Calendar

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4\rPsalm: Psalm 62; antiphon: v. 1\rEpistle: 2 Timothy 1:1–14\rGospel: Luke 17:1–10\rIntroit: Psalm 119:162, 164–165, 167; antiphon: v. 166\rGradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1\rVerse: Luke 17:3b\r\rWe Walk by Faith, and Not by Sight, in the Peace of Christ’s Forgiveness\r \rWe are surrounded by “destruction and violence” (Hab. 1:3) because the Law “is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth” (Hab. 1:4). In fact, the Law cannot rescue us from our enemies; it is our fiercest enemy of all. Therefore, not by sight, experience or feeling, nor by works, “the righteous shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4). “Temptations to sin are sure to come” (Luke 17:1), but as often as we sin, the Lord rebukes us, turns us to repentance and forgives us. We pray that He would thus “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). And indeed, He does! Though we are His “unworthy servants” (Luke 17:10), He prepares His Supper for us, dresses us properly and gives us His body and blood to eat and drink. He appoints pastors for us, “by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:1). For the Gospel brings “life and immortality to light” (2 Tim. 1:10). This we believe. Therefore, “follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard,” by which He guards you “in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13). \r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Ruth 1:1–19a\rPsalm: Psalm 111; antiphon: v. 10\rEpistle: 2 Timothy 2:1–13\rGospel: Luke 17:11–19\rIntroit: Psalm 34:2–4, 17; antiphon: Psalm 48:1a\rGradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1\rVerse: Luke 5:15\r\rFaith Returns Thanks to God and Worships Him in the Person of Christ Jesus\r \rJesus comes in mercy and, by His Word, heals you in body and soul. “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” for you are cleansed (Luke 17:14), and you are granted access to the Lord’s temple. It is “at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks” (Luke 17:16), that you worship God, for Christ Jesus is your great High Priest; His body is the true temple. In Him, you “find rest, each of you in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:9), for the Lord has “visited his people and given them food” (Ruth 1:6). The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food — bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely “the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2), so that you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach and confess the one Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ. \r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 35:5–8\rPsalm: Psalm 147:1–11; antiphon: v. 12\rEpistle: 2 Timothy 4:5–18\rGospel: Luke 10:1–9\rIntroit: Psalm 92:1–5; antiphon: Luke 24:46–47\rGradual: Psalm 119:105, 103; 45:1a, c\rVerse: Luke 19:9b, 10\r\rSt. Luke, Evangelist\r \rThe Lord bids us to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). The fields look more like deserts, filled with jackals (Is. 35:6–7), and the Lord sends His laborers out “as lambs in the midst of wolves.” But Christ’s Word of “peace” heals the sick and brings the very “kingdom of God … near” to those who hear it (Is. 35:5; Luke 10:3–9). St. Luke, the beloved physician (Col. 4:14), did “the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). He diligently prepared both a Gospel, the history of Christ’s work in the flesh before His ascension, and the Acts of the Apostles, the history of His continued work among His Church. Luke and his Scriptures are a gift from this ascended Lord (Eph. 4:8–12), written for Theophilus and for “all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:5–8). Tradition suggests that Luke was one of the 72 sent out ahead of Jesus, “two by two” (Luke 10:1). Luke proved himself to be a faithful companion throughout St. Paul’s missionary journeys, through many trials and crosses, and even to Rome, where he alone was with Paul.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 32:22–30\rPsalm: Psalm 121; antiphon: vv. 1–2\rEpistle: 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5\rGospel: Luke 18:1–8\rIntroit: Psalm 74:18–19, 21, 20a, 22a; antiphon: v. 2a\rGradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1\rVerse: Luke 18:8\r\rFaith Clings to the Word and Promises of God and Perseveres in Prayer\r \r“Left alone,” Jacob wrestled through the night with the Lord, “until the breaking of the day” (Gen. 32:24). Though “Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him” (Gen. 32:25), he would not let go until the Lord blessed him. At times, we, too, strive with God; He strives with us and blesses us by grace. So Jesus teaches us “always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Jesus speaks of “a judge who neither feared God nor respected man” and of a widow “who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary’” (Luke 18:2–3). Because of her persistence, the judge agreed to “give her justice” (Luke 18:5). Our Lord dispenses justice generously and swiftly, giving “justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night” (Luke 18:7). He does so according to the Gospel. Therefore, His ministers are to persevere faithfully in their vocation, in what they “have learned and have firmly believed” (2 Tim. 3:14). On the basis of “the sacred writings” (2 Tim. 3:15), they are to “preach the word” at all times and not lose heart (2 Tim. 4:2). \r \r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 15:12–22a\rPsalm: Psalm 133; antiphon: v. 1\rEpistle: James 1:1–12\rGospel: Matthew 13:54–58\rIntroit: Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; antiphon: Revelation 7:14b\rGradual: Psalm 48:10–11\rVerse: Psalm 116:15\r\rSt. