Events

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

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Exodus 8:16–24\rOld Testament: Jeremiah 26:1–15\rPsalm: Psalm 136:1–16; antiphon: v. 26\rPsalm: Psalm 4; antiphon: v. 8\rEpistle: Ephesians 5:1–9\rGospel: Luke 11:14–28\rIntroit: Psalm 25:1–2, 17–18, 20; antiphon: vv. 15–16\rGradual: Psalm 9:19, 3\rTract: Psalm 123:1–3a\r\rJesus Overcomes the Strong Man\r \rJeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the Word of the Lord (Jer. 26:1–15). So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14–28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Ex. 8:16–24). They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil’s armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:1–9). As children of light, our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 49:8–13\rOld Testament: Exodus 16:2–21\rPsalm: Psalm 132:8–18; antiphon: v. 13\rSecond Reading: Acts 2:41–47\rEpistle: Galatians 4:21–31\rGospel: John 6:1–15\rIntroit: Psalm 122:1–2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a\rGradual: Psalm 122:1, 7\rTract: Psalm 125:1–2, 5b\r\rThe Lord Feeds His People\r \rThe Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Ex. 16:2–21). Now He who is Himself the living bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the five thousand (John 6:1–15). This takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude had followed Jesus across the sea, and when He went up on a mountain. Seen in this way, Jesus is our new and greater Moses, who releases us from the bondage of Mount Sinai and makes us free children of the promise (Gal. 4:21–31). Five loaves become twelve baskets—that is, the five books of Moses find their goal and fulfillment in Christ, whose people continue steadfastly in the doctrine and fellowship of the twelve apostles, and in the breaking and receiving of the bread of life, which is the body of Christ together with His precious blood, and in the prayers (Acts 2:41–47). So it is that God’s people “shall not hunger or thirst” (Is. 49:8–13). For He abundantly provides for us in both body and soul.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: 2 Samuel 7:4–16\rPsalm: Psalm 127; antiphon: v. 1a\rEpistle: Romans 4:13–18\rGospel: Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 128:1\rGradual: Psalm 45:6–7b\rVerse: Matthew 1:24a\r\rSt. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus\r \rIt was King David’s idea to build a permanent house for the ark of the covenant and the Lord’s name (2 Sam. 7:5–7). The temple he planned was built by King Solomon, but it was never really David or Solomon who housed and protected God. “The Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house” (2 Sam. 7:11). St. Joseph was not Jesus’ true father, since the child “conceived in [Mary] is from the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). The Church commemorates him instead as the “guardian of Jesus.” Heeding the word of God’s angels, protecting the unborn Christ, sparing the infant Jesus from Herod’s wrath, seeing Him “out of Egypt” again (Matt. 2:13–23), and bringing Him up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), Joseph is an example for all Christian fathers and guardians. But as with David “housing” the Lord who made a house for him, Joseph was never really the guardian. Christ was. His name is “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). The “offspring” promised to Abraham and renewed in the promises to David is the One “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:16–18). He is David’s King, Abraham’s Lord, Joseph’s Guardian and our Savior.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 22:1–14\rPsalm: Psalm 43; antiphon: v. 5\rEpistle: Hebrews 9:11–15\rGospel: John 8:42–59\rGospel: John 8:46–59\rIntroit: Psalm 43:3–5; antiphon: vv. 1–2a\rGradual: Psalm 143:9a, 10a; 18:48a, c\rTract: Psalm 129:1–4\r\rJesus Is Our Redemption\r \rIn the temple Jesus said, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). For Jesus came to taste death for us—to drink the cup of suffering to the dregs in order that we might be released from its power. Clinging to His life-giving words, we are delivered from death’s sting and its eternal judgment. Christ is our High Priest, who entered the Most Holy Place and with His own blood obtained everlasting redemption for His people (Heb. 9:11–15). He is the One who was before Abraham was, and yet is his descendant. He is the promised Son who carries the wood up the mountain for the sacrifice, who is bound and laid upon the altar of the cross. He is the ram who is offered in our place, who is willingly caught in the thicket of our sin, and who wears the crown of thorns upon His head (Gen. 22:1–14). Though Jesus is dishonored by the sons of the devil, He is vindicated by the Father through the cross.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship