Pr. DFD : Proper 6

Showing posts with label Proper 6. Show all posts

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Proper 6 - Series A

Proper 6 - Series A

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

(18 June 2023)

Exodus 19:2–8

Romans 5:6–15

Matthew 9:35—10:8 (9–20)

The Lord Our God Saves Us in Love and Cares for Us by the Ministry of His Gospel

Collect for Proper 6 – Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The holy Triune God “shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,” ungodly and at enmity with Him, “Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The incarnate Son has justified us by His blood and reconciled us to His God and Father (Romans 5:9–10). Whereas sin and death originated with Adam, forgiveness and life abound for all his children “through the one man Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:12–17). As the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, so does He bring us to Himself by the Gospel and make of us “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) by our Baptism into Christ. For “all that the Lord has spoken” (Exodus 19:8), Christ has done for us. As He has gone up to God by His cross and resurrection, so does He bring us to the Father in Himself (Exodus 19:3–4). Nor does He leave us “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36), but He sends men with authority “to heal every disease and every affliction” by His forgiveness of sins (Matthew 10:1). In their proclamation, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7).

Apostles
Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Matthew 10:22)

We confess in the Nicene Creed, “I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.” What is this “apostolic church”, and why was it necessary for Saint Matthew to give the list of the apostles? Realize first that the word apostle identifies someone who is sent to both speak for and represent the sender. Thus Jesus is called apostle in Hebrews 3:1: “…consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him…” It is quite clear from the Gospels that Jesus’ sender is God the Father. As apostle, Jesus speaks for and represents God the Father. It is true that the Son of God and God the Father have eternal intimacy. However Jesus, as a man, is uniquely recognized as God’s apostle. To see and hear the incarnate Son of God is to see and hear God the Father (e.g. Jn. 14). The Jews had a Hebrew word that communicated the meaning of apostle.[1] The word in English is “shaliach”. When a shaliach spoke it was understood that it was the equivalent of the sender speaking. Thus when Jesus spoke, His words were those of God the Father. When a shaliach rendered a decision relative to his office as shaliach, it was recognized as the decision of the sender. Thus all decisions made by the man Jesus, were decisions recognized as decisions from God the Father.

Consider now the apostles listed in our text. This is no small matter to identify these men as holders of the awesomely authoritative office of apostle. When they spoke or wrote, Jesus was speaking. When they acted or when they rendered decisions (e.g. the Church Council in Acts 15), it was Jesus acting and rendering decisions. It is no wonder that such a big deal is made for the replacement for the apostle Judas (Acts 1), as well as for the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship. Paul must repeatedly insist and prove that he is truly an Apostle (e.g. 2 Cor 11:5ff; 12:11; Gal 1:1).

The apostolic writings of the New Testament are often misunderstood because Christians fail to realize that frequently “we” in such writings is referring to the apostles and not to Christians generally. Consider 1 John 1:1-3a: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” The “we” and the “us” are the Apostles, and it is their authority as apostles—and indeed fellowship with them—that we as Christians must seek.

When the apostles performed miracles or when their very presence created instances of the miraculous, this was simply a verification of the fact that they were officially apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, and such miracles verified their word as Christ’s word. And what was the heart of the apostolic word? It is the crucifixion of Jesus and all that relates to it—of course including His resurrection. The Apostle Paul summarized succinctly: We preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23). Though today’s pastors are not apostles, yet they continue the apostolic proclamation: They must preach Christ crucified, the heart of the apostolic words, actions and writings.

[1] See Theol. Dictionary of the NT, vol. 1, 41

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

35 Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας, διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν.

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

See Matthew 4:23 a parallel passage

A summation of Jesus' ministry
Healing and the Gospel proclamation go hand in hand.

When we are ill, Christ’s healing reveals His glory. When we are dead, Christ’s raising us, like Lazarus, all for the glory of God. In the resurrection, the glory of God’s power is manifest. This offers hope to the afflicted, for they are assured of the Lord’s help.

36 Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν ὅτι ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι καὶ ἐρριμμένοι ὡσεὶ πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

ἐσπλαγχνίσθη - He was "moved in his gut" for them

An indication on the shepherds of Jesus' day

He will fulfill His promise

What matters is He is there

37 τότε λέγει τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· Ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς πολύς, οἱ δὲ ἐργάται ὀλίγοι·

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

This has been a challenge for each generation

38 δεήθητε οὖν τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ θερισμοῦ ὅπως ἐκβάλῃ ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ.

therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

The Twelve Apostles

1 Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων ὥστε ἐκβάλλειν αὐτὰ καὶ θεραπεύειν πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν.

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

-Jesus gives authority an extension of His office - the authority of the call

-Their ministry is His authority

2 τῶν δὲ δώδεκα ἀποστόλων τὰ ὀνόματά ἐστιν ταῦτα· πρῶτος Σίμων ὁ λεγόμενος Πέτρος καὶ Ἀνδρέας ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ, Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννης ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ,

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Φίλιππος καὶ Βαρθολομαῖος, Θωμᾶς καὶ Μαθθαῖος ὁ τελώνης, Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος,

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a]

Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus

4 Σίμων ὁ Καναναῖος καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης ὁ καὶ παραδοὺς αὐτόν.

Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

ὁ Καναναῖος meaning zealot

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 Τούτους τοὺς δώδεκα ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς παραγγείλας αὐτοῖς λέγων· Εἰς ὁδὸν ἐθνῶν μὴ ἀπέλθητε καὶ εἰς πόλιν Σαμαριτῶν μὴ εἰσέλθητε·

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,

6 πορεύεσθε δὲ μᾶλλον πρὸς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου Ἰσραήλ.

but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 πορευόμενοι δὲ κηρύσσετε λέγοντες ὅτι Ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’[c]

ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν - The kingdom of heaven has come near

8 ἀσθενοῦντας θεραπεύετε, νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε, λεπροὺς καθαρίζετε, δαιμόνια ἐκβάλλετε· δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

Time in the Word - Proper 6

Time in the Word
The Formation of God’s People
(Proper 6)
June 12-17- 2023

The theme the Formation of God’s People places an emphasis upon God making a people for Himself. In the Old Testament lesson God through Moses tells the people they will be His people as long as they keep the Law. This they (and we too) failed to do. In the Epistle Paul explains that God still takes us s His people because Christ died for the disobedient and reconciled them to the Father. This good news is given by the called disciples who are sent to preach. The prayer for the Day refers to our calling to witness to the Gospel. The Psalm affirms that we are God’s people. The suggested Hymn of the Day deals with the spreading of the comfort the Christian has in knowing Christ came to seek the lost.

Monday, June 12, 2023 – Psalm 67:1-7 - This is the Psalm portion from which the Introit for next Sunday is taken. The antiphon is taken from verse 3, “Let the People praise You o God, let the people praise You.”

Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – Exodus 19:2-8 – Through obedience to the covenant the people at Sinai are reminded by the Lord that they are His people. God tells Moses that if the people will keep the covenant, they shall be his people. We do not know who we are until we know whose we are. If we belong to God, we understand who we are — children, sons, and servants of God. How did we become God’s possession?

We are his, first, by creation — “all the earth is mine,” and we are a part of the earth. Second, we are his by redemption — “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians ... and brought you to myself” (v. 4).

Wednesday, June 14, 2023– Romans 5:6-15 – Through the cross of Christ God’s love is seen as Christ dies for the sinner. God’s love is seen in Christ’s dying for sinners. It is not likely that anyone would die for a good person. How much less would one die for a bad person?

This is exactly what Jesus did — he died for us while we were yet sinners. He did not wait until we became good to die for us. There were no preconditions to be met. As a result of his atoning death, we are justified and in the coming judgment we will escape the wrath of God. If we are now reconciled by his death, we will move to be saved by his life. For what God has done for us in Christ, we rejoice in him. The love of God is seen in Jesus’ dying for sinners — worthless, evil, polluted people who are forever bent on doing evil. What did God see in a fallen man that he would give his Son to save a people like that? It is not human to do it; we would hardly die for a glorious man, let alone a wicked one. “While we were yet sinners” — a glorious phrase that proves God’s grace reaches out to humanity. This is grace, agape love.

Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Matthew 9:35-10:8 – Through the ministry of the Word Jesus calls disciples and sends them out to preach.

Jesus calls twelve disciples and sends them out to preach and heal. After teaching, preaching, and healing in various villages and cities, Jesus is impressed by the condition of the people — harassed, helpless, and lost. Their condition moves him to have compassion on them. To meet the need, he appoints the twelve and sends them only to the Jews to preach and heal. As they received the gospel free of charge, they are to give the gospel free of charge. Jesus’ ministry was a total ministry to the total person. It consisted of teaching, preaching, and healing: a ministry to the mind through teaching, to the heart (soul) through preaching, and to the body through healing.

Since we are an inseparable unit of body, mind, and spirit, the church’s ministry today needs to include this threefold ministry.

Friday, June 16, 2023 – Psalm 100– This Psalm is suggested for next Sunday. The key verses is verse 3c “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” In light of our lessons we rejoice that we have this new found relationship with the Savior, a relationship caused by the Savior’s amazing grace and favor.

Saturday, June 17, 2023 –John 3:16-18 – This passage is the inspiration for the hymn “God Loved the World so that He Gave” {LSB 830} Taken from a familiar verse of the Scriptures the Savior explains the motivation the Father had in sending His Son into the world. The purpose of His coming was to redeem and save us.

A Prayer for families – Almighty God behold the families of our congregation and community. We pray that You might be the ever present yet unseen guest in every home. Daily may we serve You that there might be harmony and peace. Keep us safe from the enemy and may Your blessings fall upon us like gentle rain.

A Prayer for purity– Almighty God unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name.

For humility - Heavenly Father, You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Grant us true humility after the likeness of Your only Son that we may never be arrogant and prideful and thus provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made partakers of the gifts of Your grace.

A prayer before we study the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

Collect for Pentecost 2–O God, whose never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth, put away from us, we entrust you, all hurtful things, and give us those things tht are profitable for us; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Sources:
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK LECTIONARY © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Proper 6 - Series B

Proper 6 Series B notes

Proper 6 - Series B
Study Notes
Mark 4:26-34
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 (12)
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [11-13] 14-17
13 June. 2021 -

Prayer of the Day

God, you are the tree of life, offering shelter to all the world. Graft us into yourself and nurture our growth, that we may bear your truth and love to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

“[The kingdom of God] is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:31-32

Though the parables of Jesus were different from those spoken by other Rabbis of His day, yet there were similarities in the use of certain “stock” illustrations in such parables. The following are recognized as some of the stock illustrations found in rabbinic parables in the first century: A king represented God; harvest represented judgment; marriage represented the Messianic Age; a field represented the world; birds represented gentiles or evil beings. Jesus added His own “stock” illustrations, probably the most notable being the sowing of seed, which represented the spread of the Kingdom through preaching.

Unlike other rabbis, Jesus rarely gave interpretations to His parables; He fully expected people to wrestle with them, seeking interpretations consistent with the Old Testament and with what Christ had revealed to His Apostles. Those who rejected the guidance of the Holy Spirit and thus would not wrestle with Christ’s parables, who just brushed them off as practically useless, are those who hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand [Mt 13:13].

An obvious point being made by the parable of the mustard seed, is that Christ’s kingdom will start as a very small seed, but it will ultimately grow into a towering tree. We who can look back on the progress of the Church can clearly see this reality; the Church started so small it seemed ready to perish because of poverty and persecution, but it has since grown to tower over every continent. This has happened not because of clever planning, nor because of shrewd business models, nor because of charismatic church leaders through the centuries, nor because the message has been “adapted” to fit every culture and era. It has happened because the message of the Gospel—the good news of Christ’s saving death and His life-guaranteeing resurrection—continues to change people by the Holy Spirit who works thereby. People are not only thus born anew in Christ Jesus, but simultaneously they are changed and empowered to produce the God-pleasing, Christ-like fruit of love.

This brings us to a secondary point made by the parable. When Christ’s kingdom has thus grown into a monumental tree, its branches are able to provide a place for the birds. In Mark’s record of the parable, the birds nest in the Kingdom’s shade, and in Matthew’s account, the birds nest in the Kingdom’s branches. Christ’s parable thus portrays how the Church is a blessing to the “birds” which rest/nest in its shady branches. As the “birds” were gentiles in rabbinic parables, and as Jesus would use “birds” in another parable to illustrate demons snatching God’s seed, so now in this parable one can readily recognize the “birds” to be the non-Christians of the world. Indeed Christ’s Church is and has been a blessing even to unbelievers! On every continent the Church has become the source of previously unknown wisdom and love. In his book, How Christianity Changed the World, Alvin Schmidt has shown how Christ’s kingdom has been THE positive influence on the world’s charitable attitudes. Before the Church of Christ, there were no hospitals, no adoption agencies and no charities to help the poor and elderly. Christianity has elevated marriage, sexuality and children. It has given women dignity and worth like never before. In summary, Christ’s incarnation, death and resurrection have given heretofore unknown value to fallen people. When Christians—that is, those re-born to be in and like Christ—permeate a godless society, the godless “birds” are unknowingly blessed.

Of course God’s goal is not simply to graciously bestow blessings on unbelievers (“birds”), yet it shows the love of Christ, a love Christians do not withhold from unbelievers. God’s desire is that all people come to the knowledge of the truth—that they also become members of Christ’s body, the Church.

Greek Text (NA27)

The Parable of the Seed Growing in Secret- Vv. 26-29

Note Only Mark records this parable.

Whereas the parable of the sower stresses the importance of proper soil for the growth of seed and the success of the harvest, here the mysterious power of the seed itself is emphasized. The gospel message contains its own power.

Some see this parable chiefly as a parable of contrast. As seedtime is followed in due time by harvest, so will the present hiddenness and ambiguousness of the kingdom of God be succeeded by its glorious manifestation. This parable conveys both a warning and a word of encouragement to Jesus’ disciples. However important their role may be (21–25), they are not to imagine that the Kingdom is their kingdom or its triumph their triumph;the Kingdom remains God’s mysteriously creative work. He is “Lord of the harvest” (Mark 9:38). This serves for encouragement also; however slow and unspectacular the “progress” of the Kingdom may be, the outcome is in the sure hands of the Creator. Men may pray, “Thy kingdom come,” with patience and confidence.

26Καὶ ἔλεγεν, Οὕτωςἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦθεοῦὡςἄνθρωπος βάλῃτὸν σπόρον ἐπὶ τῆςγῆς

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

27καὶ καθεύδῃ καὶ ἐγείρηται νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν, καὶ ὁ σπόρος βλαστᾷ καὶ μηκύνηται ὡςοὐκοἶδεν αὐτός.

He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.

οἶδεν (oiden|knows/understands) –

At first there may be little to show for the sowing of the seed, and a skeptical observer might think that nothing is happening. But there is an inner dynamic in the message which will in due time produce its effect, even if human insight cannot fathom how the process works (ὡςοὐκοἶδεν αὐτός). In the meantime the wise disciple will wait in confidence for God's work to be accomplished in God's way. The kingdom of God, then, does not depend on human effort to achieve it, and human insight will not be able to explain it.

28αὐτομάτη ἡ γῆ καρποφορεῖ, πρῶτονχόρτον, εἶτα στάχυν, εἶτα πλήρη[ς] σῖτονἐντῷστάχυϊ.

The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29ὅταν δὲ παραδοῖ ὁ καρπός, εὐθὺς ἀποστέλλειτὸδρέπανον, ὅτι παρέστηκεν ὁ θερισμός.

But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed 30-34

The main point of this parable is that the kingdom of God seemingly had insignificant beginnings. It was introduced by the despised and rejected Jesus and his 12 unimpressive disciples. But a day will come when its true greatness and power will be seen by the entire world. See also Matthew 13:31–33; Luke 13:18-f. This is another parable of contrasts, but the contrast may not be, as is sometimes thought, between the Church's insignificant beginnings and the wide spread, powerful organization it was to become: it is rather between the present veiled-ness of the Kingdom of God and its future glorious manifestation at the Parousia.

30Καὶ ἔλεγεν, Πῶςὁμοιωσωμεντὴν βασιλείαν τοῦθεοῦ, ἢ ἐντίνι αὐτὴνπαραβολῇθῶμεν;

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?

31ὡς κόκκῳσινάπεως, ὃςὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆςγῆς, μικρότερονὂν πάντωντῶν σπερμάτωντῶν ἐπὶ τῆςγῆς,

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

32καὶ ὅταν σπαρῇ, ἀναβαίνει καὶ γίνεται μεῖζον πάντωντῶν λαχάνων καὶ ποιεῖκλάδουςμεγάλους, ὥστεδύνασθαι ὑπὸ τὴνσκιὰν αὐτοῦτὰ πετεινὰτοῦοὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῦν.

yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

κατασκηνοῦν (kataskenoun|to nest/live/dwell) – See also Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6; Daniel 4:12,14,21. When at last he comes in his glory, who is himself the Kingdom (1:15), he will be not only the Judge of all men, but also the one under whose shadow all who have truly trusted in him will find shelter. Drawing attention to these same OT texts and particularly to 'all great nations' in Ezekiel 31:6, the allusion here may be intended to indicate the future wide scope of the kingdom of God, within which many nations (not only Israel) will find their place. Of this and the parable of the growth of the kingdom in verses 26-29, the two parables of verses 26-32 thus both warn against underestimating the significance of the proclamation of the kingdom of God, however unimpressive its initial impact may seem. What has begun in the Galilean ministry of Jesus will, by the power of God, one day prove to be of ultimate significance. If for the time being its power is hidden, it is not for that reason any less certain, and its growth will be spectacular.

33Καὶ τοιαύταις παραβολαῖς πολλαῖς ἐλάλει αὐτοῖςτὸνλόγον, καθωςἠδύναντο ἀκούειν·

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

34χωρὶς δὲ παραβολῆςοὐκἐλάλει αὐτοῖς, κατ• ἰδίαν δὲτοῖςἰδίοις μαθηταῖς ἐπέλυεν πάντα.

He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

χωρὶςδὲ παραβολῆςοὐκἐλάλει αὐτοῖς - (choris de parabolesoukelaleiautois|apart but from parables not he was speaking)

- Jesus used parables to illustrate truths, stimulate thinking and awaken spiritual perception. The people in general were not ready for the full truth of the gospel. When alone with his disciples Jesus taught more specifically, but even they usually needed to have things explained.

https://sites.google.com/site/briansgreekscripture/pentecost-3---mark-4-26-34

Time in the Word - Proper 6

Preparation for New Week Pentecost 4 – Proper 6

June 7-12, 2021

The Parables of our Lord convey the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who are “able to hear it,” that is, “to His own disciples,” who are catechized to fear, love and trust in Him by faith (Mark 4:33–34). He “scatters seed on the ground,” which “sprouts and grows” unto life, even as “He sleeps and rises” (Mark 4:26–27).

“On the mountain heights of Israel,” He plants a young and tender twig, and it becomes “a noble cedar.” Indeed, His own Cross becomes the Tree of Life, under which “every kind of bird” will dwell, and in which “birds of every sort will nest” (Ezekiel 17:22–25). His Cross is our resting place, even while now in mortal bodies, we “groan, being burdened” (2 Corinthians 5:1–4). Yet by faith we live for God in Christ, who for our sake “died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15). We know that, in His resurrected body, “we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Collect for Pentecost 3: Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the Church: Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end;

Prayer for the mission of the Church and her missionaries: Almighty and gracious God, You want all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Magnify the power of the Gospel in the hearts of Your faithful people that Your Church may spread the good news of salvation. Protect, encourage, and bless all missionaries who proclaim the saving cross that Christ, being lifted up, may draw all people to Himself,

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, Your Son, our Lord,

Monday, 07 June 2021—Psalm 92:12–15; Antiphon, Psalm 92:1—This ‘Psalm for the Sabbath’ is a hymn of praise, in which the psalmist gives thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He declares us righteous and makes us flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. From ancient times, even until to-day, Lebanon has been known for its tall strong cedars: Cedars from Lebanon were used in constructing the temple, and the cedar appears on Lebanon’s national flag. We who are planted in the house of the LORD are strong in the LORD like these trees of renown.

Tuesday, 08 June 2021—Psalm 1—Luther wrote that the psalter is the Bible in miniature. If so, then the opening six verses are the portal leading into a treasure-house of communion with God. Who is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His Law he meditates day in night? First, it is Christ. Secondly, it is all of us who have been incorporated into Christ—the holy Christian Church. The new man, created by Baptism, that comes forth daily and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Wednesday, 09 June 2021—Ezekiel 17:22–24—Things looked bleak when Jerusalem fell and King Zedekiah died in exile (Ezekiel 17:11-21). Through the prophet Ezekiel, the LORD proclaims that He will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and…I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. This tender sprig will never be uprooted, for it is the promised Messiah, Jesus, who will be given the throne of His father David, and whose Messianic kingdom will be established forever.

Thursday, 10 June 2021—2 Corinthians 5:1–10—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul looks forward to eternal life in heaven, when we shall live forever in our glorified bodies, no longer made frail by the ravages of sin. Paul has supreme confidence in what is to come, for his confidence rests, not in the whims of man, but in the surety of God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. The Christian, who lives by faith in the promises of the Lord, rejoices at the thought of being at home with the Lord.

Friday, 11 June 2021—Mark 4:26–34—These parables serve as both warning and encouragement to us. We have a role to play in the furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth by sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those around us, but we must never think that the triumph of the Kingdom is our triumph, for it is the Lord and His Word alone which are effective. But neither should we despair if the growth of the Lord’s Kingdom seems somehow unspectacular in our eyes. He alone is the Lord of the harvest (Mark 9:38); thus, we never cease praying “Thy Kingdom come” with patience and confidence.

Saturday, 12 June 2021—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid (LSB 500), is an eighth-century hymn written in praise of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He bestows on the Church. It first proclaims the Spirit as participating in the creation of all things, then testifies that He creates Christians by His gifts to us. The final stanza is a doxology: a hymn of praise to our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayer for persecuted Christians: Lord Jesus Christ, before whom all in heaven and earth shall bow, grant courage that Your children may confess Your saving name in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the Gospel. Help them to remember Your faithful people who sacrificed much and even faced death rather than dishonor You when called upon to deny the faith. By Your Spirit, strengthen them to be faithful and to confess You boldly, knowing that You will confess Your own before the Father in heaven, with whom You and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Artwork "Te Deum" by Ed Riojas copyright © Higher Things
Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Proper 6 - Series A

Proper 6 - Series A

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

(14 June 2020)

Exodus 19:2–8

Romans 5:6–15

Matthew 9:35—10:8 (9–20)

Collect for Proper 6 – Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The holy Triune God “shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,” ungodly and at enmity with Him, “Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The incarnate Son has justified us by His blood and reconciled us to His God and Father (Romans 5:9–10). Whereas sin and death originated with Adam, forgiveness and life abound for all his children “through the one man Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:12–17). As the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, so does He bring us to Himself by the Gospel and make of us “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) by our Baptism into Christ. For “all that the Lord has spoken” (Exodus 19:8), Christ has done for us. As He has gone up to God by His cross and resurrection, so does He bring us to the Father in Himself (Exodus 19:3–4). Nor does He leave us “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36), but He sends men with authority “to heal every disease and every affliction” by His forgiveness of sins (Matthew 10:1). In their proclamation, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7).

