Confident.Faith

Readings Exodus 24:8–18 Psalm 2:6–12 2 Peter 1:16–21 Matthew 17:1–9

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

Leviticus 24–26 Law for Blasphemy; Lex Talionis; Laws for Servants and Slaves; Blessings and Curses

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

Leviticus 21–23 Laws for Priests; Laws for Festivals

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

Leviticus 18–20 Laws for Marriage; Miscellaneous Laws; Purity Laws

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.

Leviticus 15–17 Laws for Personal Cleanness; the Scapegoat; Laws for Blood

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

Leviticus 13–14 Laws for Disease; Laws for Leprous Diseases

Readings Isaiah 58:3–9a Psalm 112:1–9 1 Corinthians 2:1–16 Matthew 5:13–20

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

Leviticus 9–12 Offerings for Aaron, His Sons, and the Congregation; Death of Nadab and Abihu; Clean and Unclean Animals; Purification of Women after Childbirth

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.

Leviticus 6–8 Sin Offerings; Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

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

Leviticus 1–5 Laws for Sacrifices

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

Exodus 37–40 Preparing the Tent Materials; Moses Sets Up the Tent

Readings Psalm 75 Psalm 104 Zechariah 12:1—13:9 Titus 1:1—2:6 Smalcald Articles, Preface:1–7 Feast Today we celebrate the Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord. Thirty-two days after Jesus was circumcised, He comes to the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the OT law. In offering the alternative sacrifice (two turtledoves or two pigeons instead of a lamb), Joseph and Mary reveal their humble circumstances. In his Nunc Dimmitis, Simeon announces the inauguration of God’s consolation and redemption in and through Christ, and also prophesies concerning the destiny of Jesus.

Readings Psalm 28 Psalm 48 Zechariah 11:4–17 2 Timothy 4:1–18 Large Catechism V:75–87

Readings Psalm 135 Psalm 68 Zechariah 10:1—11:3 2 Timothy 3:1–17 Large Catechism V:58–74

Exodus 34–36 The Stone Tables (Second); Work Begins on the Tent

Readings Micah 6:1–8 Psalm 15 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 Matthew 5:1–12

Readings Psalm 33 Zechariah 9:1–17 2 Timothy 2:1–26 Large Catechism V:42–57

Exodus 30–33 The Incense Altar; Temple Tax; the Golden Calf; Levites Slaughter Idolators; Tent of Witness

Readings Psalm 107 Zechariah 8:1–23 2 Timothy 1:1–18 Large Catechism V:31–41

Exodus 27–29 Instructions for the Tent; the Priestly Garments; Consecration Ritual

Readings Psalm 12 Psalm 133 Zechariah 6:1—7:14 Romans 16:17–27 Large Catechism V:15–30

Exodus 23–26 Various Laws and Promises; Moses Receives the Law; the Ark of Witness; the Pattern for the Tent

Readings Psalm 1 Psalm 109 Zechariah 4:1—5:11 Romans 15:14–33 Large Catechism V:1–14 Commemoration Today we commemorate John Chrysostom, Preacher. Born around AD 347, St. John was instructed in the Christian faith by his mother, Anthusa. After holding a number of lesser offices, John became patriarch of Constantinople in AD 398. John was given the added name “Chrysostom”, which means ‘golden-mouthed’ in Greek, for his simple, but direct, messages that were beloved by all who heard them. Eventually exiled from Constantinople, after coming into conflict with the local authorities due to his determination to reform the church, the court, and the city, John continued to preach and write right up until his death in AD 407. His reported last words were “Glory be to God for all things! Amen.”

Exodus 19–22 Sinai; Ten Commandments; Various Laws

Readings Psalm 18 Psalm 134 Zechariah 2:1—3:10 Romans 15:1–13 Large Catechism IV:68–86 Commemoration Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor. Like Timothy, St. Titus was a friend and coworker of St. Paul. Whereas it is not known if Titus accompanied Paul on his first and second missionary journeys, it is known that Titus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey, along with Barnabas, to Jerusalem to bring aid during a famine. Likely after the trip to Jerusalem, Paul and Titus parted ways, with Titus staying in Crete and eventually working in Dalmatia and then, according to tradition, serving as bishop in Crete until his death in about AD 96.

Readings Psalm 6 Psalm 67 Zechariah 1:1–21 Romans 14:1–23 Large Catechism IV:56–67 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul. Originally a zealous persecutor of the Church, St. Paul (then Saul of Tarsus) met Christ on the road to Damascus. Blinded by a bright light, Saul heard the words “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” to which Saul replied “Who are You, Lord?” to which Christ replied “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.” Upon arriving in Damascus, Saul was sought by a disciple named Ananias, who had been sent by the Lord to heal Saul. Upon receiving his sight, Saul was baptized and went on to become the Apostle Paul, a man whom God called ‘a chosen instrument … to carry [Christ’s] name before the nations’.

Readings Psalm 131 Psalm 84 Joel 3:1–21 Romans 12:14—13:14 Large Catechism IV:47–55 Commemoration Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor. Best remembered as a companion of St. Paul, St. Timothy grew up in a Christian household. After meeting Paul on his (Paul’s) second missionary journey, Timothy accompanied Paul on further missionary journeys and was with Paul in Rome. According to tradition, Timothy was martyred in Ephesus around AD 97, where he served as bishop after Paul’s martyrdom in Rome.

Exodus 15–18 Song of Moses; Israel Complains; Jethro

Readings Psalm 139 Psalm 81 Joel 2:18–32 Romans 11:25—12:13 Large Catechism IV:32–46

Readings Isaiah 9:1–4 Psalm 27 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 Matthew 4:12–25

Exodus 11–14 Death of the Firstborn; Israel Leaves Egypt; Crossing the Read Sea

Readings Psalm 69 Psalm 121 Joel 2:1–17 Romans 11:1–24 Large Catechism IV:17–31

Exodus 7–10 Moses Performs Signs before Pharaoh; the Plagues

Readings Psalm 20 Psalm 13 Joel 1:1–20 Romans 10:1–21 Large Catechism IV:1–16

Exodus 3–6 Moses and the Burning Bush; Moses before Pharaoh

Readings Psalm 117 Psalm 97 Ezekiel 47:1–23 Romans 9:19–33 Large Catechism III:112–124 Commemoration Today we commemorate Sarah. Wife (and half-sister) of the patriarch Abraham, Sarah followed Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans on his journey to Canaan. Childless until old age, Sarah was eventually blessed with a son — Isaac — who would become the second of the three major patriarchs of OT Israel, and carry on the line of the promised Messiah. Sarah is remembered for her faithfulness and her hospitality. She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, the same cave where Abraham would also later be buried.

Genesis 48 — Exodus 2 Jacob Blesses His Sons; Death of Jacob; Death of Joseph; Birth of Moses; Moses Flees Egypt

Readings Psalm 15 Psalm 126 Ezekiel 44:1–29 Romans 9:1–18 Large Catechism III:99–111

Readings Psalm 44 Psalm 124 Ezekiel 40:1–4; 41:1–12 Romans 8:18–39 Large Catechism III:85–98 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of The Confession of St. Peter. In response to Christ’s challenge: “But who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This — Peter’s confession — is the rock upon which the Church is built. As Christ makes clear, it is not “flesh and blood [that] [reveals]” this truth, but “[the] Father Who is in Heaven”. Here in Matthew, and elsewhere in the NT, Christ makes clear that He gives the Keys to the entire Church, not to Peter alone, and with the Keys the power to bind and to loose: “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” As the Smalcald Articles state: The Keys are an office and power given by Christ to the Church for binding and loosing sin. This applies not only to gross and well-known sins, but also the subtle, hidden sins that are known only to God. As it is written, “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm 19:12). It is truly this confession of Peter — that Christ is the Son of the living God — upon which the Church is founded, with Christ as cornerstone.