Pr. DFD

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

O Wisdom

The First Antiphon “O Wisdom”

O Wisdom, who comest forth from the mouth of the most high, reaching mightily from one boundary of the world to the other, and pleasantly ordering all things, come, teach us the way of prudence.

P: Behold the name of the Lord cometh from afar.

C: And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.

The Collect

Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end.

O Come, Thou WISDOM from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show.
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Image © Higher Things

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Advent 4 Series A

Advent 4 Series A

Isaiah 7:10–17

Romans 1:1–7

Matthew 1:18–25

Stir up Your Power O Lord and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Joseph is the perfect model. He listened and quietly obeyed. Not given to speculation or doubt. "Shut up and fall in line!"

God’s Word Is Fulfilled for Us in the Flesh and Blood of Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary

The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With the blessed Virgin Mary we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Word and Spirit of God. This fulfillment of the sign once given to the house of David, that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14), is now given to us in the Gospel. It declares that salvation is by His grace alone, entirely His work and a free gift. It also is the way and means by which the Lord our God is Immanuel, “God with us.” The almighty and eternal Son of God is conceived and born of Mary and is thus “descended from David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3). He comes in this way to save us with His own flesh and blood; He is called “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). As Joseph received this sign in faith and immediately “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matthew 1:24), we also live by faith in this holy Gospel.

Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

Through His angel God commanded Joseph,…you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. The Holy Spirit informs us through Matthew that this event revealing Mary’s miraculous conception and revealing God’s command to name the baby Jesus, fulfilled what Isaiah had prophesied: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel. Matthew then translates Immanuel: God with us.

Herein we find two foundational beliefs of the Christian faith. First, that this baby would save from sin. Second, that this baby is God with us. Faith in these two realities must be divinely wrought, for who can believe that a single human could save from sin, or who could believe that God became a man. And yet these two beliefs always belong together, for who but God can save from sin? Through the prophet Isaiah God declares this reality: I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior (43:11).

In the name Jesus (Hebrew Joshua) this dual reality of God becoming man to save us is even sharpened. Jesus is a name that basically means God saves. Devout Jewish parents would name their sons Jesus (Joshua), as a reminder that God indeed saves. This child, born of the virgin, is given the name Jesus not so much as a reminder that God saves but because He IS God who saves from sin. Thus already while in the womb the ultimate person and work of this Holy-Spirit-conceived child is clearly identified. His person: True God and True Man. His Work: Saving Mankind from Sin.

Subsumed under this command given to Joseph is Christ’s journey to the cross. The Apostle Paul would later summarize Christian preaching: We preach Christ crucified. When the angel explains, He will save His people from their sins, He is identifying the central proclamation: We angels proclaim Christ crucified.

Many Christians will celebrate Christmas with a weak understanding of the purpose of this baby. Some will go only so far as to hail Him as mankind’s ultimate example. Many will only go as far as to claim Jesus as the One who reveals God’s love as He goes about healing and caring for the sick and the outcast. Others will only go as far as to tell people that Jesus was born to teach us about God. And for some He will be recognized as a sort of ultimate Moses—another great law-giver who directs His followers to absolute obedience. Though there is a kernel of truth in each of these yet ultimately these proclaimed purposes for the Christ-child are misleading and fall far short, for in them there is very little Gospel. St. Paul in the fifteenth chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians begins his summary of the Gospel by stating: For I delivered to you as of first importance…that Christ died for our sins (v. 3). This primary purpose of the Christ echoes perfectly the primary purpose named by the angel: He will save His people from their sins.

Thus we celebrate Christmas and share its foundational meaning by pointing people to the cross, and of course to the empty tomb. The cross is the heart of the Gospel. Indeed He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Romans4:25) …fulfilling the prediction, He will save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18

Τοῦ δὲ [a]Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ ἡ [b]γένεσις οὕτως ἦν. [c]μνηστευθείσης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ἰωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

"Before or until" - they came together" this brings us back to Genesis. Matthew begins with the genealogy. And starts with Joseph, Jesus is to be king through royalty. The miracle by the Holy Spirit Mary is expected. They have not yet come together. She is found/discovered to be with child.

Matthew 1:19

Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν [d]δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν.

And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Joseph a righteous just man, was not wanting to expose her. (Disgrace her)

Matthew 1:20

ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ’ ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων• Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν [e]Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκά σου, τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου•

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

- See John 8:41

Matthew 1:21

τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν, αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

-The meaning of the name because for he will save his people.

