Time in the Word
4-9 June 2018
Preparation for next week, The Time of the Church Year Proper 5
4-9 June 2018
Preparation for next week, The Time of the Church Year Proper 5
Prayer for blessing
on the Word: Lord Jesus Christ,
giver and perfecter of our faith, we thank and praise You for continuing among
us the preaching of Your Gospel for our instruction and edification. Send Your
blessing upon the Word, which has been spoken to us, and by Your Holy Spirit
increase our saving knowledge of You, that day by day we may be strengthened in
the divine truth and remain steadfast in Your grace. Give us strength to fight
the good fight and by faith to overcome all the temptations of Satan, the
flesh, and the world so that we may finally receive the salvation of our souls;
for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
Prayer for those
outside the Church: Almighty and
everlasting God, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent
and live. Hear our prayers for those outside the Church. Take away their
iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to You, the living and true God.
Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of Your name; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for seasonable
weather: Lord God, gracious and
merciful Father, because You have promised that You will hear us when we bring
You our cares, we implore You not to deal with us according to our sins but
according to Your mercy. Send seasonable weather so that in due time the earth
may yield her increase. Remind us ever to receive with thanks our daily bread,
trusting You as our gracious God; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the aged: Almighty God
and gracious Father, in Your mercy look on those whose increasing years bring
them weakness, anxiety, distress, or loneliness. Grant that they may always
know care and respect, concern and understanding. Grant them willing hearts to
accept help and, as their strength wanes, increase their faith with the
constant assurance of Your love through Jesus Christ, their Savior. Amen.
Collect for Proper 5 (June 5-11) – Almighty and eternal God, Your Son Jesus
triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from bondage to sin. Help us
to stand firm against every assault of Satan, and enable us always to do Your
will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Monday, 4
June 2018—Psalm 8:7-9;Antiphon,Psalm 28:2—The antiphon for Sunday’s Introit is a cry for the Lord’s
intervention in our lives. “Hear my cry
for mercy as I call to You for help, as I lift up my hands, toward Your Most
Holy Place.” The Most Holy Place was the inner sanctuary of the temple,
where the ark of the covenant stood. It was God’s throne room on earth. David
desired the Lord’s presence. In worship, God comes to us through His Word and
in His meal to strengthen, comfort, and support us.
Tuesday, 5
June 2018—Psalm
130—This psalm is a testimony of trusting in God especially in trying
times. The Psalmist begins, “Out of the
depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice…” David knew he was a
sinner, and yet the Lord hears his cry out of the depths of his predicament. In
difficult times we turn to Him who knows our situation and in mercy has
redeemed and saved us. This psalm consists of a cry from a person with heaviness
of heart, presumably because of sin, who begs God to lift him above himself,
his sin, and his troubles.
Wednesday, 6
June 2018—
Genesis 3:8-15— God calls Adam to account for his sin. Here we see the
consequences of the fall into sin. When god confronts Adam, he flees and hides
because of his fear of God. He realizes He is naked, which is considered an
abomination. This results in his sense of shame. When god asks for an
explanation of his sin, both Adam and Eve blame others.
Sin may be forgiven but
punishment goes with sin. “the ages of sin is death.” No one escapes the
penalty of doing wring. God’s justice demands satisfaction. The Father is satisfied
because of the death of His own Son.
What excuse or what
explanation do we have for our disobedience/ Adam sins again by refusing to
admit his guilt. He blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent. It is s common
expression in our day too, “I have done no wrong.”
Thursday, 7
June 2018—2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1—Christians have
the hope of eternal life with Christ. Paul continues to discuss his ministry.
Though he is an earthen vessel, he continues to speak because he believes. He
is convinced that the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise
him and all believers so that they all will stand in the presence of God
through His grace. This results in thanksgiving and glory to God. He continues
his ministry even though he is wearing out physically. But, spiritually he never
grows old. And when this physical body comes to an end, God will give him a
new, spiritual body.
Paul can never get away from
“grace.” It is God’s forgiving love that forgives sin, cleanses the soul, and
justifies the sinner. Thus grace causes us to be thankful and to persist,
regardless of adversities.
Friday, 8
June 2018—Mark
3:20-35—The only unforgivable sin is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.
The first and last sections of this reading deal with Jesus’ family. Between
the two is Jesus controversy with the scribes who accuse Him of being possessed
by and being an instrument of the devil Jesus’ family considers Him crazy and
the scribes consider Him “possessed.” After dealing with the scribes, we are
taken back to His family which comes for Him. Jesus explains that His family is
not one of blood relationship but those who do the will of god. Both family and
religious leaders misunderstand Jesus. To accuse Jesus of having an evil spirit
is to commit the unpardonable sin. It is a sin of failing to see in Jesus the
presence of the Holy Spirit, who gives Him power and authority to case out
demons. Those who do God’s will have a spirit akin to His.
The word “never” is a hard
word. One who sins against the Holy Spirit can “never” get forgiveness. The sin
is to claim that Jesus hs an evil spirit. If He does, then the sinner will
never repent and come to Jesus for forgiveness. He/she is sure that he/she has
done no wrong. Jesus is the one who is wrong. Because of this delusion, a
person can never be forgiven. This person is never forgiven because he/she
never comes to Christ to be forgiven.
Saturday, 9
June 2018—
Ephesians 6:10-18 -Sunday’s hymn of the
day, Rise! To Arms! With employ you.(LSB
668)Human effort is inadequate. Yet God’s power is invincible. Thus the
warning, we do not last out against human opponents as though they were the
real enemy. Nor can we assume that the battle can be fought using merely human
resources. We battle against dark evil forces. Thus we arm ourselves with the
Gospel and it is Christ, our champion who battles for us in the war against
temptation, doubt, the devil and our own sinful self.
Image © Ed Rioja Higher Things
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
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