospel message.
Tuesday, 27 December
2011—Psalm
8 —Psalm
8 is a song of great praise to God for all the mighty works He has
done in creating the universe, the earth, and all that is in them. But the
greatest work of all, is that He sent His Son into the world to assume flesh,
the uncreated One becoming part of the creation, that He might redeem creation
from the curse under which it fell when Adam and Eve first sinned. The Son of
God, Creator of all things, it is He who has been made a little lower than
the heavenly beings; yet, because of His work of salvation, He has been crowned
with glory and honor.
Wednesday, 28
December 2011—Numbers 6:22–27 —The Old
Testament reading for next week is the well-known Aaronic benediction. The word
benediction comes from the Latin word that means to bless. It is
called the Aaronic benediction, because it was first given, here in
Numbers, to the High Priest Aaron, brother of Moses, to bless the Children of
Israel. Note that it is pure blessing; it makes no demands of the people, but
simply is a declaration of God’s benefit to them. They had been given His Name,
and thus received a blessing.
Thursday, 29 December
2011—Galatians 3:23–29 —As God declared in the Old Testament
reading, He had put His Name on the people and they received His blessing.
Likewise, He has put His Name on us, too, and, consequently, we also receive
His blessings. In Holy Baptism, we were given the gift of faith and the
forgiveness of sins. Baptized into the name of Christ, we are heirs and
recipients of all of God’s blessings: forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Friday, 30 December
2011—Luke 2:21 —Next Sunday’s Gospel reading is very short—only
one verse! It tells of the circumcision and naming of Jesus on the eighth day
of His life. Fulfilling the Law of Moses with regard to circumcision, He first
shed His blood for us. Receiving the name which had been told to Mary by the
angel Gabriel, it reflects who He is and what He came to do; for the name JESUS
means the Lord (Yahweh) saves. Jesus is true God, come down from heaven
for one purpose: the salvation of as many as will believe in Him.
Saturday, 31 December
2011—The hymn of the day, Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love (LSB #900),
extols the Name that was given to the Savior at His circumcision, the Name that
St Paul says is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9–10 ).
Lectionary summary on front page from LCMS Commission on
Worship
Artwork Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld © WELS
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House
This week’s Time in the Word is written by The Revd Jeffrey
M. Keuning, Pastor of St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Casey, IA and Zion
Lutheran Church, Dexter, IA
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