Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 27 Psalm 24 Isaiah 30:15–26 Revelation 2:1–29 Large Catechism I:112–119

Readings Psalm 89 Psalm 143 Isaiah 29:15—30:14 Revelation 1:1–20 Large Catechism I:103–111 Commemoration Today we commemorate Lucia, Martyr. Born into a wealthy family, Lucia gave away her dowry to the poor. When this came to the attention of the Roman governor, he ordered Lucia to burn a sacrifice to the emperor. Upon her refusal, the governor commanded that she be condemned to a brothel; Lucia was martyred by the soldiers who came to execute the governor’s sentence. As the name “Lucia” means light, many European nations have long held festivals in her memory involving lanterns or lights; such festivals have been particularly popular in the Scandinavian countries, where this time of year is quite short on daylight.

Readings Psalm 106 Isaiah 29:1–14 Jude :1–26 Large Catechism I:96–102

Readings Psalm 5 Psalm 142 Isaiah 28:14–29 1 John 5:1–21 Large Catechism I:87–95

Readings Psalm 86 Psalm 130 Isaiah 26:20—27:13 1 John 4:1–21 Large Catechism I:78–86

Readings Psalm 17 Psalm 148 Isaiah 26:1–19 1 John 3:1–24 Large Catechism I:69–77

Readings Psalm 11 Psalm 142 Isaiah 24:14—25:12 1 John 2:15–29 Large Catechism I:59–68

Readings Psalm 25 Psalm 73 Isaiah 24:1–13 1 John 1:1—2:14 Large Catechism I:49–58 Commemoration Today we commemorate Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter. Along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, Ambrose of Milan is considered one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Becoming Bishop of Milan in AD 374 — largely by acclamation — Ambrose would go on to be a prolific hymnwriter and defender of the faith. Ambrose played no small part in suppressing the Arian heresy through his interactions with Emperor Gratian and Emperor Theodosius. Many are undoubtedly familiar with Ambrose’s hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come”.

Readings Psalm 56 Isaiah 14:1–23 2 Peter 3:1–18 Large Catechism I:41–48

Readings Psalm 49 Isaiah 11:1—12:6 2 Peter 2:1–22 Large Catechism I:30–40

Readings Psalm 145 Psalm 62 Isaiah 10:12–34 2 Peter 1:1–21 Large Catechism I:24–29

Readings Psalm 55 Isaiah 9:8—10:11 1 Peter 5:1–14 Large Catechism I:13–23

Readings Psalm 119:105–112 Psalm 82 Isaiah 8:9—9:7 1 Peter 4:1–19 Large Catechism I:1–12

Readings Psalm 34 Psalm 50 Isaiah 7:10—8:8 1 Peter 3:1–22 Large Catechism, Short Preface: 14–28

Readings Psalm 123 Psalm 7 Isaiah 6:1—7:9 1 Peter 2:13–25 Large Catechism, Short Preface: 1–13

Readings Psalm 118 Isaiah 5:1–25 1 Peter 2:1–12 Large Catechism, Longer Preface: 14–20 Commemoration Today we commemorate Noah. Noah, son of Lamech, was instructed by God to build an ark. Faithful and obedient to God, Noah constructed the Ark that would carry him and his wife and his sons and their wives — the only eight people to survive the Flood. After the floodwaters subsided, Noah built an altar and gave thanks to God for His mercy in preserving the human race through Noah and his family. In promising never again to destroy all life from the Earth, God made the rainbow a sign of His covenant with man and all life. Whenever we see a rainbow, we should think of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love. We commemorate Noah for his faith and for his obedience to the word of God — for believing that God will do what He says He will do.

Readings Psalm 102 Psalm 85 Isaiah 2:1–22 1 Peter 1:13–25 Large Catechism, Longer Preface: 7–13

Readings Psalm 66 Isaiah 1:1–28 1 Peter 1:1–12 Large Catechism, Longer Preface: 1–6

Readings Psalm 48 Daniel 5:1–30 Revelation 21:9–27 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVIII:15–19

Readings Psalm 75 Psalm 108 Daniel 6:1–28 Revelation 22:1–21 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVIII:20–27

Readings Psalm 41 Daniel 4:1–37 Revelation 21:1–8 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVIII:11–14

Readings Psalm 39 Psalm 38 Daniel 3:1–30 Revelation 20:1–15 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVIII:6–10 Commemoration Today we commemorate Clement of Rome, Pastor. An early father of the Church, Clement lived in the first century AD and helped to establish the pattern of apostolic authority that governed the Early Church. In a letter to the Christians in Corinth, Clement emphasized that Christ must remain at the center of our faith: “Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ, realizing how precious it is to His Father, since it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to the whole world.” Clement helped to lay the foundation upon which the Western Church would be built. He is commemorated for his steadfast love and perseverance in the faith. Clement of Rome was martyred in approximately AD 100 by drowning.

Readings Psalm 111 Psalm 92 Daniel 2:24–49 Revelation 19:1–21 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVIII:1–5

Readings Psalm 114 Psalm 16 Daniel 2:1–23 Revelation 18:1–24 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:64–69

Readings Psalm 118 Daniel 1:1–21 Matthew 28:1–20 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:57–63

Readings Psalm 20 Psalm 18 Jeremiah 38:1–28 Matthew 27:57–66 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:47–56

Readings Psalm 22 Jeremiah 37:1–21 Matthew 27:33–56 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:40–46

Readings Psalm 148 Jeremiah 33:1–22 Matthew 27:11–32 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:34–39

Readings Psalm 54 Psalm 139 Jeremiah 31:1–34 Matthew 27:1–10 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:28–33

Readings Psalm 51 Jeremiah 30:1–24 Matthew 26:57–75 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:24–27

Readings Psalm 53 Psalm 55 Jeremiah 29:1–19 Matthew 26:36–56 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:18–23 Commemoration Today we commemorate Emperor Justinian, Christian Ruler and Confessor of Christ. Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire from AD 527 to AD 565, Justinian oversaw a renaissance during which an empire long in decline briefly resurged. Under his leadership, the Roman Empire retook North Africa, Italy, and Spain. However, Justinian is primarily remembered for his codification of Roman law (a basis of many systems to this day) and his staunch defense of and support for the Christian faith.

Readings Psalm 116 Psalm 50 Jeremiah 26:1–19 Matthew 26:20–35 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:11–17

Readings Psalm 137 Psalm 130 Jeremiah 25:1–18 Matthew 26:1–19 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:9–10

Readings Psalm 143 Psalm 105 Jeremiah 23:21–40 Matthew 25:31–46 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXVII:1–8 Commemoration Today we commemorate Martin of Tours, Pastor. Born into a pagan family in what is today Hungary, Martin grew up in Lombardy, Italy. Converting to Christianity in his youth, Martin initially served in the Roman military, but later left the military to become a monk — referring to himself as “Christ’s soldier”. Martin went on to become Bishop of Tours in Gaul (modern France), and is remembered for his simple lifestyle and his dedication to spreading the Gospel throughout rural Gaul.

Readings Psalm 24 Psalm 25 Jeremiah 23:1–20 Matthew 25:14–30 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:96–99

Readings Psalm 147 Jeremiah 22:1–23 Matthew 25:1–13 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:89–95 Commemoration Today we commemorate the birth of Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor. Known as “the other Martin”, Martin Chemnitz stands as, aside from Martin Luther, the most important theologian in the history of the Lutheran Church. When disagreements arose in the wake of Luther’s death, it was Chemnitz who became the driving force behind the Formula of Concord, which restored unity. Among his many works, the four-volume Examination of the Council of Trent stands as one of Chemnitz’s greatest works; in the Examen, Chemnitz subjected the teachings of the Roman church to Scripture and to the Church Fathers — Rome has never responded.

Readings Psalm 143 Psalm 144 Jeremiah 20:1–18 Matthew 24:29–51 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:78–88 Commemoration Today we commemorate Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor. Vicar-General of the Augustinian order in Germany, Johannes von Staupitz was born in Saxony. Called in 1503, by Frederick the Wise, to serve as dean of the theological faculty at the newly established University of Wittenberg, von Staupitz would go on to encourage Luther to obtain his doctorate in theology and to appoint Luther to be his successor as professor of Bible at Wittenberg. It was von Staupitz who counseled Luther early on in Luther’s life, when Luther was an Augustinian monk struggling with the idea of God’s grace, to focus not upon himself but upon Christ.

Readings Psalm 121 Psalm 135 Jeremiah 11:1–23 Matthew 24:1–28 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:68–77

Readings Psalm 118 Jeremiah 8:18—9:12 Matthew 23:13–39 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:60–67

Readings Psalm 38 Jeremiah 7:1–29 Matthew 23:1–12 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:52–59

Readings Psalm 110 Psalm 108 Jeremiah 5:1–19 Matthew 22:23–46 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:41–51

Readings Psalm 15 Psalm 26 Jeremiah 3:6—4:2 Matthew 22:1–22 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:35–40

Readings Psalm 118 Jeremiah 1:1–19 Matthew 21:23–46 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV:30–34 Feast Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints’ Day. As Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ, so All Saints’ Day celebrates the resurrection of all those who believe in Him. On this day, we contemplate the scope and scale of Christ’s work — winning for His Kingdom men, women, and children from every tribe and nation. We are, indeed, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. It is such resurrection that allows us to confess that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed”. Today we celebrate with the entire Church catholic the coming eternal Kingdom and the consummation of all things.

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.

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

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

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

Readings Psalm 20 Psalm 25 Deuteronomy 29:1–29 Matthew 18:21–35 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIII:60–71

Readings Psalm 12 Psalm 9 Deuteronomy 28:1–68 Matthew 18:1–20 Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIII:50–59 Commemoration Today we commemorate Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters. Philipp Nicolai was a German pastor who lived through the Great Plague, which took the lives of thirteen hundred members of his parish. Despite hardships, he contributed hymns which the Church uses to this day — among them, “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” and “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”. Johann Heermann was a German pastor who lived through the Thirty Years’ War, and contributed a number of hymns to the corpus. Paul Gerhardt was a German pastor who also lived through the Thirty Years’ War, lost his pastoral position for refusing to compromise his beliefs, and wrote over one hundred hymns; he is regarded as one of Lutheranism’s finest hymnwriters.