Confident.Faith

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

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

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.

Readings Psalm 76 Psalm 137 Ezekiel 39:1–29 Romans 7:21—8:17 Large Catechism III:71–84

Genesis 45–47 Joseph and His Brothers; Jacob in Egypt; Israel Moves to Egypt

Readings Isaiah 49:1–7 Psalm 40:1–11 1 Corinthians 1:1–9 John 1:29–42a

Readings Psalm 36 Psalm 54 Ezekiel 38:1–23 Romans 7:1–20 Large Catechism III:59–70

Genesis 42–44 Joseph’s Brothers Buy Grain in Egypt; Joseph and Benjamin

Readings Psalm 29 Ezekiel 37:15–28 Romans 6:1–23 Large Catechism III:49–58

Genesis 39–41 Joseph and Potiphar; Joseph in Prison; Joseph Interprets Dreams; Joseph and Pharaoh

Readings Psalm 104 Psalm 79 Ezekiel 36:33—37:14 Romans 5:1–21 Large Catechism III:35–48

Genesis 36–38 Generations of Esau; Joseph’s Dreams; Joseph Sold into Slavery; Judah and Tamar

Readings Psalm 32 Psalm 51 Ezekiel 36:13–28 Romans 4:1–25 Large Catechism III:25–34

Genesis 32–35 Jacob and Esau Reunited; Dina and Sychem; Bethel; Death of Isaac

Readings Psalm 63 Psalm 59 Ezekiel 34:1–24 Romans 3:19–31 Large Catechism III:14–24

Readings Psalm 7 Psalm 14 Ezekiel 33:1–20 Romans 3:1–18 Large Catechism III:1–13 Festival Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. As recounted in the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (and in parallel passages in Mark, Luke, and John), Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although John initially hesitated when asked to baptize Christ, because Christ was without sin and John knew he was in the presence of One greater than he, Christ spoke His first words in Matthew so that John would agree: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” On Christ’s Baptism, Luther said: “[Christ] accepted it from John for the reason that He was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is, becoming a sinner for us, taking upon Himself the sins which He had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in His Holy Baptism.” This Baptism in the Jordan River marked the beginning of Christ’s ministry.

Readings Psalm 85 Psalm 58 Ezekiel 18:1–32 Romans 2:17–29 Large Catechism II:63–70 Commemoration Today we commemorate Basil the Great of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, Pastors and Confessors. Collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil and the two Gregorys were leaders of the Christian Church in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers, and Gregory of Nazianzus was their friend. All three men were influential in shaping the theology ratified by the Council of Constantinople, which would later be enshrined in the Nicene Creed.

Genesis 29–31 Jacob, Rachel, and Leah; Jacob and Laban

Readings Isaiah 42:1–9 Psalm 29 Romans 6:1–11 Matthew 3:13–17

Readings Psalm 62 Psalm 32 Ezekiel 3:12–27 Romans 2:1–16 Large Catechism II:55–62

Genesis 26–28 Isaac and the Philistines; Jacob and Esau

Readings Psalm 19 Psalm 100 Ezekiel 2:1—3:11 Romans 1:18–32 Large Catechism II:47–54

Genesis 23–25 Death and Burial of Sarah; Laban, Isaac and Rebecca; Death of Abraham; Jacob and Esau

Readings Psalm 46 Psalm 45 Ezekiel 1:1–28 Romans 1:1–17 Large Catechism II:34–46

Genesis 19–22 Sodom and Gomorrah; Lot and His Daughters; Abraham and Sarah; Isaac; Sacrifice of Issac

Readings Psalm 45 Psalm 72 Isaiah 66:1–20 Luke 3:21–38 Large Catechism II:25–33 Festival Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Although the feast of Epiphany commemorates no particular, concrete event, it is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar — one of the principal feasts. On Epiphany, we remember that the God who became man in Bethlehem — that the Babe in the manger — needed present no proof that He was true man, but that He did indeed need to prove that He was true God. He did this superabundantly with the manifestations of the Trinity and the signs, wonders, and miracles that dot the pages of the New Testament record. In the Western Church tradition, Epiphany has become associated with the visit of the Magi, and this is fitting, for the Magi represent all the nations that were brought into the New Covenant through Christ — the true epiphany being the revelation of Christ as Lord, God, Savior, and King.

Genesis 15–18 God’s Promises to Abram; Abram and Hagar; God Visit Abraham

Genesis 10–14 Generations of Noah; Babel; Abram; Abram in Egypt; