Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 36 Psalm 54 Ezekiel 38:1–23 Romans 7:1–20 Large Catechism III:59–70

Genesis 42–44 Joseph’s Brothers Buy Grain in Egypt; Joseph and Benjamin

Readings Psalm 29 Ezekiel 37:15–28 Romans 6:1–23 Large Catechism III:49–58

Genesis 39–41 Joseph and Potiphar; Joseph in Prison; Joseph Interprets Dreams; Joseph and Pharaoh

Readings Psalm 104 Psalm 79 Ezekiel 36:33—37:14 Romans 5:1–21 Large Catechism III:35–48

Genesis 36–38 Generations of Esau; Joseph’s Dreams; Joseph Sold into Slavery; Judah and Tamar

Readings Psalm 32 Psalm 51 Ezekiel 36:13–28 Romans 4:1–25 Large Catechism III:25–34

Genesis 32–35 Jacob and Esau Reunited; Dina and Sychem; Bethel; Death of Isaac

Readings Psalm 63 Psalm 59 Ezekiel 34:1–24 Romans 3:19–31 Large Catechism III:14–24

Readings Psalm 7 Psalm 14 Ezekiel 33:1–20 Romans 3:1–18 Large Catechism III:1–13 Festival Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. As recounted in the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (and in parallel passages in Mark, Luke, and John), Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although John initially hesitated when asked to baptize Christ, because Christ was without sin and John knew he was in the presence of One greater than he, Christ spoke His first words in Matthew so that John would agree: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” On Christ’s Baptism, Luther said: “[Christ] accepted it from John for the reason that He was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is, becoming a sinner for us, taking upon Himself the sins which He had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in His Holy Baptism.” This Baptism in the Jordan River marked the beginning of Christ’s ministry.

Readings Psalm 85 Psalm 58 Ezekiel 18:1–32 Romans 2:17–29 Large Catechism II:63–70 Commemoration Today we commemorate Basil the Great of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, Pastors and Confessors. Collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil and the two Gregorys were leaders of the Christian Church in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers, and Gregory of Nazianzus was their friend. All three men were influential in shaping the theology ratified by the Council of Constantinople, which would later be enshrined in the Nicene Creed.

Genesis 29–31 Jacob, Rachel, and Leah; Jacob and Laban

Readings Isaiah 42:1–9 Psalm 29 Romans 6:1–11 Matthew 3:13–17

Readings Psalm 62 Psalm 32 Ezekiel 3:12–27 Romans 2:1–16 Large Catechism II:55–62

Genesis 26–28 Isaac and the Philistines; Jacob and Esau

Readings Psalm 19 Psalm 100 Ezekiel 2:1—3:11 Romans 1:18–32 Large Catechism II:47–54

Genesis 23–25 Death and Burial of Sarah; Laban, Isaac and Rebecca; Death of Abraham; Jacob and Esau

Readings Psalm 46 Psalm 45 Ezekiel 1:1–28 Romans 1:1–17 Large Catechism II:34–46

Genesis 19–22 Sodom and Gomorrah; Lot and His Daughters; Abraham and Sarah; Isaac; Sacrifice of Issac

Readings Psalm 45 Psalm 72 Isaiah 66:1–20 Luke 3:21–38 Large Catechism II:25–33 Festival Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Although the feast of Epiphany commemorates no particular, concrete event, it is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar — one of the principal feasts. On Epiphany, we remember that the God who became man in Bethlehem — that the Babe in the manger — needed present no proof that He was true man, but that He did indeed need to prove that He was true God. He did this superabundantly with the manifestations of the Trinity and the signs, wonders, and miracles that dot the pages of the New Testament record. In the Western Church tradition, Epiphany has become associated with the visit of the Magi, and this is fitting, for the Magi represent all the nations that were brought into the New Covenant through Christ — the true epiphany being the revelation of Christ as Lord, God, Savior, and King.

Genesis 15–18 God’s Promises to Abram; Abram and Hagar; God Visit Abraham

Genesis 10–14 Generations of Noah; Babel; Abram; Abram in Egypt; Abram Rescues Lot; Melchizedek

Readings Psalm 37 Psalm 10 Isaiah 65:8–25 Luke 3:1–20 Large Catechism II:9–24

Readings Isaiah 60:1–6 Psalm 72:1–15 Ephesians 3:1–12 Matthew 2:1–12

Readings Psalm 40 Psalm 65 Isaiah 63:15—65:7 Luke 2:41–52 Large Catechism II:1–8

Readings Psalm 108 Psalm 110 Isaiah 63:1–14 Luke 2:21–40 Large Catechism I:324–333

Genesis 5–9 Genealogy; Noah; the Flood; Curse of Ham

Readings Psalm 62 Psalm 98 Isaiah 62:1–12 Luke 2:1–20 Large Catechism I:311–323 Commemoration Today we commemorate J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe served as the pastor of Neuendettelsau in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s. Although he never left Germany, Löhe had a significant impact on Lutheranism in North America. Recognizing the need for Church workers, Löhe assisted in the training of missionary pastors to be sent to the New World and Australia. A number of the men sent by Löhe would become founders of what is today the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (the LCMS). It was also due in part to Löhe’s financial backing that a theological school in Fort Wayne, IN, and a teachers’ institute in Saginaw, MI, were established. Löhe is widely recognized and fondly remembered for his confessional integrity and his dedication to Christian charity.

Readings 1 Kings 3:4–15 Psalm 119:97–104 Ephesians 1:3–14 Luke 2:40–52

Genesis 1–4 Creation; Cain and Abel; Lamech; Enosh

Readings Psalm 113 Psalm 21 Isaiah 61:1–11 Luke 1:57–80 Large Catechism I:303–310 Festival Today we celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. Per tradition, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name “Jesus” as the angel had proclaimed. Under the Old Covenant, circumcision brought the benefits of forgiveness of sins, justification, and incorporation into the people of God. Under the New Covenant, circumcision is no longer necessary or effective; it has been replaced by Baptism, which is called, by St. Paul, a “circumcision made without hands” and “the circumcision of Christ”.

Revelation 12–22 Revelation 12 through 22

Revelation 1–11 Revelation 1 through 11

1 John 1 — Jude 1 John 1 through Jude

James 1 — 2 Peter 3 James 1 through 2 Peter 3

Readings Psalm 111 Psalm 8 Isaiah 60:1–22 Luke 1:39–56 Large Catechism I:292–302

Titus 1 — Hebrews 13 Titus 1 through Hebrews 13

1 Thessalonians 1 — 2 Timothy 4 1 Thessalonians 1 through 2 Timothy 4

Readings Numbers 6:22–27 Psalm 8 Galatians 3:23–29 Luke 2:21

Readings Psalm 89 Psalm 132 Isaiah 58:1—59:21 Luke 1:26–38 Large Catechism I:276–291

Philippians 1 — Colossians 4 Philippians 1 through Colossians 4

Galatians 1 — Ephesians 6 Galatians 1 through Ephesians 6

2 Corinthians 1–13 2 Corinthians 1 through 13

1 Corinthians 9–16 1 Corinthians 9 through 16

1 Corinthians 1–8 1 Corinthians 1 through 8

Readings Psalm 78 Psalm 93 Isaiah 55:1–13 Luke 1:1–25 Large Catechism I:263–275 Commemoration Today we commemorate David. David was the greatest of the kings of OT Israel, and ruled from about 1010 to 970 BC. Although David’s private conduct showed a mixture of good and bad, it was his fierce loyalty to God that defined his life and his reign. Under David, God fulfilled many of the promises to OT Israel, notably uniting Israel into a single nation with its capital at Jerusalem. Of course, God’s greatest promise would be fulfilled through the promised King — Christ, our Lord.

Readings Isaiah 30:8–17 Psalm 90:1–12 Romans 8:31b–39 Luke 12:35–40

Readings Psalm 9 Psalm 31 Isaiah 52:13—54:10 Matthew 2:13–23 Large Catechism I:254–262 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. Threatened by the prophecies concerning a “King of the Jews”, King Herod plotted to find and kill Jesus using the Wise Men, but was thwarted in that plan when the Wise Men went back to their lands by another route. Angered and still plotting to thwart the prophecy, Herod had all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger murdered. We commemorate these innocents as a reminder of the depravity, brutality, and evil that can take residence in the human heart and of the persecution Jesus suffered even before His earthly ministry had begun. By the hand of God, Jesus was spared from being numbered amongst the slain, for His path led to a different death — on a cross at Golgotha, to pay the price for our sins.

Readings Psalm 72 Psalm 92 Isaiah 51:17—52:12 Matthew 2:1–12 Large Catechism I:245–253 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John, son of Zebedee and brother of James the Elder, was among the first disciples to be called by Jesus, and became known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. During Christ’s ministry, John witnessed many of Christ’s miracles, was present for the Transfiguration, went with Peter to reserve the upper room for the Last Supper, and, alone among the Disciples, did not forsake Christ during His Passion, remaining near Christ through the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus made John guardian of Mary, His mother. John would go on to be a founding father of the Early Church. From John, we have the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation, which was revealed to him while he was banished to Patmos by Emperor Domitian. John outlived all of the other Apostles, dying in Ephesus at around age one hundred.

Readings Psalm 34 Psalm 60 Isaiah 49:22—51:16 Matthew 1:18–25 Large Catechism I:234–244 Commemoration Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Stephen, Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the first seven deacons of the Church, appointed to distribute food and other necessities to the poor of the growing Christian community. In addition to such duties, the deacons also taught and preached. When some of his colleagues became jealous, they brought him before the Sanhedrin on false charges of blasphemy. Before the Sanhedrin, Stephen confessed his faith in Christ and rebuked members of the Sanhedrin for rejecting the Christ. Infuriated, the Sanhedrin had Stephen dragged outside the city and stoned. Honored as the first martyr of the New Testament Church, Stephen is remembered for his dying words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”