Matthew 1:22

τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν [f]ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος•

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

Now these things; all of them, took place to fulfill the sayings from the Lord through the prophet...

Matthew 1:23

Ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ• ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον Μεθ’ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός.

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).

Another name prophesied Immanuel - hear literally "God is with us." -Isaiah 7:24

He will be called Immanuel by the people a description of his character. Jesus is with us, for us, located specifically where he chooses to be located - even to the end of the age.

Matthew 1:24

ἐγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ•

When Joseph woke from slumber/sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

He does not divorce her he assumes responsibility he takes her as his wife. He took his wife into his home. He did this despite what ramification might come his way. See John 8:41 - “They said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.'"

Matthew 1:25

καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκεν [h]υἱόν• καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.

but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

He was not knowing her UNTIL

Time in the Word - Advent 4

God’s Word Is Fulfilled for Us in the Flesh and Blood of Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary

The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With the Blessed Virgin Mary we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Word and Spirit of God. This fulfillment of the sign once given to the House of David, that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14), is now given to us in the Gospel. It declares that salvation is by His grace alone, entirely His work and a free gift. It is also the way and means by which the Lord our God is “Immanuel,” God-with-us. The almighty and eternal Son of God is conceived and born of St. Mary, and is thus “descended from David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3–4). He comes in this way to save us with His own flesh and blood; wherefore He is called “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

As St. Joseph received this sign in faith and immediately “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matt. 1:24), we also live by faith in this Holy Gospel.

 Morning Prayer for this coming Week

December 16 Monday Annunciation Luke 1

December 17 Tuesday Visitation Luke 1

December 18 Wednesday Jesus is Born Luke 2

December 19 Thursday Jesus is Born Luke 2

 Catechism Review Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer,

What is Baptism

Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Great ‘O’ Antiphons

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.

O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Dayspring, Splendor of light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O King of the Nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.

O Emmanuel, our King and our Lord, the Anointed for the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

16-21 December 2019

Preparation for next week, Advent 4

Monday, 16 December 2019—Psalm 130:5–8; Antiphon, Isaiah 64:1—In the antiphon, we make known our desire to see the coming of the Lord in flesh: Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down! Having expressed this fervent wish, we settle down and wait for the LORD to come at His proper time. We know that the Lord will come, that He has come, for He always fulfills His promises out of His steadfast love, especially to redeem us from all our iniquities by His substitutionary death on the cross.

Tuesday, 17 December 2019— Psalm 24—This psalm may have been used when David brought the Ark of the Covenant—the place where the LORD dwelt with His people—into Jerusalem and in later festivals commemorating the event. How fitting that we sing this song as we look forward to the coming of the King of Glory to dwell among us in human flesh in order that we might receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of our salvation.

Wednesday, 18 December 2019—Isaiah 7:10–17—Here is one of the most clear and beloved prophecies of the coming of our Lord in the flesh: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Indeed, seven hundred years later, the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived and bore a Son: the promised Messiah who would deliver us from sin and its consequences, God in flesh, Immanuel (which means God with us).

Thursday, 19 December 2019— Romans 1:1–7—In this beginning to his epistle to the Church at Rome, St Paul proclaims the dual nature of Jesus Christ: true man, in that He was descended from David according to the flesh; and true God, as testified by His Spirit of holiness and resurrection from the dead.

Paul proclaims Him to be Jesus Christ our Lord: Jesus, a human name meaning ‘the LORD saves’; Christ his title, meaning the ‘Anointed One, the Messiah’; Lord, another title, and witness to the fact that He is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, the only true God, though robed in human flesh. It is for the proclamation of the Gospel—the salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ our Lord—that Paul was called to be an apostle.

Friday, 19 December 2019 - Matthew 1:18–25—Here is the consummation of our advent preparation: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to a virgin, just as Isaiah had prophesied. No ordinary child, this One was conceived from the Holy Spirit and born to a human mother. Jesus (‘the LORD saves’): what a fitting name for the Son of God come down from heaven and the One who, by laying down His life for us, would save his people from their sins.

Saturday, 20 December 2019— Sunday’s hymn of the day, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LB #357), is an ancient hymn based upon seven even more ancient antiphons (called the ‘O’ Antiphons) which were used in the Office at Vespers (the evening office) during the last seven days of Advent. Each antiphon and each hymn stanza refers to a different title for Christ: Wisdom, Adonai (‘Lord’), Root (or Branch) of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of Nations, Emmanuel (‘God with Us’).

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Sources:

Collect for Pentecost 24 from Lutheran Worship © Concordia Publishing House

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Family Life Center update

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Advent 3

Advent 3 Series A

15 December 2019

Matthew 11:2-11

Evidence that Jesus is the Messiah

Let Jesus be Jesus

If you come to the conclusion - after examining and surveying the evidence - of the life and work of Jesus. That He is the Messiah. What are you to do about it? The disciples of John the Baptizer went back to report to John what they had heard and seen.

But was John convinced? The record does not say. But we believe he was satisfied that Jesus truly was the promised one.

It is easy for us to make a confession of Jesus as the Christ. But we so often let it go at that. What is the implication of such a conviction? If Jesus is the one who is to come. Then what?

1. We should believe in Him as the Messiah.

It is a scary thing to notice how few people recognized and accepted Jesus for who He was. Some did. According to Matthew the wise men did. And also Herod![1] A woman with a hemorrhage.[2] A Roman Centurion.[3] The Syro-Phonecian woman.[4] Perhaps the crowd at the Triumphal Entry[5] believed - briefly, at least. The Centurion at the tomb.[6] He believed. The disciples? They we're not so sure: "Some doubted."[7]

But what is scary are the number people who never did recognize Jesus—the very people, one would think, who would have. Jesus' hometown neighbors condemned him.[8]

The cities of Corazon and Bethsaida rejected him[9]. Above all, the chief religious authorities, the scribes and Pharisees, who ultimately conspired to crucify him.[10]

Even in today's lesson. John the Baptist. At the beginning. When he had baptized Jesus in the Jordan.[11] John had been certain. But now. Alone in his cell. As word gets through to him in bits and pieces about what Jesus is doing. He is not so sure. Is Jesus the Messiah or not? Can we at last stop waiting, expecting, longing? Or must our hope, already taut and thin, be stretched even further?

The problem with God's anointed is that they so seldom turn out to be what people have been looking for. They do not say the things people have been waiting to hear. Or do the things people have been expecting them to do.

God-called leaders - like Moses - are hard to follow. God-chosen prophets - like Jeremiah - are next to impossible to live with. It often turns out that what God's idea of a God-anointed leader and what humans' idea of a God-anointed leader should be are two vastly different things.

Jesus - God's own Messiah could be so, well, so offensive. That is. He could say and do some very un-messianic things. Such as forgive sins. Heal on the Sabbath. Ride roughshod over time-honored traditions and prejudices. Treat women with respect. Commend and extol hardship and suffering.

Although John is the only person we know of who actually blurts out the question. The odds are good that the question was asked many times by many people. Can this Jesus possibly be the promised Messiah? But it’s a question asked in faith. So it’s a good question.

We’re told that John the Baptist was at the time spending time in prison. What about the kinds of prisons in which many persons in our congregation find themselves? What are the difficulties that persons are having in their lives? Inevitably. During this season of the year. We encounter people who do not share the cheerfulness or the merriment of the season.

Something troubles them. An addiction that only is heightened by all of the office parties. Memories of broken relationships. Or a missed opportunity for a better life. Now, because of these or other events, their hearts are broken. They are imprisoned. Their hopes have been dashed by the circumstances of life. Their “best life now” got up and left.

With all that is proclaimed or heard at this time of year. These questions are pertinent to those who are in pain."Who is this Messiah? Who is this Jesus? Who speaks to me in the prison of my own life? Can He speak to my situation? Or do I have to look for another?"

Jesus does not come to meet our expectations. He comes to overturn them. John the Baptist served as the agent to address this. At that time.

The question is still asked— And it needs to be asked. It needs to be asked because, as in John's case. It forces us to address the Christological question. Quite appropriate for this season of the Church year.

Who was/is this Jesus? How is He our Messiah? In what ways does He meet our expectations? More important. In what ways does He offend? Because. More often than not. One's answer ends up reflecting one's own subjective needs and ideas.

Even unintentionally. We are likely to modernize. Or domesticate. Or spiritualize. Or psy·chol·o·gize the "real" Jesus of the Gospels. We are likely to be influenced by personal attitudes and outlooks. “You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”[12]

Today's "user-friendly" church may require a "user-friendly" Jesus. Or today's emphasis on ambition and success may lead us to discover a "success-oriented" Jesus—or as one ad puts it, "Jesus the Super-Salesman."

2. We should join the cause of Christ – become a disciple.

In the biblical story, Jesus invites John to answer his own question—And provides the evidence. In an autobiographical sketch of only one sentence, Jesus summarizes His messianic mission: of healing, restoring, and preaching. There is not much here in the way of messianic glamour. The Romans still rule. God's people are still captive. King David's throne sits empty.

So it is true. All the bells and whistles of popular messianic expectations are missing. In fact. So much is missing that Jesus has to conclude His little sketch with a back-handed warning. (And it comes in the form of a blessing.) "Blessed are those who do not take offense when I do not meet their messianic expectations."

3. We should continue His work through the mission and ministry of the Church.

The persons who did recognize Jesus. Who gratefully received Him as God's anointed. Needed no warning. They simply accepted what Jesus had to give. No questions asked. They did not demand that Jesus be a Republican or a Democrat. Or help them feel good about themselves. Or that He end abortion. Or punish environmental polluters. Or that He join their denomination. Attend their school. Or at least drop by their country club.

The blind. The lame. The deaf. The dead. Lepers and prostitutes and especially the poor —These did not insist that Jesus fit their Christology. They changed their Christology to fit Jesus. They surrendered to the Reign of God. No matter what form it came in. And no matter how Jesus offered it. Mainly, of course, because they were in no position to do otherwise.

Unlike so many others. These were the persons who did not miss the Messiah when He came. Because they took no offense at Him. Or at His strange and confounding ways. They. So to speak. Let Jesus be Jesus.

Words- 1,215

Passive Sentences – 4%

Readability – 75.8%

Reading Level- 4.6

https://www.workingpreacher.org

[1] Matthew 2:1-18

[2] Matthew 9:20

[3] Matthew 8:5-13

[4] Matthew 15:21-28

[5] Matthew 21:1-11

[6] Matthew 27:54

[7] Matthew 28:17

[8] Matthew 13:54-58

[9] Matthew 11:21

[10] Matthew 26.:1-5

[11] Matthew 3:13

[12] Anne Lamont https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/anne_lamott_161858

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Mid-week Advent 2

Advent 2 Mid-week

11 December 2019

Romans 15:4-13

The basis for hope: the coming of Christ

We live at a time in which hope is in short supply. Many in this country seem disillusioned disappointed and doubtful. We once hoped education would solve our problems. We no longer hope that one war will end all wars.

Some hopes were raised when a new administration took over in Washington. But many have grown dissatisfied and impeachment is looming. It seems now our country is divided. And in many ways - out of sorts.

Can a person hope in anything anymore? Now we are in the Advent season. A season of hope for a new age through a coming Deliverer. Will this be an empty hope too? One thing is sure. There is no good reason to hope in man. But we can hope confidently in Christ.

Tonight we consider the roots of our hope –

1. The roots of our hope are found in the Scripture – V. 4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

We can hope in the promises of Scripture for God is faithful. Here Paul defends his application to Christ. “Zeal for Your house consumes Me…” - Psalm 69:9

In so doing, Paul states a great truth concerning the purpose of Scripture. It was written for our instruction. So that as we patiently endure we might be encouraged to hold fast our hope in Christ.

“These things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did…These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” - 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11

2. The roots of our hope center in the coming of the Son of David – V. 12 “And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in Him.”

We can hope because Christ is coming again to set things right. Jesse was the father of David. And the Messiah was the “Son of David”. The Gentile mission of the early church was a fulfillment of this prophecy. As is the continuing evangelization of the nations.

3. The roots of our hope center in the God of hope – V. 13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

If we have Christ. We can hope. For HE is the God of hope. Any hope the Christian has comes from the Spirit of Jesus. Paul will say in Romans 5:5 “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.”

Your hope is not to be equated with unfounded optimism. To the contrary. It is the blessed assurance of our future destiny. It is based on the Father’s love, which is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

It has been objectively demonstrated to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit the Father has poured out His love in our hearts and His love for us continues to dwell in each believer.

The Spirit of Christ dwells in you. Hope cannot be conjured up by man’s effort; it is the Father’s gift of the Spirit. Paul will say in Romans 8:24-25 – “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

True, we are saved by faith, not hope. But hope accompanies salvation. Hope is our destiny. Hope is our future in Christ. Hope is the anchor of our faith. Hope is our assurance that a mansion glorious awaits us.

We hold fast our hope in Christ. We can hope because Christ is coming again to set things right. If we have Christ, we can hope. For He is a God of hope. Any hope the Christian has comes from the One in whom we trust.

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Words-745

Passive Sentences-17%

Readability-83.2%

Reading Level-4.5

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Time in the Word - Advent 3

09-14 December 2019

When Messiah Comes

Advent three deals with the identity of the Messiah. The Gospel lesson (Matthew 11:2-11) assures us that Jesus is the Messiah promised of old and that John the Baptizer is the greatest of the prophets because he prepared the way for the Messiah. The Old Testament lesson (Isaiah 35:1-10) shows what kind of world we will have when the Lord comes to save us; utopia, paradise, healing and joy. The Epistle lesson (James 5:7-10) takes us to the post-Easter experience when followers of the Messiah are urged to patiently wait for his Second Coming. At this Second Coming, the promised paradise in the Old Testament lesson will become a reality. Since Jesus is the Coming One, He is worth waiting for with patience. In the Prayer for the Day we ask for “the wisdom to see Your purpose” the purpose of Christ is seen in the works of Jesus.

In the Gospel we come to the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah. In the Old Testament we are given a description of the conditions resulting from the messiah’s coming to earth. Here we see the fulfillment of these conditions in Jesus’ ministry.

But, the question may be asked, “Why do these conditions not exist on earth since Jesus came about 2000 years ago?”

The answer is given by James in the Epistle lesson who exhorts us to patiently wait for the Messiah’s Second Coming when these conditions will become a reality for all of God’s people.

Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent: Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming, give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world.

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share His wisdom and become one with Him when He comes in glory, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen

Lord, free us from our sins and make us whole. Hear our prayer, and prepare us to celebrate the incarnation of Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen

Collect for Psalm 85: God of love and faithfulness, You so loved the world that You gave Your only Son to be our Savior. Help us to receive Him as both Lord and brother and freely celebrate Him as our gracious Redeemer now and forever.

Collect for Psalm 146: God of glory and power, happy indeed are those who have put their trust in You. shine the brightness of Your light upon us that w may love You always with a pure heart and praise Your forever. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 Morning Prayer Readings for this week

December 09 Monday Naaman & Gahazi 2 Kings 5

December 10 Tuesday King Hezekiah Isaiah 38

December 11 Wednesday Chapel

December 12 Thursday Jonah Part 1 Jonah 1

December 13 Friday Jonah Part 2 Jonah 2-3

 Catechism Review: 6th & 7th Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

Monday, 09 December 2019— Psalm 85 - The Antiphon for this coming week’s Introit comes from verse 7, "Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord; and grant us Your salvation." God’s sure mercies to His people spring from His covenant of live, to which in His faithfulness and righteousness He remains true, and that assures His people will receive His abiding peace.

Tuesday, 10 December 2019— Psalm 146, key verse, 1b – “Praise the lord, O my soul!” The Psalm appointed for this coming Sunday is an exhortation to trust in the Lord and is the first of five Hallelujah psalms with which the Psalter closes. This, and the remaining four psalms, are all framed with Hallelujahs.

Wednesday, 11 December 2019— Isaiah 35:1-10 – When God comes to save His people, they will enjoy paradise. The Old Testament lesson speaks of the conditions resulting from God’s coming to His people. When God comes to save His people, they will enjoy paradise. Advent 3 deals with the identity of the Messiah. At the second coming, the promised paradise will become a reality. Our lesson shows us what kind of world we will have when the Lord comes to save us: paradise, healing and joy.

Thursday, 12 December 2019— James 5:7-11 – Be patient in waiting for the Lord’s return. In our Epistle lesson, James expresses patience in waiting for the Lord’s return.

He exhorts us to patiently wait for the Messiah’s Second Coming. Since Jesus is the Messiah, He is worth waiting for with patience.

Friday, 13 December 2019- Matthew 11:2-15 – John the Baptizer sends a delegation to learn if Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus says John is the greatest of the prophets. In the Gospel lesson, we are given evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. John the Baptist sends a delegation to learn if Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus says John is the greatest of the prophets. We come to the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah.

The ultimate confession to be a Christian is to say Jesus is Lord, or the Messiah (Christ). How does one come to such a conclusion? We dare not take anybody’s word. Rather, we find out for ourselves by studying the evidence. This is what Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptizer to do and then to go back and let John know what has been said and done. We do not take our faith on hearsay. Rather, we base our faith grounded in fact.

Saturday, 14 December 2019— Romans 13:11 – This verse is the inspiration for the hymn, “Hark, a Thrilling Voice is Sounding”. Paul reminds us that the certain coming of the end of this present age is used to provide motivation for godly living. {See Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 13:33-37; 2 Peter 3:11-14} The time of salvation, the closing period of the present age, before the consummation of the kingdom remind us that now is the hour. The time for action is now. The full realization of salvation at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is nearer now then it was before. Every day brings us closer to the second advent of Christ. Our prayer is simple, “Come; come Lord Jesus, come even today!”

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