Events

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 15:1–6\rPsalm: Psalm 33:12–22; antiphon: v. 20\rEpistle: 1 John 4:16–21\rGospel: Luke 16:19–31\rIntroit: Psalm 13:1–4; antiphon: vv. 5–6\rGradual: Psalm 41:4, 1\rVerse: Psalm 7:1\r\rFaith Trusts in Christ for Life Eternal\r \rWhen the beggar Lazarus died, he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. For he was truly Abraham’s seed. Like Abraham, he believed in the Lord, and the Lord “counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). The name Lazarus means “God is my help.” The unnamed rich man, on the other hand, did not love and trust in God. For he evidently cared little for the beggar at his gate. And “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). He who loved and trusted in possessions and prestige died and was in torments in Hades (Luke 16:19–31). Repentance and faith are worked only through Moses and the prophets—that is, the Word of God, for it points us to Christ. Only through His death and resurrection are we brought the comfort of life everlasting.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 42:5–12\rPsalm: Psalm 112; antiphon: v. 1\rSecond Reading: Acts 11:19–30; 13:1–3\rGospel: Mark 6:7–13\rIntroit: Psalm 135:1–3; antiphon: v. 13\rGradual: Ephesians 4:8b, 11, 12b; 2:19a, c\rVerse: Mark 6:12\r\rSt. Barnabas, Apostle\r \rJoseph, a Levite from Cyprus, received the name Barnabas from the apostles (Acts 4:36–37). He was sent to Antioch to see “the grace of God” among the Hellenists, exhorting “them all to remain faithful to the Lord” (Acts 11:22–24). There, through His Church, the Holy Spirit “set apart … Barnabas and Saul for the work to which [He had] called them” (Acts 13:2). Just as Christ had sent out the 12 to proclaim repentance and cast out demons and heal the sick (Mark 6:7–13), so He now sent Paul and Barnabas to proclaim repentance and healing among the Gentiles. Still, this Word is not always received (Acts 13:44–52). Even within the Church, divisions threaten it. Barnabas knew this. He was at the Jerusalem council to see that the Gospel was preserved without mingling in the Law (Acts 15:2–4), and he parted ways with Paul over the usefulness of John Mark (Acts 15:36–41). Despite all these trials, St. Barnabas remained full of faith so the Gentiles could “give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise in the coastlands” (Is. 42:12). Thus, by the Lord’s calling and Spirit, Barnabas lived up to his new name: “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Proverbs 9:1–10\rPsalm: Psalm 34:12–22; antiphon: v. 11\rEpistle: Ephesians 2:13–22\rEpistle: 1 John 3:13–18\rGospel: Luke 14:15–24\rIntroit: Psalm 18:1–2a, 27, 30a, 49; antiphon: vv. 18b–19\rGradual: Psalm 120:1–2\rVerse: Psalm 7:17\r\rThe Gospel Call Goes Out to All\r \rWisdom has issued an invitation to the divine feast: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Prov. 9:5–6). This is the call of the Spirit of Christ to believe the Gospel and to receive His saving gifts in the Holy Supper. Many make excuses and reject this invitation, even as the Jews did in the days of Jesus, yet the Master’s house will be filled. The Gospel call therefore goes out to the lowly and despised, into the highways, even to all the Gentiles (Luke 14:15–24). For “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13–22). In Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles are no longer strangers but fellow members of the household of God. The enmity of class and race is put to death through the cross. Having been reconciled in the one Body of Christ, we are enabled to love one another (1 John 3:13–18) as we await the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which will have no end.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Micah 7:18–20\rPsalm: Psalm 103:1–13; antiphon: v. 8\rEpistle: 1 Timothy 1:12–17\rEpistle: 1 Peter 5:6–11\rGospel: Luke 15:1–10\rGospel: Luke 15:11–32\rIntroit: Psalm 25:1–2a, 5b, 15, 20; antiphon: vv. 16, 18\rGradual: Psalm 55:22a, 16, 18a\rVerse: Psalm 18:1–2a\r\rJesus Receives Sinners\r \r“This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees’ statement of judgment against Jesus is in fact a proclamation of Gospel truth. For our God is one who delights in mercy, who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea through the cross (Micah 7:18–20). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). Those who refuse to be counted as sinners also refuse Jesus who came only for sinners. Those like the older son (Luke 15:11–32), who think they are righteous of themselves, will not join in the heavenly celebration over the sinner who repents and so remain outside of the Father’s house. Let us therefore be on guard against self–righteously trusting in our own merits. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Rejoice that Jesus receives sinners like us and that He still sits at table with us in the Holy Supper, bestowing His forgiveness and life.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 40:1–5\rPsalm: Psalm 85:7–13; antiphon: v. 9\rPsalm: Psalm 85; antiphon: v. 9\rSecond Reading: Acts 13:13–26\rGospel: Luke 1:57–80\rIntroit: Luke 1:68, 76–79; antiphon: Malachi 3:1\rGradual: Jeremiah 1:5, 9b\rVerse: Luke 1:17a, d\r\rThe Nativity of St. John the Baptist\r \rSt. John the Baptist is not the Christ, only His forerunner (Acts 13:25). He was called from the womb to bring Jacob back to God through his Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Is. 49:5), just as Christ was the true servant of the Lord. Miraculously conceived by Zechariah the priest of barren Elizabeth, John was marked to be the greatest born of women (Matt. 11:11). The Church rejoices over the Lord’s mercy just as Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives did at John’s birth. But when Zechariah’s tongue was loosed, John was not the subject of his song. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). John is the voice “[preparing] the way of the Lord” (Is. 40:3); Jesus, the virgin-born Son of God, is that Lord. John is “the prophet of the Most High.” He is born to “give knowledge of salvation to [God’s] people in the forgiveness of their sins,” because Christ, the Dayspring, is visiting (Luke 1:76–79). Thus, what John preaches is the comfort of iniquity pardoned by Jesus, the promised Savior of Israel (Acts 13:23) and “the nations, that [His] salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Is. 49:6).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 50:15–21\rPsalm: Psalm 138; antiphon: v. 8b\rEpistle: Romans 8:18–23\rEpistle: Romans 12:14–21\rGospel: Luke 6:36–42\rIntroit: Psalm 27:3–4a, 5; antiphon: vv. 1–2\rGradual: Psalm 79:9–10a\rVerse: Psalm 9:4b, 9\r\rChrist’s Mercy Is Ours to Show to Others\r \r“Be merciful, even as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36–42). The old Adam in us wants to condemn and seek vengeance. But the Lord says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Rom. 12:14–21). To condemn, to avenge yourself, is to put yourself in the place of God. It is to fail to trust that He is just. Ultimately, it is to disbelieve that Jesus suffered the full vengeance for all wrongs. Only Christ is merciful as the Father is merciful. He is the one who overcame all evil with the good of His cross, forgiving even His executioners. Jesus is our Joseph, who comforts us with words of pardon and reconciliation (Gen. 50:15–21). He is the One who does not condemn but gives life that runs over. Only through faith in Christ are we sons of the Father—being merciful, forgiving, doing good to our enemies. For in Christ we know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:8–13).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 15:1–12\rFirst Reading: Acts 15:1–21\rPsalm: Psalm 46; antiphon: v. 11\rEpistle: Galatians 2:1–10\rGospel: Matthew 16:13–19\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: Romans 10:15b, 18b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.\rVerse: Matthew 16:18b\r\rSt. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles\r \rJesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So confessed St. Peter. And Christ promised to build His Church on it by the forgiveness of sins (Matt. 16:16–19). He does this so we don’t try to build the Church ourselves, on this or that person, or by any human means. “Let no one boast in men … whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas,” for “all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3:21–23). The same Lord “who worked through Peter … worked also through” Paul and is still at work in His Gospel and Sacraments (Gal. 2:7–8). The Church of every age must be recalled to “hear the word of the gospel” — the free forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake apart from the Law — “and believe.” The Holy Spirit makes “no distinction” among men, but cleanses “hearts by faith” alone. So “we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 15:7–11). Both were imprisoned (Acts 12:1–11), both wrote Scripture (2 Peter 3:15–16), both opposed the world — and sometimes each other (Gal. 2:11–16) — all so “that the truth of the gospel might be preserved” for us (Gal. 2:5).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 11:1–5\rPsalm: Psalm 138; antiphon: v. 8a\rEpistle: Romans 12:9–16\rGospel: Luke 1:39–56\rGospel: Luke 1:39–45\rIntroit: 1 Samuel 2:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: Luke 1:46b–47\rGradual: Psalm 103:2; 105:5; 100:4\rVerse: Luke 1:45\r\rThe Visitation\r \rToday Zechariah’s house is prepared to sing: “The Lord God of Israel … has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). For the Scriptures are being fulfilled: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Is. 11:1). What could raise a king from a dead line? Only the Lord Himself! This is no son of man’s will, but the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15). The Word of the Lord has done this, and so all are blessed in Him. The “greeting” of blessed Mary causes John to leap in Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:41). Both are delighted at what the Word has wrought: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45). Likewise we, too, “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Rom. 12:12–15), for our joyful hope is in the Lord who has visited us to redeem us — not just a town in Judah but our entire fallen world. The Holy Spirit discloses where salvation is to be found: in the most blessed fruit of Mary’s blessed womb. And the whole Church rejoices, saying, “My beloved! Behold, he comes” (Song of Songs 2:8).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship