Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 18 Psalm 23 Psalm 6 Exodus 4:1–18 Mark 15:1–15 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:6–13 Feast Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she had found favor with the Lord and would bear a son. The same Spirit that hovered over the water back in Genesis would “come upon” and “overshadow” Mary, and conceive in her virgin womb Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Ancient Church believed the crucifixion took place on the 25th, and so we celebrate the Annunciation on the same day, as the day of one’s conception and the day of one’s death were linked in antiquity.

Readings Psalm 39 Psalm 5 Psalm 143 Exodus 2:23—3:22 Mark 14:53–72 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration IV:1–5 Commemoration Today we commemorate St. Simon of Trent, Martyr. Murdered by Jews in Trent (now Trento in northern Italy), St. Simon was not quite three years old when he died. Jews in the city of Trent kidnapped and murdered St. Simon via exsanguination as part of their religious rituals connected to the Jewish Passover. His body was discovered by a Christian servant who reported the matter to the local authorities. Subsequent to a papal investigation, fifteen Jews were sentenced to death and burned at the stake for the murder. St. Simon serves as a reminder that God’s children will always be hated and attacked by those who have rejected God and serve another master.

Readings Psalm 31 Psalm 116 Psalm 130 Exodus 2:1–22 Mark 14:32–52 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:59–67

Readings Psalm 129 Psalm 81 Psalm 102 Exodus 1:1–22 Mark 14:12–31 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:54–58

Readings Psalm 44 Psalm 51 Genesis 49:29—50:26 Mark 14:1–11 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:44–53

Readings Psalm 77 Psalm 17 Psalm 38 Genesis 47:1–31 Mark 13:24–37 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:36–43

Readings Psalm 82 Psalm 18 Psalm 32 Genesis 45:1–28 Mark 13:1–23 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:30–35

Readings Psalm 26 Psalm 16 Psalm 6 Genesis 44:1–34 Mark 12:28–44 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:24–29

Readings Psalm 37 Psalm 143 Genesis 43:1–28 Mark 12:13–27 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:18–23 Commemoration Today we commemorate St. Patrick, Missionary to Ireland. Born around AD 389 in Britain, St. Patrick is one of the best known saints. Captured by raiders as a teenager, he was transported to Ireland and forced to work as a shepherd. After escaping from captivity and living in France (as a monk), he returned to Ireland to spread the Gospel. Tradition holds that St. Patrick died on 17 March around the year AD 466.

Readings Psalm 3 Psalm 7 Psalm 130 Genesis 42:1–38 Mark 12:1–12 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:8–17

Readings Psalm 60 Psalm 102 Genesis 41:28–57 Mark 11:20–33 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration III:1–7

Readings Psalm 118 Psalm 51 Genesis 41:1–27 Mark 11:1–19 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:84–90

Readings Psalm 49 Psalm 102 Genesis 40:1–23 Mark 10:32–52 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:74–83

Readings Psalm 106 Psalm 32 Genesis 39:1–23 Mark 10:13–31 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:67–73

Readings Psalm 31 Psalm 6 Genesis 37:1–36 Mark 10:1–12 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:61–66

Readings Psalm 105 Psalm 143 Genesis 35:1–29 Mark 9:33–50 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:55–60

Readings Psalm 38 Psalm 54 Psalm 130 Genesis 29:1–30 Mark 9:14–32 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:48–54

Readings Psalm 129 Psalm 79 Psalm 102 Genesis 27:30—28:22 Mark 9:1–13 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:39–47

Readings Psalm 2 Psalm 51 Genesis 27:1–29 Mark 8:22–38 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:27–38 Commemoration Today we commemorate Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs. In the third century AD, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus forbade converting to Christianity. Among the many who disobeyed his edict were Perpetua and Felicitas, a noblewoman and her maidservant. During their imprisonment, they witnessed to others in prison, even the jailer, who himself became a Christian. Executed on 07 March 203, Perpetua and Felicitas are remembered for the firmness of their faith — even unto death.

Readings Psalm 118 Psalm 38 Genesis 24:32–67 Mark 8:1–21 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:24–26

Readings Psalm 28 Psalm 32 Genesis 24:1–31 Mark 7:24–37 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:18–23

Readings Psalm 66 Psalm 6 Genesis 22:1–19 Mark 7:1–23 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:14–17

Readings Psalm 126 Psalm 127 Psalm 143 Genesis 21:1–21 Mark 6:35–56 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:9–13

Readings Psalm 91 Psalm 130 Genesis 18:1–15 Mark 6:14–34 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:5–8

Readings Psalm 139 Psalm 102 Genesis 16:1—17:22 Mark 6:1–13 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration II:1–4

Readings Psalm 32 Psalm 3 Psalm 51 Genesis 15:1–21 Mark 5:21–43 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:58–62

Readings Psalm 73 Psalm 133 Psalm 38 Genesis 13:1–18 Mark 5:1–20 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:50–57

Readings Psalm 107 Psalm 47 Psalm 32 Genesis 11:27—12:20 Mark 4:21–41 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:43–49

Readings Psalm 74 Psalm 126 Psalm 6 Genesis 8:13—9:17 Mark 4:1–20 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:33–42

Readings Psalm 104 Psalm 124 Psalm 143 Genesis 7:11—8:12 Mark 3:20–35 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:16–32 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Matthias, Apostle. A lesser-known apostle, Matthias was one of the seventy-two sent out by Jesus and was selected by lot to replace Judas. Early Church tradition is split on Matthias, with some contending that he journeyed to Ethiopia and others contending he journeyed to Armenia. However, it is in Trier, Germany, at the Church of St. Matthias, that the body of the apostle is interred. He is the only apostle buried in Europe north of the Alps.

Readings Psalm 2 Psalm 77 Psalm 130 Genesis 6:1—7:5 Mark 3:1–19 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:5–15 Commemoration Today we commemorate Polycarp of Smyrna, Pastor and Martyr. A disciple of John, Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna for many years before he was arrested, tried, and executed for his faith in approximately AD 155. The Martyrdom of Polycarp, an eyewitness narrative, continues to encourage believers, particularly in times of persecution, even to this day.

Readings Psalm 79 Psalm 42 Psalm 102 Genesis 4:1–26 Mark 2:18–28 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration I:1–4

Readings Psalm 12 Psalm 14 Psalm 51 Genesis 3:1–24 Mark 2:1–17 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 14–20

Readings Psalm 9 Psalm 38 Genesis 2:4–25 Mark 1:29–45 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 9–13

Readings Psalm 8 Psalm 128 Psalm 32 Genesis 1:20—2:3 Mark 1:14–28 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, 1–8

Readings Psalm 136 Psalm 90 Psalm 6 Genesis 1:1–19 Mark 1:1–13 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, Introduction Observation Today we observe Ash Wednesday. During the forty days of Lent, the baptized children of God cleanse their hearts through repentance, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and the like. During Lent, we prepare our hearts for the Paschal Feast — Easter. Traditional Christian denominations will hold services that include the imposition of ashes. The ashes remind us of the wages of sin, of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and of our mortality: “[F]or dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Commemoration Today we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the “Ninety-Five Theses” on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.

Readings Psalm 37 Psalm 77 Job 13:1–12 John 6:1–21 Smalcald Articles III:IX–XIII

Readings Psalm 57 Psalm 1 Job 11:1–20 John 5:19–29 Smalcald Articles III:IV–VII Commemoration Today we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.

Readings Psalm 119:153–160 Psalm 35 Job 10:1–22 John 5:1–18 Smalcald Articles III:III:29–45 Commemoration Today we commemorate Valentine, Martyr. Executed under Emperor Claudius on account of his refusal to renounce the Christian faith, Valentine has long been remembered in the Western Church as an example for all Christians. Today, Valentine’s Day continues to celebrate Valentine, and the tradition of exchanging written expressions of love derives from a note with words of encouragement that Valentine wrote for one of the children of his jailer. Even the irregularity of the shape of the piece of paper on which Valentine wrote his note has carried forward, after a fashion, into modern commemorations on Valentine’s Day.

Readings Psalm 95 Psalm 70 Job 9:1–35 John 4:46–54 Smalcald Articles III:III:20–28

Readings Psalm 71 Psalm 99 Job 8:1–22 John 4:27–45 Smalcald Articles III:III:10–19

Readings Psalm 147 Job 7:1–21 John 4:7–26 Smalcald Articles III:III:1–9

Readings Psalm 38 Job 6:14–30 John 3:22—4:6 Smalcald Articles III:I–II Commemoration Today we commemorate Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul. A leader in the Church at Jerusalem, Silas was chosen by Paul to accompany him on his second missionary journey. Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi, Silas also experienced the rioting in Thessalonica and Berea. Tradition holds that Silas was the first Bishop of Corinth.

Readings Psalm 23 Psalm 87 Job 6:1–13 John 3:1–21 Smalcald Articles II:IV:10–16

Readings Psalm 69 Psalm 122 Job 5:1–27 John 2:13–25 Smalcald Articles II:IV:1–9

Readings Psalm 4 Psalm 18 Job 4:1–21 John 2:1–12 Smalcald Articles II:II:25–29, II:III

Readings Psalm 77 Psalm 74 Job 3:11–26 John 1:35–51 Smalcald Articles II:II:11–24

Readings Psalm 31 Psalm 88 Job 2:1—3:10 John 1:19–34 Smalcald Articles II:II:1–10 Commemoration Today we commemorate Jacob, Patriarch of OT Israel. Born the younger of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, Jacob was the third of the patriarchs of OT Israel. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob (whose name means ‘deceiver’) was renamed to Israel (which means ‘he strives with God’). Jacob lived a life of strife and trouble, due in no small part to his own deceptions toward his brother and father. The deceptive nature of Jacob would carry on to his sons, who would sell their brother Joseph into slavery and lie to their father. By the grace of God, Joseph became prominent in Egypt and was reunited with Jacob, who then died in Egypt after blessing and prophesying about his sons.

Readings Psalm 127 Psalm 128 Job 1:1–22 John 1:1–18 Smalcald Articles I, II:I

Readings Psalm 47 Psalm 135 Zechariah 14:1–21 Titus 2:7—3:15 Smalcald Articles, Preface: 8–15