Events

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Exodus 33:12–23\rOld Testament: Amos 9:11–15\rPsalm: Psalm 111; antiphon: v. 9\rPsalm: Psalm 67; antiphon: v. 1\rEpistle: Romans 12:6–16\rEpistle: Ephesians 5:22–33\rGospel: John 2:1–11\rIntroit: Psalm 66:1–5, 20; antiphon: v. 4; 92:1\rGradual: Psalm 107:20–21\rVerse: Psalm 148:2\r\rJesus’ First Miracle Reveals God’s Glory\r \rThe coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of creation. The sign of this restoration is that “the mountains shall drip sweet wine” (Amos 9:11–15). When the elements of a fallen creation fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very best wine (John 2:1–11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory. The “back” of God (Ex. 33:12–23) is revealed to those who believe. The hour will come when Jesus will again manifest His glory by taking creation’s curse into His own body to release us from its power. The Bridegroom will give His life for the Bride (Eph. 5:22–32), and from His side will flow water and blood, the holy sacraments by which she is cleansed and made one with Him. Through this sacrificial love of Christ we are enabled to “love one another with brotherly affection . . .” and to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:6–16).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 16:1–5\rPsalm: Psalm 71:15–24; antiphon: v. 6\rEpistle: 1 Timothy 6:11–16\rGospel: Matthew 24:42–47\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: 1 Timothy 6:12a, b\rGradual: Ezekiel 34:11, 12b; Jeremiah 23:4a, b\rVerse: 1 Timothy 1:15a, b\r\rSt. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor\r \rOur Master, Jesus Christ, “is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44). He sets the servants of His Word as the watchmen and overseers of His household (Matt. 24:45). He commands them to keep, guard and “fight the good fight of the faith” entrusted to them (1 Tim. 6:12), “each according to his ability” (Matt. 25:15). Just as Christ “made the good confession” before Pilate (1 Tim. 6:13), so His servants stand before the Church and the world, and by their preaching the Lord strengthens faith and grants increase to His Church (Acts 16:5), the “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). St. Timothy, Paul’s friend and son in the faith, is an example of such a faithful and wise servant, set over the household of God in Ephesus to nourish in “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). The Lord still appoints men like Timothy to bear fruit that will abide (John 15:16), so that the whole household may confess and bear witness to the One “who gives life to all things” (1 Tim. 6:13).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Exodus 3:1–14\rOld Testament: Exodus 34:29–35\rPsalm: Psalm 2; antiphon: v. 7\rEpistle: 2 Peter 1:16–21\rGospel: Matthew 17:1–9\rIntroit: Psalm 84:1–2a, 4, 10–11; antiphon: Psalm 77:18b\rGradual: Psalm 45:2a; 110:1\rVerse: Psalm 96:2–3\r\rJesus Is Transfigured and Manifests His Glory\r \rThe Lord appeared to Moses in the light of the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–14). Later Moses’ face would shine with the light of God’s glory when he came down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29–35). At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with the One who is the Light of Light Himself (Matt. 17:1–9). Jesus’ glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature. By this epiphany, our Lord confirmed the prophetic word (2 Pet. 1:16–21), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He manifested His majesty as the eternal Son of the Father, and He wonderfully foreshowed our adoption as sons (Collect). We who have been baptized into Christ’s body are given a glimpse of the glory that we will share with Him in the resurrection on the Last Day.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 20:28–35\rPsalm: Psalm 71:1–14; antiphon: v. 17\rEpistle: Titus 1:1–9\rGospel: Luke 10:1–9\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Titus 3:4–5a\rGradual: Ezekiel 34:11, 12b; Jeremiah 23:4a, b\rVerse: Titus 2:11\r\rSt. Titus, Pastor and Confessor\r \r“Faith,” the “knowledge of the truth” and the “hope of eternal life” are manifested daily among us in His Word through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ Jesus (Titus 1:1–3). The times seem desperate: “Fierce wolves” are among us, “not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29), and “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). The Lord, however, is diligent to build and care for the Church, “which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). We are not to fear, but rather to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2). Send us faithful laborers! Preserve all pastors and teachers, that they “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught” so that they, like St. Titus, “may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9)! Give us ears to hear their preaching in repentance and faith. Preserve them from falsehood, greed and unholy living. We commend them to You and the Word of Your grace (Acts 20:32), that “when the chief Shepherd appears,” (1 Peter 5:4) He may declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Exodus 17:1–7\rPsalm: Psalm 95:1–9; antiphon: v. 6\rEpistle: 1 Corinthians 9:24—10:5\rGospel: Matthew 20:1–16\rIntroit: Psalm 18:1–2a, 27, 32, 49; antiphon: vv. 5–6a\rGradual: Psalm 9:9–10, 18–19a\rTract: Psalm 130:1–4\r\rGrace Alone\r \rThe people of Israel contended with the Lord in the wilderness (Ex. 17:1–7). They were dissatisfied with His provision. In the same way, the first laborers in the vineyard complained against the landowner for the wage he provided them (Matt. 20:1–16). They charged him with being unfair, but in reality he was being generous. For the Lord does not wish to deal with us on the basis of what we deserve but on the basis of His abounding grace in Christ. The first—those who rely on their own merits—will be last. “For they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Cor. 10:5). But the last, those who rely on Christ, will be first. For Christ is the Rock (1 Cor. 9:24–10:5). He is the One who was struck and from whose side blood and water flowed that we may be cleansed of our sin.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: 1 Samuel 1:21–28\rPsalm: Psalm 84; antiphon: v. 4\rEpistle: Hebrews 2:14–18\rGospel: Luke 2:22–32\rGospel: Luke 2:22–40\rIntroit: Psalm 48:1–3, 8; antiphon: v. 9\rGradual: Psalm 48:1, 8a, 9\rVerse: Luke 2:34b\r\rGod Gives the Gift of a Child to Destroy Death\r \rThe Lord opened the barren womb of Hannah and gave her the gift of the son for whom she prayed, and in grateful response she presented and gave the child, Samuel, to the Lord’s service. “As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord” (1 Sam. 1:28). So, too, did Mary and Joseph present the Child promised from the fall, born of a virgin’s womb. The true offering wasn’t the turtledoves or young pigeons. It was the Child they carried. This Child has come to “destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14b–15). Set free by His advent in our flesh and the promise of what He would do “in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17b), Simeon and Anna rejoiced. We also rejoice, for we, too, can face death unafraid and “depart in peace” (Luke 2:29) when our time comes.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 55:10–13\rPsalm: Psalm 84; antiphon: v. 4\rEpistle: Hebrews 4:9–13\rEpistle: 2 Corinthians 11:19—12:9\rGospel: Luke 8:4–15\rIntroit: Psalm 44:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: vv. 23, 25a, 26a\rGradual: Psalm 83:18, 13\rTract: Psalm 60:1–2, 5\r\rScripture Alone\r \rThe Sower sows the seed of His Word (Luke 8:4–15). This Word is living and powerful (Heb. 4:9–13) to conceive new life in those who hear it. But the planting of Christ is attacked by the devil, the world, and the flesh. Satan snatches the Word away from hard hearts. The riches and pleasures of this life choke off faith. Shallow and emotional belief withers in time of temptation and trouble. But see how Christ bears this attack for us! Christ’s cross was planted in the hard and rocky soil of Golgotha. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Satan and His demons hellishly hounded and devoured Him. Yet, through His dying and rising again, He destroyed these enemies of ours. Jesus is Himself the Seed which fell to the ground and died in order that it might sprout forth to new life and produce much grain. In Him, the weak are strong (2 Cor. 11:19–12:9). He is the Word of the Father which does not return void (Is. 55:10–13) but yields a harvest hundredfold.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship