Pentecost 6– Proper 9
June 29 –July 4, 2115
The
theme for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9) will focus upon the word
of the minister (prophet). His work of proclamation is very difficult due to
the unreceptive attitude of the people to whom he is sent to preach. Even Jesus
in the Gospel lesson didn’t do a good work in His hometown because the people
do not believe in Him. Ezekiel is called (Old Testament lesson) to preach to a
people whom God describes as “impudent and stubborn.” Paul, (in the Epistle
lesson) prays to have a thorn removed that he might be more effective in his
ministry, but the request is denied. We are blessed with pastor and people work
in harmony and peace. Yet we live in a broken world. May we pray the Spirit’s
help to always be open and receptive to the preaching of God’s holy Word.
Collect
for Pentecost 6—Grant, Lord, that the course of this world may be so
governed by Your direction that Your Church may rejoice in serving You in godly
peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen
Collect
for Proper 9 – O God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in
showing mercy. Grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be called to
repentance and made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One
God, now and forever. Amen
Collect
for the Feast of St Peter and Paul, Apostles (29 June): Merciful
and eternal God, Your holy apostles Peter and Paul received grace and strength
to lay down their lives for the sake of Your Son. Strengthen us by Your Holy
Spirit that we may confess Your truth and at all times be ready to lay down our
lives for Him who laid down His life for us, even Jesus Christ, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer
in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most merciful God,
in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into
eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy
will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that
we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the
dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer for our country: Almighty
God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember
Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest
industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from
violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil
course of action. Make us who come from many nations with many different
languages a untied people. Defend our liberties, and give those whom we have
entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom that they may
be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be
thankful. In troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen
Monday,
29 June 2015—Psalm 132:13-16; Antiphon, Psalm 34:8— David
reminds us to “taste and see that the Lord is good” The
circumstances surrounding each of our lessons for next week might suggest that
all is not well. Yet the Psalmist reminds us that our Lord’s care for His
people goes beyond circumstance. He is our Lord in good times and in stressful
times. He is with us when we are successful in life and when there are objects
“in our road”. Despite obstacles to ministry, the Lord’s church moves forward.
As we see the Lord active in His church and in the individual lives of His
people, we can join with the Psalmist and say, “taste and see that the
Lord is good!”
Tuesday,
30 June 2015—Psalm 123—This
Psalm of David is a prayer of God’s humble people for Him to show mercy and so
foil the contempt of the proud. There are many obstacles to ministry in this
world. This earth is fallen. Yet despite obstacles, the Lord has not left His
church to ruin nor has He turned His back on us. To the contrary, this psalm
speaks of God’s control of the universe, His church and His people. Fare
thee well child of God the Lord remains constant regardless of the contempt and
ridicule the world might bring upon us.
Wednesday,
1 July 2015—Ezekiel 2:1-5— Obstacles to ministry may occur
with the rebelliousness of God’s people. Ezekiel receives the Spirit and is
sent to preach to a rebellious people. In this passage, Ezekiel is commissioned
to go to the exiles in Babylon to preach God’s Word. To do this he is
empowered by the Spirit. The Lord warns him that the people may not listen to
his preaching because they are a rebellious people. It is not important whether
his preaching is accepted. At least, they will hear God’s Word and know a
prophet was with them. Application to our day? How do you want people to
respond to you? Would you rather be accepted or respected? What’s the
difference? Which of the two is more difficult and why?
Thursday,
2 July 2015—2 Corinthians 12:1-10— Obstacles to ministry
may occur with the handicap of the preacher. Paul is promised grace to
bear his thorn in the flesh. Paul is fed up with his opponents who cast doubt
on his apostleship and boast about their work and religious experiences. This
lesson is a part of the “terrible letter” (chapters 10-12) in which Paul makes
a heated defense of his apostleship. If his opponents can boast of their
accomplishments, he can, too.
This
passage is part of his boasting. Paul claims he, too, has had an abundance of
revelations, but to keep him humble God gave him a thorn in the flesh.
Repeatedly he prayed to have it removed, but God assured him His grace was
enough to bear it. Now Paul boasts of his weaknesses, handicaps, and
sufferings, for through weakness the power of Christ comes upon him. Americans
love winners. There is an aversion in our day to weakness, pain, and suffering.
Where are you weak? When has God said “no” to your prayers only to say, “My
grace is sufficient”? What life lessons can we gain through suffering,
setback and loss?
Friday,
3 July 2015—Mark 6:1–13—The rejection by one’s own people.
Obstacles to ministry may occur with rejection. Jesus’ hometown
of Nazareth takes offense at Him and His work. Earlier Jesus
was rejected by His family and religious leaders. Now He is rejected by the
people (friends and relatives) of His hometown, Nazareth.
They
were astonished at His teaching and mighty works. They could not explain His
greatness; they referred to Him as a carpenter and as the son of Mary along
with brothers and sisters. Unable to explain Him, they took offense or were
scandalized by Him. Jesus reacted by saying that a prophet was without honor
among His own people. He was unable to do mighty works because of the people’s
unbelief. Therefore, Jesus left with His disciples to teach in other towns.
This week we celebrated our country’s independence. God has blessed America in
that given our representative form of democracy and our rights to practice our
faith as outlines in the constitution the Gospel has had free reign. Not all
however is well within our country. Many would want to stifle the Gospel. We
have no guarantee that America will last forever. The Lord could
allow the Gospel to flourish in another place. Many of our Lutheran forefathers
(and others) came to America to escape religious persecution happening
in Europe. If the church in America received the same reception
as did the Savior in His hometown would many simply stop coming? How do
some today practice their faith because it is convenient?
Saturday,
4 July 2015— Luke 1:78-79 The first stanza of Sunday’s hymn
of the day, O Christ, Our True and Only
Light (LSB 839), asks the Savior to enlighten those who sit in night. There
are many today missing from the Father’s table because they sit in ignorance.
They know nothing of the saving work of Jesus Christ. While there are obstacles
to ministry, there are tremendous opportunities to witness in the midst of our
nation’s heartland. As the Lord gives us opportunity may we “gossip the Gospel”
that souls may be won and the kingdom expanded.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service
Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran
Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B –
John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
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