Monday, July 22, 2013
Mary Magdalene
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Time in the Word - Proper 12
Time in the Word
Pentecost 9 – Proper 11
Persistent Prayer
July 22-27, 2013
Prayer is the obvious them for next Sunday. The Gospel deals
with several aspects of prayer: 1 how to pray; 2 persistence in prayer; 3 God
is willing to give good gifts to His children. The Old Testament lesson deals
with Abraham’s reasoning with God: getting God not to destroy Sodom because of
only 10 righteous souls. Having been reduced from 50 the Lord stops Abraham at
his request of ten. Not even ten were found and thus the city was destroyed as
is depicted in the woodcut on our cover. Prayer is often a wrestling with God,
a spiritual struggle. The Lord encourages us to watch and pray to remain
vigilant and on our guard.
Collect for Proper 12: O Lord, let Your merciful ears be
attentive to the prayers of Your servants, and by Your Word and Spirit teach us
how to pray that our petitions may be pleasing before You; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God now and forever.
For an answer to prayer; Almighty God, You have promised to
hear the petitions of those who ask in Your Son’s name. Mercifully incline Your
ears to us who have now made our prayers and supplications to You, and grant
that those things that we have faithfully asked according to Your will we may
receive to meet our need and bring glory to Your; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
For steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that,
believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your
Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in the faith to the end and finally
come to love everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For the right understanding of Christ: Almighty God, whom to
know is everlasting life, grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ, to
be the way, the truth, and the life that following His steps we may steadfastly
walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
Grant us Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things
as are pleasing in Your sight that we, who without You cannot do anything that
is good, may by You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
For faith, hope, and love: Almighty God, grant us a
steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hop in Your mercy, and a sincere
love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Monday, 22 July 2013— Psalm 119:145-149; antiphon, Psalm
50:15 This psalm is based on The Hebrew Letter “Qoph” It’s theme- “Crying With
The Whole Heart” David cries “Save me O lord and I will keep Your law.” As the psalm
draws to a close, prayer for deliverance becomes more dominant.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013— Psalm 138— This is a royal son of
praise for God’s saving help against threatening foes. In many respects it is
like Psalm 18 though it is more concise and direct. Two Hebrew four-line
stanzas (Vv. 1-3, 6-8) develop the main theme; at the center a two line stanza
(Vv. 4-5) expands the praise of the Lord to a universal company of earth’s
royalty.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013— Genesis 18:20-33— Abraham bargains
with God not to destroy Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous people. In addition
to the idea of persistence in prayer, our Old Testament lesson teaches us a
number of timeless truths. God is concerned about conditions on earth. Vv.
20-21. We do not have a God high in the heavens who could not care less what
happens on earth. In the case of Sodom, God Himself comes down to the city for
a first-hand investigation. God knows and cares about the human condition. The
wrath of God is real. In verse 22 God intends to destroy the wicked cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah. Sin is punished. The wrath of God is visited upon the
wicked. This applies to any city or nation at any period of history. A corrupt
society will experience its consequences. In verse 25 Abraham tests God’s
justice. Would God destroy the righteous along with the wicked? God would not
do that; He is a just God. Vv. 27 and 30 speak concerning the attitude of one
in prayer. Abraham realizes he has no right he had no right to speak to God, to
approach God, to make any requests. This is the attitude of one who knows his
finiteness and unworthiness to speak to God in prayer. Prayer is no friendly
chat between equals. It is an audience with the Holy One, full of majesty and
glory. Sodom was destroyed because 10 righteous people were not found in the
city.
Diogenes could not find one honest man in his land. Are
there as many as 10 really righteous people in your city?
Thursday, 25 July 20138— Colossians 2:6-15— Paul exhorts his
people to live in Christ in whom dwells the fullness of God. We live on earth
only once and almost everyone wants to get as much out of life as possible. But
how do you achieve a happy and fulfilling life? Go to any bookstore and you
will find scores of books promising a life that can be good, rich, happy and
free of fear, worry, and guilt. That is life as it ought to be, the kind of
life God means for us to enjoy. But how many readers of these books will then
have that new life? When will the real life begin? There is no easy way to get
real life. Christians get this life by living in Christ. Life is a by-product
of a one-to-one relationship with Christ. Paul gives us the procedure for
living in Christ as a way to real life. The key is in verses six and seven.
Contemplate these words.
Friday, 26 J1uly 2013— Luke 11:1-13— Jesus gives the Lord’s
Prayer and teaches persistence in prayer. It is common practice for many to ask
once and forget it. How long should we pray for something? Is unanswered prayer
a “no” answer? In the Gospel for Sunday Jesus teaches that there is no limit to
the number of times we pray. The friend wanting bread comes at midnight when
his friend is in bed. The man wanting to borrow bread kept asking and pounding
until in desperation he got out of bed and gave the food. It wasn’t because of
friendship but because his friend would not quit bothering him. He would not
take “No” for an answer. Jesus teaches that se should ask, see, and finally
knock to get what we want. Persistence in prayer is necessary.
Saturday, 27 July 2013— Matthew 6:5-13; 7:7-11 – The hymn of
the week is “Come, My Soul, with Every Care” (LSB 779). In every need in every
circumstance take it to the Lord in prayer.
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House.
LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C John Brokhoff © 1979
CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
Woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a
distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher
in Bilden [The Book of Books in Pictures]) ©WELS.
Commemoration of Ezekiel
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Commemoration of Elijah
Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Elijah, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles your presence in creation to heal it is its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Christ, the final end-times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church, through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Proper 11
Proper 11
7.21.2013
Luke 10:38-42
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O Lord, grant us the Spirit to hear Your Word and know the one
thing needful that by Your Word and Spirit we may live according to Your will
through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Mary & Martha have Jesus over for dinner. He is invited for a
meal in their home. Martha was concerned that everything, the
furnishings, the guests seated at the table, the meal, – everything -
had to be perfect.
Mary is content to sit at the feet of the Savior.
Martha is distracted with much serving. What can be gleaned from this
conversation the Savior had with the members of this family?
I. Only one thing is needed. The one thing needed
is for you to sit at the feet of the Savior; to listen to His Word, to abide in
Him, and to know of His direction and care in your life.
A. To sit at the feet of the Savior.
1. You are doing this, this very moment. You are
sitting at the feet of the Savior listening to His Word. Drinking deep from His
instruction.
2. This has been the routine of so many. In a word
it’s called “faithfulness”. You have been found faithful. Faithful in coming to
service. Faithful in your hearing of God’s Word. Faithful in receiving His
gifts with thanksgiving.
B. To listen to His Word.
1. As Christ comes to you in His Word which is
preached, taught, shared, read. You respond with a faithful heart.
2. Make it a daily habit; make it a part of your
everyday ritual. There are countless resources which are readily available; our
daily devotionals, “Time in the Word” Portals of Prayer,
and for our children, My Devotions. Use them!
C. To abide in Christ.
1. He initiated this relationship with you when you
were baptized. St. Paul would remind us
in his letter to the Romans, “When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we
were baptized into His death. We were buried with Him by our Baptism into
death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death
like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.”
- Romans 6
2. He will keep this promise. The writer to the
Hebrews speaks of this wonderful promise. “May the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our
Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good
for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:21
D. To know of His direction and care.
1. He has been doing this all your life. His word
and promise to you on the day of His Ascension is an enduring promise. He said,
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” – Matthew 28 -
Every moment of your life, in every circumstance, He is shaping and using these
events of your life to draw you closer to Himself.
2. But, will He change? Will He change His mind
concerning your situation? He can never change. You and I are so fickle changing
our minds constantly. Not so with your Lord. He has bound Himself to His Word.
He has clearly spoken this truth through His prophet Malachi when He
said, “I am the Lord, I do not change!” (3:6)
Transition:
Only one thing is needed. To sit at the Savior’s feet is a wise choice.
II. Mary chose what is better. She chose to trust
and believe in Christ first. Serving has its place – yet, serving comes from
believing.
A. To trust and believe in Christ is of first
import.
1. It must be top priority. When Christ is not the
center of everything we do we are violating the 1st Commandment.
We must fear love and trust in God above all things.
2. It must be chief among all of us. St. Paul would
remind us, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified.” – 1 Corinthians 2:2
B. Serving does have its place.
1. Without serving nothing would get done. There
are so many needs. We need faithful people to be the hands and feet of
Christ.
2. There is much to do. What then should be
out motivation? Consider the instruction of St. Paul recorded for us in
Colossians 3:17- And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Then Paul gets specific, Wives, submit to your husbands,
as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do
not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in
everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children,
or they will become discouraged. Slaves, {employees} obey
your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on
you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the
Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men. - (Colossians 3:18-22)
C. Yet serving comes from believing.
1. We serve only after we have sat and listened. We
receive instruction first. Then, we go out into the world as ambassadors for Jesus
Christ. We serve, with all our strength. But first we’re fed.
2. Serving is our response to sitting and
listening. We worship on Sunday. Service is performed Monday through Saturday
as you live your lives in your given vocations as husbands, wives, children,
employees and masters - praising God while you are serving your neighbor.
Transition:
Because we choose to sit and the feet of the Savior and listen our reward can
not be taken from us.
III. It will not be taken away from her. A faith which trusts is an
enduring faith. It is the blessed assurance we have in Christ, it is a faith
that endures throughout time.
A. A faith which trusts is an enduring faith. Trust
is nothing more then another word for faith. Trust is nothing more then taking
God at His Word.
1. He gives you faith - it will get you through
times of testing - in which we are tempted to believe whether God your Father
will act for you.
2. He gives you faith - it will get you through
times of doubt - in which we are called to question whether God your
Father is concerned for you.
B. This is the “blessed assurance” we have in
Christ. For He relieves all fear and removes all doubt and sets us apart to be
His people for time and eternity.
C. It is a faith that will endure.
1. The devil, world and flesh can not defeat faith.
They are already crushed as Jesus went to the blood and cruel cross of Calvary
and suffered - for you - and then victoriously rose from the grave to defeat
our last enemy - death. Every time you commune this promise of the cross
and tomb is given for you. Christ’s body is given - for you - and His blood was
shed - for you.
2. We are secure in Christ Jesus. That’s why
you are encouraged to pray in the morning and in the evening, “…into Thy
hand I commend myself;(placing) my body and soul and all things (into your
care). Let Your Holy Spirit be with me that - the devil, world, and the flesh -
may have no power over me,”
Only one thing is needful.
What was evident in the life of Mary – sitting at the feet of the Savior may
it be found in you today, tomorrow and throughout your days. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen
Image: Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for personal and
congregational use
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Commemoration of Ruth
O God, whose never-failing providence orders all things both in heaven and earth, we humbly implore You to put away from us all hurtful things and to give us those things that are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Proper 10
Proper 10
7.14.2013
Luke 10:25-37
Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “What must I do to
inherit eternal life?” he asks. The answer the Savior gives him puts this
“young buck” in a rather awkward spot. “Wanting to justify himself” Luke
tells us that he asks yet another question, “And who is my neighbor?”
Upon hearing the parable of the Good Samaritan this expert answers his own
question, Who is your neighbor – well, it’s, “The one who had mercy.”
Mercy. We’re good at talking about it but here standing before us is mercy,
with clothes on! The one who has mercy is like…
1. Not like the robbers who beat the man leaving
him half dead.
A. To beat a man obviously does not show
compassion. It demonstrates brutality, the same brutality that’s been known to
man from the dawn of time. It was Kane who killed his brother Able. David had
Uriah executed in battle to cover up an extramarital affair. The officials and
nobles of the people stoned Stephen to death because they could not bear and
could not handle hearing the truth. Do such things happen in our sophisticated
world today?
B. Yet, how do we reach and react with words?
We can kill a person’s reputation with our speech! All you would need to
do is start a half-truth. If told enough times - within a week - it would be
spread all over town - and in many sections of town - it would be believed!.
And no matter what the innocent tries to do to regain his good name he cannot.
People will believe what they want to hear. Sometimes being the victim of
a soiled reputation due to rumor or innuendo or suspicion is worse then death!
Transition:
The one who shows mercy is not the one who kills. Nor is the one who refuses to
get involved.
2. Not like the Priest or Levite - who consider him
DOA.
A. To come in contact with a dead body would cause
one to be ceremonially “unclean.” The Priest and Levite had their own religious
path set out before them. To stop and help this helpless soul would take time
out of his already busy day. He had his course already set out. To stop and
help would be an inconvenience. He had a schedule to be kept. After all, he was
on his way to the service.
B. Can we become like this Levite or Priest,
avoiding opportunities for service all the while making every effort to appear
pious and sincere? Are we content to live in our own “comfort
zone”? To show mercy often means we have to extend time and energy when
we don’t want to. Often it means we will have to take time our of our
busy schedules and our hurried live. Sometimes it means we will have to involve
ourselves in the lives of others. In an episode of the sitcom M*A*S*H
Frank Bernes refused to get involved in the life of another. He explained, “If
I did that it would get messy. And I don’t like messy!” At times, our
involvement means we will be taking the time to help when we know we are
walking down a one-way street.
There will not be an opportunity for that other
person to repay – they can’t, or they won’t be able to. Some only help if they
know the other will some day repay the favor. These two refused to show
mercy because the timing wasn’t right. We show mercy because the Savior bids us
to show mercy – period!
Transition:
The Priest and Levite refused to offer mercy because it didn’t fit into their
narrow definition of what mercy involves. The Savior doesn’t define mercy He
offers it!
3. Like the Samaritan who bound his wounds and
carried for him.
A. He bound up the man’s wounds. The Savior
continues to bind up the wounds of many. He began His ministry showing mercy.
Recall His first sermon – The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.
Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord
is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the
blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The
eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying
to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing!” (Luke 4:16-22)
B. He demonstrated compassion. He has shown
compassion by bearing your sins in His own body on the tree of the cross. All
of your sins, all of your imperfections, all of your troubles, scandals, and
abominations He took to Himself. He has shown compassion by suffering dying and
rising again for your sin. He drops them into the sea of forgetfulness and He
remembers your sins no more!
C. He went beyond the call of duty. He didn’t have
to do any of this. Yet His love for His Father and His love for you compelled
Him to go to the cross. He goes beyond the call of duty by sustaining and
directing your life every single moment of your life. He is not obligated to
help you as we see sometimes define it.
His assistance in your life is not some sort of
duty in which we are obliged to do something. It’s not as if it’s a favor
we’re asking Him to perform for us. He acts for you - Purely out of Fatherly
love goodness mercy without any worthiness in me. Thus it is my duty to thanks
and praise to serve and obey Him. This is His attitude toward you.
D. He put faith into action. Quite frankly, the
work of the Good Samaritan is a deeper story of Jesus and His great love for
us. He is the one who has had mercy on you. He is the one who sought you out
when all others left you for dead. He won’t desert you. He’ll never abandon
you. He can never leave you or forsake you. He’ll never, ever, give up on His
own! He is the one who has paid your debt and has promised to repay even
more. Oh, how great is His compassion.
“And who
is my neighbor?” It is the one the Savior places in your life to show
mercy, empathy, compassion. As the Savior so has shown His great love for you –
show forth in your own lives His love, care and consideration.
Image The Good
Samaritan by Aime Morot Le Bon
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