Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 150 Psalm 147 Deuteronomy 34:1–12 Matthew 21:1–22 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:27–29 Feast Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is the first of two days in the season of Allhallowtide (which began yesterday on Halloween). Where All Saints’ Day is a joyous celebration of the resurrection of all who believe in Christ, All Souls’ Day is a somber contemplation of sin and mortality. The Festival of All Souls’ Day is rightly observed with fasting and prayer, both as individual Christians and as Christian nations.

Micah 5 — Habakkuk 2 Micah 5 through Habakkuk 2

Readings Psalm 46 Psalm 115 Deuteronomy 32:28–52 Matthew 20:17–34 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:22–26 Festival Today we celebrate the festival of Reformation Day and the beginning of the three-day season of Allhallowtide (also known as Halloween). On 31 October 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ninety-five theses, points for discussion, to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg. Dr. Martin Luther did not, at the time, intend a break with the Roman church; rather, he sought only to address a number of pressing matters, among them indulgences. Rome, however, wanted nothing of Luther’s suggested discussion, and would eventually excommunicate him, declare him a heretic, and seek his death. Refusing to compromise on the rediscovered Gospel, Luther would go on to translate the New Testament, publish numerous works, and, above all, spark a Reformation that would see the restoration of Christ’s Church, over and against the heresies of Rome. We celebrate Reformation Day in remembrance of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love, of His work through Martin Luther that rescued the Gospel, enabling us to stand and, with Luther, declare of the Truth: “Hier stehe ich — ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen.” Or, in English: “Here I stand — I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”

Readings Revelation 7:2–17 Psalm 149 1 John 3:1–3 Matthew 5:1–12

Amos 9 — Micah 4 Amos 9 through Micah 4

Readings Psalm 90 Deuteronomy 31:30—32:27 Matthew 20:1–16 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:16–21

Amos 1–8 Amos 1 through 8

Readings Psalm 56 Psalm 58 Deuteronomy 31:1–29 Matthew 19:16–30 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:9–15

Hosea 10 — Joel 3 Hosea 10 through Joel 3

Readings Psalm 127 Psalm 132 Deuteronomy 30:1–20 Matthew 19:1–15 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:1–8