Events

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

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1–13\rOld Testament: Isaiah 35:3–7\rPsalm: Psalm 89:18–29; antiphon: v. 20\rPsalm: Psalm 146; antiphon: v. 2\rEpistle: 1 Corinthians 13:1–13\rGospel: Luke 18:31–43\rIntroit: Psalm 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: vv. 2b–3\rGradual: Psalm 77:14–15\rTract: Psalm 100:1–3\r\rFaith Alone\r \rThe seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31–43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him “Son of David.” Indeed, Jesus is the Lord’s anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1–13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1–13). Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3–7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Black\r\rOld Testament: Jonah 3:1–10\rOld Testament: Joel 2:12–19\rPsalm: Psalm 51; antiphon: v. 17\rPsalm: Psalm 51:1–13; antiphon: v. 17\rEpistle: 2 Peter 1:2–11\rGospel: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21\rGospel: Matthew 6:16–21\rIntroit: Psalm 57:1–3a, c; antiphon: Liturgical Text\rGradual: Psalm 57:1a, 3a\rTract: Psalm 103:10; 79:8a, 9a\r\rReturn to the Lord Your God with All Your Heart, for He Has Reconciled You to Himself\r \r“Consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the people” (Joel 2:15–16). Lent, with its corporate fast, begins today. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return(Imposition of Ashes, from Genesis 3:19). “Who knows, whether God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger” (Jonah 3:9)? We know. Faith believes that, for Christ’s sake, “a broken and contrite heart our God will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2:13); therefore, we do not hesitate to return to him with all our heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” (v.12). He raises the dead, as we shall see in forty days’ time. Satan opposes such reconciliation and life. He would twist our discipline into self-serving pride (Matthew 6:1–12), leading us into unbelief and unfruitfulness until we fall from the Lord’s precious and very great promises (2 Peter 1:4, 8). For this reason, our Lenten discipline not only gives something up but also takes up the sustenance and exercise of faith: hearing His Word and turning from ourselves—to God in prayer and to our neighbor with charity. Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love” (v. 5–7).  \r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 3:1–21\rOld Testament: 1 Samuel 17:40–51\rPsalm: Psalm 32; antiphon: v. 7\rPsalm: Psalm 118:1–13; antiphon: v. 5\rEpistle: Hebrews 4:14–16\rEpistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1–10\rGospel: Matthew 4:1–11\rIntroit: Psalm 91:1–2, 9–10, 13; antiphon: vv. 15a, c, 16\rGradual: Psalm 91:11–12\rTract: Psalm 91:1, 4a, 15a, 16\r\rJesus Does Battle in Our Place\r \rIn the Garden, man exalts himself to be a god in place of God (Gen. 3:1–21). He succumbs to the temptation of the devil, and eating of the forbidden fruit, he receives death. But in the sin-cursed wilderness, God humbles Himself to become man in place of man (Mt. 4:1–11). He does not eat but fasts and bears the onslaughts of the devil for us that we may be restored to life. Jesus stands as David in our place to do battle against the Goliath, Satan (1 Samuel 17:40–51). Though outwardly Jesus appears weak, yet He comes in the name of the Lord of hosts. He draws from the five smooth stones of the books of Moses and slings the Word of God. The stone sinks into the forehead, and the enemy falls. In Christ we are victorious over the devil. Let us therefore not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1–10), but seeing that we have a great High Priest, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain help in time of need (Heb 4:14–16).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 66:1–2\rPsalm: Psalm 134; antiphon: Psalm 133:1\rSecond Reading: Acts 1:15–26\rGospel: Matthew 11:25–30\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: Ephesians 4:8b, 11, 12b; 2:19a, c\rVerse: Matthew 11:28\r\rSt. Matthias, Apostle\r \rWe know almost nothing about St. Matthias compared to Judas. While we know the grisly details of Judas’ death (Acts 1:18–19), we are unsure of Matthias’. After his election, the Bible never mentions him again. He seems to be a forgotten apostle. But what is fame to God? He looks to “he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Is. 66:2). Judas trembled, but his contrition was without faith in God’s mercy in Christ. He tried to bear his own sin in the form of a noose. Jesus does not say, “See to it yourself,” (Matt. 27:4), but “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you … and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28–29). Matthias was a witness of Christ’s ministry from John’s baptism to the resurrection (Acts 1:21–22), chosen to proclaim “the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 10:7) from repentance to redemption and new life. He and countless other forgotten ministers continually announce the truth that no sinner must bear his own yoke, for Christ bears it all and has put sin to death forever in His cross.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 32:22–32\rPsalm: Psalm 121; antiphon: vv. 1–2\rEpistle: Romans 5:1–5\rEpistle: 1 Thessalonians 4:1–7\rGospel: Matthew 15:21–28\rIntroit: Psalm 25:1–2a, 7–8, 11; antiphon: vv. 6, 2b, 22\rGradual: Psalm 25:17–18\rTract: Psalm 106:1–4\r\rHolding God to His Word\r \rJacob wrestled with God; he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Him (Gen. 32:22–32). So it was with the Canaanite woman. Though Jesus seemed to ignore and reject her, she continued to call upon His name and look to Him for help (Mt. 15:21–28). Even when the Lord called her a little dog, she held on to Him in faith and would not let Him wriggle out of His words: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” This Gentile woman shows herself to be a true Israelite, who struggles with God and man in Christ and prevails. “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire” (Mt. 15:27–28). This is the sanctifying will of God (1 Thess. 4:1–7)—to test your faith in order that it may be refined and strengthened. For tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And hope in Christ does not disappoint (Rom. 5:1–5).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship