Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 71 Psalm 69 2 Kings 5:9–27 Philippians 1:1–20 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:269–279

Readings Psalm 131 Psalm 77 2 Kings 4:38—5:8 Ephesians 6:1–24 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:262–268

Readings Psalm 56 2 Kings 2:19–25; 4:1–7 Ephesians 4:25—5:14 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:249–256 Commemoration Today we commemorate Zacharias and Elizabeth. Remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety, Zacharias and Elizabeth became the parents of John the Baptist despite their old age. Initially disbelieving the promise, Zacharias was struck mute by the angel who announced that Zacharias and Elizabeth would have a son; upon confirming his wife’s chosen name for their son, John, Zacharias was restored to his ability to speak. Upon regaining his speech, Zacharias sang the Benedictus, a summary of the promises in the Old Testament and a prophecy of John the Baptist’s ministry as a forerunner of Christ.

Readings Deuteronomy 30:15–20 Psalm 1 Philemon 1–21 Luke 14:25–35

Readings Psalm 90 Psalm 107 2 Kings 2:2–18 Ephesians 4:1–24 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:241–248 Commemoration Today we commemorate Moses. Greatest amongst the Old Testament prophets, Moses spoke with God face to face. Moses’ life was divided into three parts of forty years each: First, he lived in Egypt in the royal court, having been rescued by the daughter of pharaoh (and the intervention of God); second, he lived as a shepherd in the land of Midian after fleeing Egypt; and, third, he led Israel during the wandering in the desert. Prohibited from entering the Promised Land due to disobedience at Meribah, Moses was nevertheless allowed to view the land from Mount Nebo, where he then died and was buried (in an unknown location) by God.

Readings Psalm 119:57–64 Psalm 108 1 Kings 19:1–21 Ephesians 3:1–21 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:235–240 Commemoration Today we commemorate Gregory the Great, Pastor. Gregory served both as mayor and, later, as bishop of Rome. Before entering full-time service in the Church, Gregory helped to strengthen a Rome weakened by enemy invasions and plague, and sold his considerable possessions and donated the proceeds to help the poor. As bishop of Rome, Gregory contributed to the Church by establishing a Church Year calendar, which some church bodies still use to this day, and overseeing musical and liturgical development, advancing missionary work in Northern Europe, and composing a book on pastoral care that would long serve as a standard in the Church.

Readings Psalm 135 1 Kings 18:20–40 Ephesians 2:1–22 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:223–234 Commemoration Today we commemorate Hannah. The favored wife of her husband, Elkanah, Hannah suffered through years of barrenness, but never gave up hope in the Lord. For her devotion, she was repaid with the birth of a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the service of the Lord. Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary, which would come centuries later.

Readings Psalm 47 Psalm 8 1 Kings 18:1–19 Ephesians 1:1–23 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:213–222 Commemoration Today we commemorate Joshua, son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Most noted for his succession of Moses as Israel’s commander-in-chief, Joshua led a life of devotion to and faith in God. From defeating the Amalekites and being in charge of the tent of meeting to scouting the land of Canaan and leading Israel across the Jordan, Joshua showed steadfast faith in God and His promises. Joshua is especially noted for his final address, in which he, like Moses before him, presented the Israelites with the path of life and the path of death, the path of obedience to God and the path of rebellion, and in which he spoke his most famous words: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Readings Psalm 68 Psalm 70 1 Kings 16:29—17:24 2 Corinthians 9:1–15 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:205–212

Readings Psalm 29 Psalm 75 1 Kings 12:20—13:34 2 Corinthians 8:1–24 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:195–204

Readings Proverbs 25:2–10 Psalm 131 Hebrews 13:1–17 Luke 14:1–14

Readings Psalm 48 1 Kings 11:1–26 2 Corinthians 6:1–18 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:183–191

Readings Psalm 72 1 Kings 9:1–9; 10:1–13 2 Corinthians 5:1–21 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:177–182

Readings Psalm 36 1 Kings 8:22–63 2 Corinthians 4:1–18 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:170–176

Readings Psalm 32 1 Kings 7:51—8:21 2 Corinthians 3:1–18 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:167–169

Readings Psalm 27 1 Kings 5:1–18 2 Corinthians 1:23—2:17 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:160–166 Festival Today we celebrate the festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle. Called by Christ in Galilee (in the town of Cana, where Christ performed His first miracle), Bartholomew would become one of the first of Jesus’ twelve disciples. According to Church tradition, Bartholomew brought the Gospel to Armenia, where he was martyred.

Readings Psalm 111 Psalm 49 1 Kings 3:1–15 2 Corinthians 1:1–22 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:153–159

Readings Psalm 97 1 Kings 2:1–27 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:148–152

Readings Isaiah 66:18–23 Psalm 50:1–15 Hebrews 12:4–29 Luke 13:22–30

Readings Psalm 139 1 Kings 1:1–35 1 Corinthians 12:14–31 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:144–147

Readings Psalm 51 2 Samuel 12:1–25 1 Corinthians 12:1–13 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:140–143 Commemoration Today we commemorate Samuel. Last among the judges and first among the post-Moses prophets, Samuel lived a life of devotion to God. Samuel, at God’s command, would anoint both Israel’s first king — Saul — and her second — David.

Readings Psalm 12 Psalm 22 2 Samuel 11:1–27 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:137–139 Commemoration Today we commemorate Bernard of Clairvaux, Hymnwriter and Theologian. Born into wealth, Bernard abandoned a life of affluence and entered a monastery at twenty-two. Eventually he was sent to start a new monastery, which monastery would go on to found many daughter houses, but he is best known for his preaching and hymn-writing.

Psalm 144 — Proverbs 4 Psalm 144 through Proverbs 4

Readings Psalm 107 Psalm 106 2 Samuel 7:18–29 1 Corinthians 10:23—11:16 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:133–136

Readings Psalm 24 2 Samuel 7:1–17 1 Corinthians 9:24—10:22 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:124–132 Commemoration Today we commemorate Johann Gerhard, Theologian. Born in Quedlinburg, Germany, in 1582, Gerhard would go on to become one of the most influential theologians of the Christian faith. A prolific author, Gerhard’s Loci Theologici and many other writings, including sermons, are still widely published and read today.

Readings Psalm 11 Psalm 84 2 Samuel 6:1–19 1 Corinthians 9:1–23 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:119–123 Commemoration Today we commemorate Isaac. Born to Abraham and Sarah when they were, respectively, one hundred years old and ninety-one years old, Isaac (whose name means ‘laughter’), would go on to father Jacob (who would become Israel) and Esau. Taken to Mount Moriah by his father to be sacrificed at the command of God, Isaac was spared at the last moment by the provision of a ram caught in a thicket — this episode pointed forward to the substitutionary sacrifice and atonement of Christ.

Psalm 125–143 Psalm 125 through Psalm 143

Readings Jeremiah 23:16–29 Psalm 119:81–88 Hebrews 11:17—12:3 Luke 12:49–56

Readings Psalm 132 2 Samuel 5:1–25 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:112–118 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord. Mentioned throughout the Gospels, Mary was present at many of the major events in her Son’s life. Mary is especially remembered for her unconditional obedience to the will of God, her trust in her Jesus (even when she did not understand all of His words), and, above all, for being honored as the mother of Christ.

Psalm 118–124 Psalm 118 through Psalm 124

Readings Psalm 33 2 Samuel 1:1–27 1 Corinthians 7:25–40 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:104–111

Psalm 106–117 Psalm 106 through Psalm 117

Readings Psalm 68 1 Samuel 31:1–13 1 Corinthians 7:1–24 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:97–103

Psalm 94–105 Psalm 94 through Psalm 105

Readings Psalm 99 1 Samuel 28:3–25 1 Corinthians 6:1–20 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:89–96

Psalm 82–93 Psalm 82 through Psalm 93

Readings Psalm 51 1 Samuel 26:1–25 1 Corinthians 5:1–13 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:82–88

Readings Psalm 14 Psalm 53 1 Samuel 25:23–44 1 Corinthians 4:1–21 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:74–81 Commemoration Today we commemorate Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. Most likely born in Spain, Lawrence eventually made his way to Rome and became chief of the seven deacons of the Church. Having control over Church property and finances, Lawrence was called before the Roman emperor, who believed the Church possessed valuable items that could be confiscated, and commanded to produce the “treasures of the Church”. In response, Lawrence brought before the emperor the poor who had benefited from Christian charity. The emperor jailed Lawerence and eventually ordered him executed — by gridiron.

Readings Psalm 94 1 Samuel 25:1–22 1 Corinthians 3:1–23 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:68–73

Readings Genesis 15:1–6 Psalm 33:12–22 Hebrews 11:1–16 Luke 12:22–40

Readings Psalm 62 1 Samuel 24:1–22 1 Corinthians 1:26—2:16 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:62–67

Readings Psalm 144 1 Samuel 20:24–42 1 Corinthians 1:1–25 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:58–61

Readings Psalm 92 1 Samuel 20:1–23 Acts 28:16–31 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:51–57

Readings Psalm 21 1 Samuel 19:1–24 Acts 28:1–15 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:45–50

Readings Psalm 56 1 Samuel 18:10–30 Acts 27:27–44 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:38–44

Readings Psalm 68 1 Samuel 17:48—18:9 Acts 27:9–26 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:26–37 Commemoration Today we commemorate Joanna, Mary, and Salome, the three faithful women who visited Christ’s tomb early on the morning of the first Easter. These women bore myrrh and others items to dress the body of Christ, but instead found the tomb empty, Christ having risen. These women serve as examples of humble service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Readings Psalm 71 Psalm 98 1 Samuel 17:20–47 Acts 26:24—27:8 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:15–25

Psalm 73–81 Psalm 73 through Psalm 81

Readings Psalm 70 Psalm 75 1 Samuel 17:1–19 Acts 26:1–23 Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:9–14

Readings Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–26 Psalm 100 Colossians 3:1–11 Luke 12:13–21