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 Matthias, Apostle (February 26): Almighty God, You chose Your servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve. Grant that Your Church, ever preserved from false teachers, may be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
Collect for Matthias, Apostle (February 26): Almighty God, You chose Your servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve. Grant that Your Church, ever preserved from false teachers, may be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
Collects for Monday before Ash
Wednesday: Father, Your love never fails. Hear
our call. Keep us from danger and provide for all our needs. Grant this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
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, 27 February 2017— 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, 28 2017— 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, 1 March 2017— 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, 2
March 2017— 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 to bring redemptive action to this world.
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 the perfect accord with God.
Friday, 3 March 2017—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, 4 March 2017—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
The Temptation of Christ © Google Images
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