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr\r \r“A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household” (Matt. 13:58). James the Just was once offended at Jesus’ “wisdom and … mighty works” (Matt. 13:54). But he came to faith following His resurrection, when Jesus appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:7). He then became a leader of the Early Church in Jerusalem, present at the council recorded in Acts 15. There James recognized from the prophets that Jesus was the Lord “known from of old” and returned to rebuild David’s fallen tent and restore it, “that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name” (Acts 15:16–18). “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2–3). Josephus and other historians record that James was martyred by stoning in the 60s A.D. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 4:1–15\rPsalm: Psalm 5; antiphon: v. 11a\rEpistle: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18\rGospel: Luke 18:9–17\rIntroit: Psalm 56:10–13; antiphon: v. 3\rGradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1\rVerse: Luke 18:16b\r\rIn Humble Repentance, Faith Lives by Grace and Mercy and Is Exalted by God in Christ\r \rJesus tells a parable “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (Luke 18:9). In this parable, the Pharisee unjustly boasted before God on the basis of his own merits, whereas the tax collector intently prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). That poor, miserable sinner trusted Christ, and he went “down to his house justified, rather than the other” (Luke 18:14). So do little children, “even infants,” come to Jesus with their need, and they “receive the kingdom of God” through faith (Luke 18:15–17). For “the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” but “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled” (Luke 18:14). That is why “the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard” (Gen. 4:4–5). St. Paul’s life, “poured out as a drink offering,” was another sacrifice like Abel’s (2 Tim. 4:6). The Lord stood by Paul and strengthened him, that “the message might be fully proclaimed” (2 Tim. 4:17). It is by that Gospel message of Christ that we “have loved his appearing” and as repentant sinners pray to “the Lord, the righteous judge” by faith (2 Tim. 6:8).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Jeremiah 26:1–16\rPsalm: Psalm 43; antiphon: v. 5b\rEpistle: 1 Peter 1:3–9\rGospel: John 15:17–21\rGospel: John 15:12–21\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: Romans 10:15b, 18b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.\rVerse: John 15:16a\r\rSt. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles\r \r“Speak to them; do not hold back a word” (Jer. 26:1–6). The Word is always repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:44) — “great mercy” and “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3). “If they kept my word,” says Jesus, “they will also keep yours,” but “if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18–21). In Jeremiah’s day, the people demanded he die, but they did not bring his “innocent blood” on themselves (Jer. 26:8–16). When the priests and people gathered around Jesus, they refused to hear (Matt. 27:20–26). Christ’s servants will not be above their master (John 15:20). According to tradition, Simon (the Zealot) and Jude (also known as Thaddaeus) worked to bring the Gospel to Persia, where they were martyred together. But even in this, God’s servants are “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). “Though … tested by fire” and suffering, we obtain “the outcome of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls,” and rejoice (1 Peter 1:6–9). For as Jesus told Jude, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rFirst Reading: Revelation 14:6–7\rPsalm: Psalm 46; antiphon: v. 7\rEpistle: Romans 3:19–28\rGospel: Matthew 11:12–19\rGospel: John 8:31–36\rIntroit: Psalm 34:1–2, 11, 22; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: Psalm 48:1a, 12–14a\rVerse: Luke 12:32\r\rThe Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace\r \r“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son, has justified us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:18–19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by the hearing of that Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship