The Word of Christ Bestows Peace on
His Creation through His Forgiveness of Sins -
Pentecost 4 – Proper 7
In his anguish and affliction, Job must be
reminded that, as a finite creature, he is in no position to question the Maker
of the heavens and the earth. Job’s “words without knowledge” are unable
to penetrate the wisdom of the Lord (Job 38:1–2). For the Lord has “prescribed
limits” and “set bars and doors,” so that “here shall your proud
waves be stayed” (Job 38:9–11). That’s how He humbles us unto repentance.
But also by His powerful Word He calms the “great windstorm” and the
waves “breaking into the boat.” He does not permit the chaos of this
fallen world to overwhelm us or bring us to despair. By the Word of His Gospel,
He speaks “Peace” to us, which bestows the “great calm” of His New
Creation (Mark 4:37–39). Therefore, do not be afraid, and do not receive this
grace of God in vain. “Now is the favorable time,” and “now is
the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2).
Collect for Peace: O God,
from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to
us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may
be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear
of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
Prayer for Peace: Almighty
and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose
Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the
God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your
heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise
and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
Prayer for one suffering from anxiety,
apprehension, or fear: O most loving Father, You want us to give
thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing You, and to lay all our
cares on You, knowing that You care for us. Strengthen [name] in [his/her]
faith in You. Grant that the fears and anxieties of this mortal life may not
separate [him/her] from Your love shown to us in Jesus Christ, Your Son, our
Lord,
Prayer at the close of the day: Abide
with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. Abide with us
and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of
our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness,
with Your holy Word ad Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with
us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear
and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the
faithful, now and forever.
Collect
for Pentecost 4: 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.
Monday,
15 June 2015—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 2015—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 2015—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 2015—2 Corinthians 6:1–13—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul speaks of his
experiences as Christ’s Ambassador of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 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 2015—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 2015—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.
The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning, wrote this
week’s “Time in the Word”. He serves St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Casey, and Zion Lutheran Church, Dexter, Iowa
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service
Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Artwork © WELS for personal
and congregational use
Lectionary
summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship
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