Sunday of Lent 5

Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 18, 2018             Psalm 126

May God give us the expectation that times of sudden refreshment will come from Him. Perhaps now you are in a time of sowing with bitter tears. Do not despair of His grace. Trust in His power to do the unimaginable through overflowing kindness.1  

Augustine interprets the title, "A Song of Degrees, i.e. a Song of drawing upwards", of the drawing (going) up to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is right, inasmuch as the deliverance from the captivity of sin and death should in an increased measure excite those feelings of gratitude which Israel must have felt on being delivered from their corporeal captivity; in this respect again is the history of the outward theocracy a type of the history of the church. --Augustus F. Tholuck, 1856.

Hymn: Dear Christians One and All Rejoice (Lutheran Service Book 556:8)
Though he will shed My precious blood,
Me of My life bereaving,
All this I suffer for your good;
Be steadfast and believing.
Life will from death the vict’ry win;
My innocence shall bear your sin,
And you are blessed forever.

By faith we rejoice God Lord in the sowing of Jesus body on Good Friday and the harvest of blessing He prepared on Easter morn.

Comfort Thy people, O Lord, and deliver us from the evil captivity of sin, that what we sow here in tears, we may reap in joy through Thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen. 

Almighty God, You alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant Your people grace to love what You command and desire what You promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen 3

1. Lutheran Study Bible, © 2009 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

2. © 2005 Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood

3. Collect for the 5th Sunday in Lent, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm