Events

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 30:18–21\rPsalm: Psalm 36:5–12; antiphon: v. 8\rEpistle: Ephesians 2:19–22\rGospel: John 14:1–14\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: Romans 10:15b, 18b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.\rVerse: John 14:6\r\rSt. Philip and St. James, Apostles\r \r“Lord, show us the Father.” Philip did not yet recognize that the Father is glorified in the Son. In His name we have access to the Father, for they are one. Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him],” and whoever believes in Him will do the works He does and greater (John 14:6–13). And so Philip and James did; the “household of God” is built on the apostles, with Christ as her chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:19–22). The beloved words of Jesus from today’s Gospel were the words of their “Teacher,” echoing in their ears as they walked in His way (Is. 30:20–21). And so their hearts were not troubled (John 14:1) as they ate “the bread of adversity and the water of affliction” (Is. 30:20). Philip, who in John’s Gospel brings Jews and Greeks to Jesus, is said to have journeyed to Phrygia where he was martyred. James “the Younger” (son of Alphaeus, whose mother Mary was at the crucifixion) is said to have died by being sawn in half. Where Christ is, they also are, and so shall we be (John 14:3).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 12:1–6\rPsalm: Psalm 66:1–8; antiphon: v. 5\rEpistle: James 1:16–21\rGospel: John 16:5–15\rIntroit: Psalm 98:1b, 3–4; antiphon: vv. 1a, 2b\rVerse: Psalm 118:16; Romans 6:9\r\rJesus Promises to Send His Holy Spirit, the Helper\r \rThough Jesus has departed from us visibly to the right hand of the Father who sent Him, yet this is to our advantage. For Jesus—who is Lord over all creation, who intercedes for us before the Father, who is preparing a place for us in heaven—has sent the Helper, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:5–15). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” through Jesus Christ (James 1:17). The Holy Spirit helps us by taking what is Christ’s and declaring it to us. In the Word of truth, the Spirit works repentance and delivers to us the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness of Christ, and victory over the devil. For the ruler of this world is judged and defeated by the cross. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we have been brought forth to new life in Him who is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Confident of our resurrection with Christ we confess, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid” (Is. 12:2).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Numbers 21:4–9\rPsalm: Psalm 107:1–9; antiphon: v. 19\rEpistle: 1 Timothy 2:1–6\rEpistle: James 1:22–27\rGospel: John 16:23–33\rGospel: John 16:23–30\rIntroit: Psalm 66:1–2a, 17, 19–20; antiphon: Isaiah 48:20b\rVerse: Liturgical Text; John 16:28\r\rThe Father Answers Our Prayers Because of Jesus\r \r“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you” (John 16:23). To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray as one who has been baptized. For it is in the water that He put His name upon you, claiming you as His own, making you a son of God with access to the Father. By His incarnation and crucifixion, our Lord Jesus broke through the barrier of sin which separated us from God, opening a portal to the Father. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray with faith in Him as the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:1–6). Like Moses in the wilderness, Jesus is our go-between and intercessor before the throne of heaven. He was lifted up for us on the cross that we might be saved and restored to fellowship with the Father (Num. 21:4–9). Looking into this perfect teaching of liberty (James 1:22–27) we pray with boldness and confidence as dear children of God.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: 2 Kings 2:5–15\rPsalm: Psalm 110; antiphon: v. 1\rSecond Reading: Acts 1:1–11\rGospel: Mark 16:14–20\rGospel: Luke 24:44–53\rIntroit: Psalm 47:1–2, 5, 8; antiphon: Acts 1:11\rVerse: Psalm 47:5; 68:18a\r\rJesus Is Ascended, but Not Absent\r \rOn the fortieth day after His resurrection, our Lord ascended to the right hand of the Father. But although Jesus is hidden from your eyes, He is not absent from you. For He now fills all things in heaven and on earth. He continues “to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1), preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins through those sent in His name (Mark 16:14–20; Luke 24:44–53), giving you His true body and blood in the Supper. Jesus is your great Elijah who pours out on you a double portion of His Spirit in the Word and the Sacraments (2 Kings 2:5–15). He is Lord over all things for the sake of the Church. He whom heaven cannot contain has raised your human nature to share fully in the glory of God. You who believe and are baptized into Christ’s body are already sitting in the heavenly places; for you are in Him who is at the Father’s right hand. When He comes again in the clouds on the Last Day, you also will appear with Him in glory.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Ezekiel 36:22–28\rPsalm: Psalm 51:1–12; antiphon: v. 10\rEpistle: 1 Peter 4:7–11\rEpistle: 1 Peter 4:7–14\rGospel: John 15:26—16:4\rIntroit: Psalm 27:1, 11a, 12; antiphon: vv. 7a, 8b, 9a\rVerse: Psalm 47:8; John 14:18a, 28; 16:22b\r\rThe Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to Jesus\r \rThe Spirit of Truth bears witness to Jesus, who is the truth. But the world does not receive the truth. It loves its own and hates those who are of the truth. Just as Jesus was scorned, so is His Church. “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). Yet it is by Jesus’ suffering and death that we are saved. Therefore we rejoice to share in His sufferings, that we may also share in His resurrection glory (1 Pet. 4:7–14). Through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth, we are cleansed from the deceit of our idols and given a new heart and a new spirit, the heart and Spirit of Christ (Ezek. 36:22–28). He now works in us fervent, self-giving love for one another, love which covers a multitude of sins, “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Joel 3:1–5\rPsalm: Psalm 85; antiphon: v. 11\rEpistle: Romans 8:12–17\rGospel: John 14:15–21\rIntroit: Psalm 68:32–35; antiphon: v. 19\rVerse: John 14:26; Liturgical Text\r\rThe Holy Spirit Is Poured Out\r \rJesus promises not to leave us as orphans. He sends us “another Helper . . . even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit helps you in your weakness and intercedes for you “with groanings too deep for words” (Rom. 8:26). He prays for you when you do not know what to pray for. This is the same Spirit whom the Lord promised long ago: “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). At Pentecost, this prophecy was fulfilled, and so it is today, as the Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith” (Small Catechism).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 57:15–21\rPsalm: Psalm 43; antiphon: v. 3\rSecond Reading: Acts 10:34a, 42–48\rGospel: John 3:16–21\rIntroit: Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10a, 14; antiphon: v. 16\rVerse: Acts 2:4; Liturgical Text

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 11:1–9\rPsalm: Psalm 143; antiphon: v. 11\rSecond Reading: Acts 2:1–21\rGospel: John 14:23–31\rIntroit: Psalm 68:1, 4a, c, 11a, 33b, 35a; antiphon: Liturgical Text; Psalm 68:3\rVerse: Psalm 104:30; Liturgical Text\r\rThe Holy Spirit Gives Peace\r \rFollowing the flood, Noah’s descendants failed to spread out and fill the earth as God had spoken. Rather, they exalted themselves; with “one language and the same words” (Gen. 11:1) they spoke proudly and arrogantly. The Lord humbled them by confusing “the language of all the earth,” dividing and dispersing the people (Gen. 11:9). That dispersal was reversed on Pentecost Day (the fiftieth day of Easter), when God caused the one Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be preached in a multitude of languages. “At this sound the multitude came together” (Acts 2:6), for the preaching of Christ is the primary work of the Holy Spirit, whereby He gathers people from all nations into one Church. The Holy Spirit teaches and brings to our remembrance the words of Jesus, which are the words of the Father who sent Him. These words bestow forgiveness and peace to those who keep and hold on to them in love for Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 32:14–20\rPsalm: Psalm 85; antiphon: v. 10\rSecond Reading: Acts 8:14–17\rGospel: John 10:1–10\rIntroit: Psalm 78:1, 70, 71b–72; antiphon: Liturgical Text\rVerse: John 14:26; Liturgical Text