VERSE: “ALLELUIA! All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ALLELUIA!” (Mt. 28:18b; VERSE)
554; 543; 655*; 813 in Lutheran Service Book
235; 189; 274 in Lutheran Worship
331; 254; 361 in The Lutheran Hymnal
Meditate on and learn by heart the hymn marked with an asterisk (*).
The Psalm: Psalm 25:1-10 (Pray the Psalm daily, [in its entirety if possible])
554: O Jesus, King Most Wonderful
543: What Wondrous Love Is This
655*: Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
813: Rejoice, O Pilgram Throng
Psalm 25:1-10
The psalmist confesses his trust in the Lord and prays that the Lord would guide him and enable him to lead a godly life. It’s not that the psalmist hopes thereby to gain God’s favor; he confesses that he has already received God’s mercy and grace. Rather, in loving thanks he desires the strength and will to conform his life to God’s law. May the Lord grant us such a humble trust and the determined desire to follow his will.
Ezekiel 18:1-4; 25-32
The Lord had good reason to be unhappy with his people. They blamed him for the difficulties they were experiencing, yet it was their own unrighteousness that should have become clear. God was trying to get them to repent, but they steadfastly refused to recognize their guilt. May God preserve us from such blindness, leading us rather to do his will: repent and live.
Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18
St. Paul calls his readers to unity, humility, and selflessness. This, he says, is the natural response of all who have been united with Christ and rejoice in his love. We serve God as we look out for the interests of others. God grant that the light of our faith might shine into the world through blameless and innocent lives.
Matthew 21:23-32
Jesus’ vivid parable of the two sons reminds us that saying the right words and doing the right thing don’t always go together. More than merely talking the talk, he urges that we walk the walk—urges that however belatedly; we put our faith into action. God preserve us from self-righteousness and grant us to follow the example of the tax collectors and prostitutes who responded to God’s call in repentance and faith.
| Monday | Malachi 1:1-14 | Colossians 1:24-2:7 |
| Tuesday | Malachi 2:1-3:5 | Colossians 2:8-23 |
| Wednesday | Malachi 3:6-4:6 | Colossians 3:1-25 |
| Thursday | Deuteronomy 1:1-18 | Colossians 4:1-18 |
| Friday | Deuteronomy 1:19-36 | 1 Timothy 1:1-20 |
| Saturday | Deuteronomy 1:37-2:15 | 1 Timothy 2:1-15 |
| Sunday | Deuteronomy 2:16-37 | 1 Timothy 3:1-16 |
The Second Petition: Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
THE COLLECT FOR NEXT SUNDAY [Proper 21]
“Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” AMEN!
