Time in the Word
The People
of God
Easter 4
May 1-6, 2017
What does Easter 4’s theme of sheep and shepherd have
to do with the Easter season’s message of the resurrection? On the surface,
there seems to be no connection. Why couldn’t this theme of Jesus as shepherd
serve to assure us of the nature of the risen Lord? Though he has risen in
glory and is soon to ascend to the Father, Christ continues with us as a
shepherd on earth, a shepherd who knows, cares, leads, and protects his sheep.
Though risen in glory and absent in the body, Jesus continues as an abiding
presence to care for his people. He is the good shepherd who died for his sheep
to rescue them from the wolves. His resurrection confirms his victory and he
continues to live as the shepherd of our souls.
Collect for Easter 4: Almighty
God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your
sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that, when we hear the voice of our Shepherd,
we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through
the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Collect for St. Philip & James (May 1): Almighty Good, Your Son
revealed Himself to Philip and James and gave them knowledge of everlasting
life. Grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ to be the way, the
truth and the life, and steadfastly to walk in the way that leads to eternal
life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty
God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance
whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the
work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable
weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your
goodness. May we see by this noble vocation that by Your aid we are helping to
feed the world and cause all who give thanks over their food to treat those who
produce it with honor and respect.
For the Holy of Eternal Life: Almighty
and everlasting God, whose Son as assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from
eternal death, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ
increase daily as we hold fast the hope that we shall not die but fall asleep
and on the last day be raised to eternal life.
An Evening Collect for Eastertide: 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 in the end of
the day, in the end of our life, in the end of the world. Abide with us with
Your grace and goodness, with Your Holy Word and 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 when death shall come. Abide with us and
with all the faithful through time and eternity.
Monday, May 1, 2017 – Psalm
23:1-3 The Antiphon for next Sunday’s Introit is taken from Vs.1, “The Lord’s
my shepherd I shall not want.” Shepherd is a widely used metaphor used for
Kings. David as King acknowledges that the Lord is his Shepherd-King. Jesus as
the shepherd of His people is expressed most plainly in our Gospel lesson for
this coming week.
Tuesday,
May 2, 2017 – Acts 2:42-74 –The sheep
witness to the Shepherd. In our first lesson, we have the issue of leadership in
the 1st Century Church. What are the qualifications for church leadership? The
early church faced the problem of choosing seven leaders. The apostles gave the
people three criteria for their selection: good reputation, good common sense,
and spirituality. Can these requirements be improved — character, judgment, and
faith?
Wednesday,
May 3, 2017 –1 Peter 2:19-25 – The
sheep suffer like the Shepherd. In the second reading, Peter calls people
straying sheep. Sheep are associated with straying and wandering off from the
shepherd and the flock until they get lost and in danger of their lives. It is
our nature to wander into sin, to carelessly leave the leadership of God, and
to go our own way. Modern people are known for their mobility, insecurity,
restlessness, a lack of roots, and loneliness.
Thursday,
May 4, 2017 – John 10:1-10 –The
sheep follow the Shepherd to life eternal. In next week’s Gospel lesson Verses
7 and 9 teach that Jesus is the door to life and salvation. He is not one of a
series of doors to God. In today’s world, the emphasis is upon pluralism — one
religion being as valid as the next one. Christianity is considered one of many
ways to God. This passage contradicts pluralism. The door to life, to God, to
salvation, is Jesus. Is this not the basis for evangelism and missions to non-
Christian people? It is not done in the interests of building up a monolithic
religious organization in the hope of getting a monopoly, but of sharing good
news of salvation through Christ. Jesus says in verse 10 that he came to bring
abundant life to all people. What is life? Our existence only makes sense when
Jesus is at the center.
Friday, May 5, 2017 – Psalm
23:4-6 The Psalm portion for this coming week is the much-loved Shepherd Psalm.
The benefits of have Jesus as our Shepherd-King is that both goodness and love
will literally pursue us. We are given the hope and promise of life with God
eternally. We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Our future has been
guaranteed. Because the Shepherd-King Jesus lives forever, we have the hope and
guarantee of dwelling with Christ throughout the years of our life.
Saturday, May 6,
2017 – John 21:15 -This verse is the inspiration for
the hymn “I am Jesus’ Little Lamb“{LSB 740} Three times Peter denied his Lord.
Three times Jesus asks the question “Peter…do you love me more then these?
Thus, the Savior asks us today, “Do you love Me?” “Do we love Jesus more than
people, more than your occupation, more than things? (In the case of Peter,
these things were the tools of his trade – fishing gear.) The Savior calls us
to discipleship, to take up His cross and follow Him. In this Easter season, we
are directed by the Savior to affirm the new life He gives us and to share with
others the hope that we have in Him. Scripture reminds us “in a twinkling of an
eye” we will all be gone – What shall be said of us then? May it be said of us
that we remain a sheep of His fold, a lamb of His flock, a sinner of His own
redeeming.
Sources:
THE
LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN
WORSHIP © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis,
MO
Schnorr von Carolsfeld,
woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to
personal and congregational use.
LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK
A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima OH
No comments:
Post a Comment