Apostles
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Matthew 10:22)

We confess in the Nicene Creed, “I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.” What is this “apostolic church”, and why was it necessary for Saint Matthew to give the list of the apostles? Realize first that the word apostle identifies someone who is sent to both speak for and represent the sender. Thus Jesus is called apostle in Hebrews 3:1: “…consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him…” It is quite clear from the Gospels that Jesus’ sender is God the Father. As apostle, Jesus speaks for and represents God the Father. It is true that the Son of God and God the Father have eternal intimacy. However Jesus, as a man, is uniquely recognized as God’s apostle. To see and hear the incarnate Son of God is to see and hear God the Father (e.g. Jn. 14). The Jews had a Hebrew word that communicated the meaning of apostle.[1] The word in English is “shaliach”. When a shaliach spoke it was understood that it was the equivalent of the sender speaking. Thus when Jesus spoke, His words were those of God the Father. When a shaliach rendered a decision relative to his office as shaliach, it was recognized as the decision of the sender. Thus all decisions made by the man Jesus, were decisions recognized as decisions from God the Father.

Consider now the apostles listed in our text. This is no small matter to identify these men as holders of the awesomely authoritative office of apostle. When they spoke or wrote, Jesus was speaking. When they acted or when they rendered decisions (e.g. the Church Council in Acts 15), it was Jesus acting and rendering decisions. It is no wonder that such a big deal is made for the replacement for the apostle Judas (Acts 1), as well as for the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship. Paul must repeatedly insist and prove that he is truly an Apostle (e.g. 2 Cor 11:5ff; 12:11; Gal 1:1).

The apostolic writings of the New Testament are often misunderstood because Christians fail to realize that frequently “we” in such writings is referring to the apostles and not to Christians generally. Consider 1 John 1:1-3a: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” The “we” and the “us” are the Apostles, and it is their authority as apostles—and indeed fellowship with them—that we as Christians must seek.

When the apostles performed miracles or when their very presence created instances of the miraculous, this was simply a verification of the fact that they were officially apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, and such miracles verified their word as Christ’s word. And what was the heart of the apostolic word? It is the crucifixion of Jesus and all that relates to it—of course including His resurrection. The Apostle Paul summarized succinctly: We preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23). Though today’s pastors are not apostles, yet they continue the apostolic proclamation: They must preach Christ crucified, the heart of the apostolic words, actions and writings.

[1] See Theol. Dictionary of the NT, vol. 1, 41

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

See Matthew 4:23 a parallel passage

A summation of Jesus' ministry

Healing and the Gospel proclamation go hand in hand.

When we are ill, Christ’s healing reveals His glory. When we are dead, Christ’s raising us, like Lazarus, all for the glory of God. In the resurrection, the glory of God’s power is manifest. This offers hope to the afflicted, for they are assured of the Lord’s help.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

ἐσπλαγχνίσθη - He was "moved in his gut" for them

An indication on the shepherds of Jesus' day

He will fulfill His promise

What matters is He is there

37 τότε λέγει τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· Ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς πολύς, οἱ δὲ ἐργάται ὀλίγοι·

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

This has been a challenge for each generation yet now even more so.

38 δεήθητε οὖν τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ θερισμοῦ ὅπως ἐκβάλῃ ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ.

therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

The Twelve Apostles

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

-Jesus gives authority an extension of His office - the authority of the call

-Their ministry is His authority

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Φίλιππος καὶ Βαρθολομαῖος, Θωμᾶς καὶ Μαθθαῖος ὁ τελώνης, Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος,

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a]

Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus

4 Σίμων ὁ Καναναῖος καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης ὁ καὶ παραδοὺς αὐτόν.

Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

ὁ Καναναῖος meaning zealot

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,

6 πορεύεσθε δὲ μᾶλλον πρὸς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου Ἰσραήλ.

but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 πορευόμενοι δὲ κηρύσσετε λέγοντες ὅτι Ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’[c]

ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν - The kingdom of heaven has come near

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Pentecost 2 - Proper 6

Romans and the Reformation

A Series of Sermons Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

18 June 2017 – Proper 6 - Romans 5:6-15

“God Demonstrates His love for us”

In his letter to the Romans, Paul addresses a predominantly Jewish audience. Jews living in Rome in the 1st Century understood life with the thought that there were, at any given time, three groupings of men living on planet earth. They believed that humanity was divided into three categories of class; the “righteous” (Tzadikim Nistarim) “good men” (Benim) and finally, “the sinners” or ‘evil-ones.’ (Resha’im) [1]

The “righteous” were in a category all their own. They needed no help from God. They were already perfect, holy and pure. The world was still intact and would not spin out of control because there were at least a few righteous men on the earth at any given time. Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly destroyed because the Lord could not find any righteous men living there. Such righteous ones were men such as Abraham, Enoch, Elijah, and Job just to name a few.

Those reading Paul’s letter for the first time, were very serious concerning their faith. Through ritual, a strict following of the law and by holy living they remained ethical, moral, principled, “good men.” Their goal was simple. To be better.

The rest were simply good for nothing. They were trolls. They were “the dirties” of the world. They were beyond help. They were to be shunned. They were “the ungodly.” They were “helpless,” “sinners.” Beyond God’s mercy. Stay clear of them, they were warned. They were to be avoided. At all costs. So imagine the reaction that must have happened when Paul’s audience heard these remarkable words.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8) This turned their moral compass upside down! It literally rocked their world!

So how do you understand words such as love, mercy, and grace? The worldly do not grasp what true love means. God’s love for us reveals true love. Only by knowing Christ’s mercy are you able to show mercy. Again, this is not a natural characteristic of sinful humankind. By God’s grace, every believer not only knows these divine words but also believes them and lives them. "When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins." (COLOSSIANS 2:13). Thus God reveals His love for us.

“GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US…”

I. While we were sinners,

II. Christ has died for us.

I. WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS

A. Every believer lives a similar life to every other human being. Sin infects everyone’s lives. “While we were still sinners…” Verse 8b Paul comes straight to the point. No one can escape the effects of sin that affect all of mankind.

B. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Paul includes himself as a sinner when he uses the word “we”. Sin also lived in him. Sin is destructive. Humans are made “powerless”. No one can save himself. Sin is evil. “Ungodly” describes every sinful thought, word, or deed of any and every believer.

C. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” Remember. The righteous need no one to take their place. The good might find a substitute in their place. The selfishness of sin means that very few are willing to sacrifice their lives for others.

D. Some try to deny that sin exists. Others try to explain away sin. Still others try to redefine the word sin. No matter what people try to do with sin, sin does not and will not go away.

The old song sings. “Ain't no sunshine...Only darkness. Every day.” Sin is still alive and well in our very own lives. Ever since the first sin of Adam no one can, will, or is able to escape sin.

Each of us has inherited a sinful nature from our very first parents. We are not born into this world as friends of God but as enemies. "Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies." (PSALM 58:3). Life begins at conception. Sin starts with life. We are sinful.

E. By now we have come to realize the depth of destruction that sin causes in the lives of every living and breathing person on earth. The world drastically changed forever after sin entered the world. God promised Adam and Eve (and all mankind) a Savior. (GENESIS 3:15).

Because of sin death entered the world. God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden so they would not eat from the tree of life. In the end, who would really want to live on this globe in this sinful life forever? "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die" (EZEKIEL 18:4). No one can escape death. Death is a result of sin. Man dies because man sins.

F. God’s law reminds each one of us of our sinfulness. No one likes to hear how bad they are. We do not want to have all of our sins brought up for us to remember. Time and again, God’s law reminds each of us that we daily fall short of the glory of God. We sin daily. We sin much. Even worse, our sinful nature delights in doing that which is evil. "Wicked men…whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil." (PROVERBS 2:12-14). Such are our sinful lives.

All too often we leave the path of righteousness. All too often we walk in dark ways, delight in doing wrong, and rejoice in evil. We are still sinners. “GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE FOR US…” We are still, always sinners. Christ has died for us.

II. CHRIST HAS DIED FOR US

A. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Believers as sinners are “powerless”. Believers acting as sinners are “ungodly”. Powerless to save ourselves God sent his son, Christ, to die for sinners.

B. Paul explains the depth of the meaning of Christ’s death for these believers who are powerless.

Verse 8b: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is God’s great love for all. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!” Verse 9 Jesus’ blood cleanses all people from sin, God’s anger is gone.

C. “For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Enemies of God are now made right (reconciled) with God. Enemies are now saved by grace. “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Believers’ lives are changed forever!

D. Once again, we begin to approach the depth of the meaning of God’s great love for each and every one of us. Our sins condemn us. We are powerless to save ourselves. Every day we sin against God with terrible thoughts, wicked words, and evil actions. The good that we ought to do and do not do is also sin. In spite of all of this our God loves us and forgives us. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (ISAIAH 53:6).

E. Graciously our loving Lord does not keep a record of our sins. The fact is that the Lord God Almighty sees sin as sin. In God’s eyes all sins are the same. Only in man’s thinking are there different degrees of sin. Big sins, small sins, worse sins, and not so bad sins are terms we use to describe sin. God’s term for missing the mark is simply sin. God’s forgiveness for our sins is simply complete. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 JOHN 1:7). Only by the blood of Jesus is there forgiveness. This holy blood of Jesus forgives all sin: not a few, some, or many but ALL sin. God shows us his great love

F. Like every other believer our lives are dramatically and drastically changed forever. “Powerless, ungodly” sinners are freely given complete forgiveness. Consider God’s great love for us undeserving and wretched sinners. We can never, ever repay the debt of love that God has shown to each and every one of us. Nor does God expect it. Our lives are changed. "Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own; eager to do what is good." (TITUS 2:14).

This is the story of grace. Christ gained more than Adam lost. You are restored back to God through the work of Jesus.

As believers we can turn from that which is evil and be eager to do what is good. This makes all the difference in the world and for the world today. You are now the shining lights in today’s darkness. We do not deserve God’s great love. We cannot earn God’s mercy. It is only by the free grace of God that we are saved. We are sinners, always.

We are sinners, forgiven of all sins. This is God’s great love to us and for us. This is also God’s great love to and for all humankind.

The difference for believers is that we know we are sinners who have been freely forgiven purely out of God’s divine love, mercy, and grace. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." (EPHESIANS 2:4, 5) “GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US…” Even though we are sinners. Christ has still died for us.

[1] http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12758-right-and-righteousness

Words – 1,815
Passive Sentences –8%
Readability – 82.4%
Reading Level – 4.3

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Time in the Word - Proper 6

The Parables of our Lord convey the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who are “able to hear it,” that is, “to His own disciples,” who are catechized to fear, love and trust in Him by faith (Mark 4:33–34). He “scatters seed on the ground,” which “sprouts and grows” unto life, even as “He sleeps and rises” (Mark 4:26–27). “On the mountain heights of Israel,” He plants a young and tender twig, and it becomes “a noble cedar.” Indeed, His own Cross becomes the Tree of Life, under which “every kind of bird” will dwell, and in which “birds of every sort will nest” (Ezekiel 17:22–25). His Cross is our resting place, even while now in mortal bodies, we “groan, being burdened” (2 Corinthians 5:1–4). Yet by faith we live for God in Christ, who for our sake “died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15). We know that, in His resurrected body, “we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Monday, 8 June 2015—Psalm 92:12–15; Antiphon, Psalm 92:1—This ‘Psalm for the Sabbath’ is a hymn of praise, in which the psalmist gives thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He declares us righteous and makes us flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. From ancient times, even until to-day, Lebanon has been known for its tall strong cedars: Cedars from Lebanon were used in constructing the temple, and the cedar appears on Lebanon’s national flag. We who are planted in the house of the LORD are strong in the LORD like these trees of renown.

Tuesday, 9 June 2015—Psalm 1—Luther wrote that the psalter is the Bible in miniature. If so, then the opening six verses are the portal leading into a treasure-house of communion with God. Who is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His Law he meditates day in night? First, it is Christ. Secondly, it is all of us who have been incorporated into Christ—the holy Christian Church. The new man, created by Baptism, that comes forth daily and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Wednesday, 10 June 2015—Ezekiel 17:22–24—Things looked bleak when Jerusalem fell and King Zedekiah died in exile (Ezekiel 17:11-21). Through the prophet Ezekiel, the LORD proclaims that He will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and…I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. This tender sprig will never be uprooted, for it is the promised Messiah, Jesus, who will be given the throne of His father David, and whose Messianic kingdom will be established forever.

Thursday, 11 June 2015—2 Corinthians 5:1–10—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul looks forward to eternal life in heaven, when we shall live forever in our glorified bodies, no longer made frail by the ravages of sin. Paul has supreme confidence in what is to come, for his confidence rests, not in the whims of man, but in the surety of God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. The Christian, who lives by faith in the promises of the Lord, rejoices at the thought of being at home with the Lord.

Friday, 12 June 2015—Mark 4:26–34—These parables serve as both warning and encouragement to us. We have a role to play in the furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth by sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those around us, but we must never think that the triumph of the Kingdom is our triumph, for it is the Lord and His Word alone which are effective. But neither should we despair if the growth of the Lord’s Kingdom seems somehow unspectacular in our eyes. He alone is the Lord of the harvest (Mark 9:38); thus, we never cease praying “Thy Kingdom come” with patience and confidence.

Saturday, 13 June 2015—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid (LSB 500), is an eighth-century hymn written in praise of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He bestows on the Church. It first proclaims the Spirit as participating in the creation of all things, then testifies that He creates Christians by His gifts to us. The final stanza is a doxology: a hymn of praise to our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayer for persecuted Christians: Lord Jesus Christ, before whom all in heaven and earth shall bow, grant courage that Your children may confess Your saving name in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the Gospel. Help them to remember Your faithful people who sacrificed much and even faced death rather than dishonor You when called upon to deny the faith. By Your Spirit, strengthen them to be faithful and to confess You boldly, knowing that You will confess Your own before the Father in heaven, with whom You and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.

Sources:

Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship