It's for you.
Verse for the week: God has made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2.36
Prayer for the week: Almighty, everlasting God, you
have given us the promise of your divine life.
Bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, that, quickened by your word, we may
lay hold on eternal life by faith in your Son, and in him be saved; through the
same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd
ed. (Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verllag, 1948), p.170)
Bible reading for the day: Mark 2.23-3.6
One Sabbath he was going
through the grain fields, and as they made their way, his disciples began
to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were
saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the
Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you
never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and
those who were with him: 26 how he entered the
house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and
ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests
to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And
he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of
the Sabbath.”
3.1Again he entered the synagogue, and a
man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they
watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that
they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man
with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he
said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to
save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And
he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of
heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out,
and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out
and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to
destroy him.
Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious
and almighty Father, thank you that Jesus is Lord, not me… and that he knows
exactly what Sunday is for: it’s not for self-worship nor for superstitious
rigidity… Sunday is for the sake of our relationship with you. Repent me and my
congregation of neglecting your Word and the preaching of it… and repent us of
religious legalism as well. Draw us to your house every Sunday and speak your
Word of truth and forgiveness right into our own ears… that we may have true food
and true healing. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with
the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2bhHosLHmI
The Third
Commandment: Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. (Exodus 20.8)
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not
despise his Word and the preaching of it, but acknowledge it as holy, and
gladly hear and learn it.
“Hallowed be thy name…”
What does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that
it may be kept holy also among us.
How is this done? God's name is hallowed when his Word is taught
in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy lives in harmony
with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives
contrary to God's Word dishonors the name of God among us. Prevent us from
doing this, heavenly Father! (from The
Small Catechism, by Martin Luther, ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing,
2011)
Benediction: The
peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Phil 4.7
T: thanksgiving
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