Confident.Faith

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

Deuteronomy 17–19 Punishment for Idolators; Provision for a King; Rules for the Levites; Prophets and False Prophets; Cities of Refuge; Borders; Lex Talionis

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

Deuteronomy 14–16 Dietary Laws; Tithes; Jubilee; Rules for Slaves; Sacrifices of Firstborn; Feasts; Worship Restrictions

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

Deuteronomy 11–13 Admonitions to Obey; Blessing and Curse; Punishment for Idolatry

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

Deuteronomy 08–10 Blessings for Obedience; Curses for Disobedience; Recounting Israel’s Disobedience and Wickedness

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.

Deuteronomy 05–07 The Ten Commandments; the Greatest Commandment; Warnings about Disobedience; Command to Exterminate the Canaanites

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

Readings Exodus 17:1–7 Psalm 95:1–9 Romans 5:1–8 John 4:5–30, 39–42

Deuteronomy 03–04 Destruction of Og; Warnings against Idolatry; Cities of Refuge

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

Numbers 36 — Deuteronomy 02 Laws for Inheritance; Recounting of Wandering in the Wilderness; Lands Allotted to Israel’s Cousins; Destruction of Sihon

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

Numbers 33–35 Recounting of Wandering; Borders of Israel; Rules for the Distribution of the Land; Laws Related to Homicide and Cities of Refuge

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

Numbers 31–32 The Destruction of Midian; Rules for Captives; Cleanness Laws for Spoils and War; Inheritance of Reuben and Gad

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

Numbers 28–30 Laws for Sacrifices; Feasts; Laws for Vows

Readings Genesis 12:1–9 Psalm 121 Romans 4:1–8, 13–17 John 3:1–17

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

Numbers 25–27 The Baal of Peor; Phineas; the Enrollment (Census) of Israel; Laws for Inheritance; Ordination of Joshua (Jesus)

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

Numbers 22–24 Balak and Balaam (and His Donkey); the Oracles of Balaam

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

Numbers 19–21 The Red Heifer; Laws for Death and Cleanness; the Water of Reviling; Edom Refuses Israel; Death of Aaron; the Bronze Serpent; Sihon and Og

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.

Numbers 16–18 Korah’s Rebellion; the Plague; Laws for the Priests; Tithing Laws

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

Numbers 14–15 Israel Refuses the Good Land; God Condemns Israel to Die in the Wilderness; Israel Defeated in Battle; Laws for Sacrifices; Laws for Unintentional Sins

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 Genesis 3:1–21 Psalm 32:1–7 Romans 5:12–19 Matthew 4:1–11

Numbers 11–13 The Manna; the Elders of Israel; the Quail and the Plague

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

Numbers 8–10 The Lampstand; Purification of and Rules for the Levites; the Pascha; the Cloud and the Fire; the Trumpets

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.

Numbers 5–7 Law for Unclean Diseases; Law of Jealousy; Law of Vows; Priestly Blessing; Dedication of the Altar

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

Numbers 3–4 The Duties of the Levites; the Ransom of the Levites; Assignments for the Tent

Readings Joel 2:12–19 Psalm 51:1–19 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10 Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21

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.