Preparation for next week, the Day of Pentecost
The Risen Lord Jesus Pours Out the Holy Spirit
The Lord took “some of the Spirit”
that was on Moses “and put it on the
seventy elders” of Israel (Numbers 11:25), and they “prophesied in the camp” (Numbers 11:26). In the same way, our
risen Lord Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit at the Feast of Pentecost—the
fiftieth day and the “Eighth Sunday” of Easter. When “a sound like a mighty rushing wind” and “tongues as of fire appeared” and rested on each of the twelve
Apostles, “they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit” and proclaimed “the
mighty works of God” (Acts 2:2–4, 11). The Lord Jesus grants this same
Spirit to His Church on earth to proclaim Him glorified on the cross and risen
victorious from the grave for us sinners. From His open heart, our crucified
and risen Lord pours out His Holy Spirit in “rivers
of living water” (John 7:38) and invites everyone who thirsts to come to
Him and drink freely (John 7:37). Through this life-giving work of the Holy
Spirit, we hear our pastors “telling in
our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11) and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
Time in the Word
May 29 – June 3 2017
Preparation for next week, the Day of Pentecost
May 29 – June 3 2017
Preparation for next week, the Day of Pentecost
Collect for Pentecost Eve: Almighty and ever-living God, You fulfilled
Your promise by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to unite disciples of all
nations in the cross and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. By the
preaching of the Gospel spread this gift to the ends of the earth; through the
same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Collect for Pentecost Day: O God, on this day You once taught the
hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit.
Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all
things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns...
Collect for Pentecost Monday: O God, who gave Your Holy Spirit to the
apostles, grant us that same Spirit that we may live in faith and abide in
peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns...
Collect
for the Holy Spirit: Lord God,
heavenly Father, let Your Holy Spirit dwell in us that He may enlighten and
lead us into all truth and evermore defend us from all adversities; through
Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns...
Collect for the Visitation (31 May ): Almighty God, You chose the virgin Mary to be the Mother of Your Son and made know through her Your gracious regard for the poor and lowly and despised. Grant that we may receive Your Word in humility and faith and so be made one with Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever, Amen.
Collect for the Visitation (31 May ): Almighty God, You chose the virgin Mary to be the Mother of Your Son and made know through her Your gracious regard for the poor and lowly and despised. Grant that we may receive Your Word in humility and faith and so be made one with Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever, Amen.
Monday, 29 May 2017—Psalm 104:24, 27–28 , 30 ; antiphon,
Liturgical Text—On the Day
of Pentecost, we focus our attention on the Holy Spirit and His rôle in
establishing the Christian Church. The antiphon is a portion of an ancient
prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the
faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Psalm 104 is a hymn of praise
celebrating the wonders of God’s creation. But it is careful to direct our
attention not so much to the creation, but to the Creator. The portion of the
psalm used in the Introit proclaims that the Holy Spirit, too, with the Father
and the Son, was involved in the creation, especially of man, into whose
nostrils God breathed the breath (Spirit) of life.
Tuesday, 30 May 2017—Psalm 25:1–15 —This psalm of David makes an
excellent prayer for daily use. It first contrasts godly (the one who trusts in
God) with the ungodly. In verses 4–11, we consider our sins, especially as
contrasted with the righteousness of God, and pray for forgiveness and spiritual
renewal, trusting in the mercy and steadfast love of the Lord. Verses 12–15 deal with
sanctification—godly living—asking for guidance, instruction. The
closing verses of the psalm, though not appointed for next week’s reading,
brings the plea full circle, as, once again, we pray for deliverance from
suffering and from persecution by our foes, those who are opposed to the Lord and to those faithful to the Lord.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017—Numbers
11:24–30 —Because the task of caring for the children of Israel
was overwhelming, the Lord instructed Moses to appoint seventy men as elders to
assist him. For some unknown reason, two of them, Eldad and Medad, failed to
present themselves at the tabernacle for commissioning. Yet, the Spirit rested
upon them, also. Some of the others thought that they should be stopped from
prophesying, proclaiming the Word of the Lord. Moses exclaims, Would that
all the Lord’s people were
prophets, that the Lord would put
his Spirit on them! Though pastors are appointed to fulfill certain tasks
in the Lord’s Church, all Christians are called upon to give witness to the
hope that is in them (1 Peter
3:15 ) by proclaiming the Word of God, as opportunities are
presented.
Thursday, 1 June 2017—Acts 2:1–21 —The
Epistle reading for the Day of Pentecost is, as you might imagine, the account
of the giving of the Holy Spirit on the first Day of Pentecost, and the
establishment of the New Testament Church. This special gift was given to the
disciples in the early Church for two main reasons: to testify that these men
were speaking by the authority of God (for only God could grant such a gift in
fulfillment of prophecy), and in order to proclaim the Word of God to people of
many different tongues. Since the New Testament had not been written down yet,
it also could not be translated yet. In our day, the written Word of God, the
Bible, fulfills both these purposes, delivering the truth of God in a language
which we can understand.
Friday, 2 June 2017—John 7:37–39 —Jesus foretells the Day of Pentecost,
when the Holy Spirit will be fully poured out upon the Church, causing living
waters to flow out from their hearts, that is, all believers will be
empowered to testify to the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation which
comes through Jesus Christ alone.
Saturday, 3 June 2017—The majestic Hymn of the Day, Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LSB #497), was written by Martin Luther. In
addition to writing catechism hymns for each of the six chief parts of
Christian doctrine, Luther wrote this one to help remember the third article of
the Apostles’ Creed. The chief
teaching of the Christian faith—the doctrine of salvation by faith rather than
works—is clearly proclaimed throughout this great hymn. Sing it confidently and
boldly. The Holy Spirit has brought you to faith, and by Word and Sacrament, He
will continue to keep you in the one true faith.
Woodcut
by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, © WELS
Prayers from Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
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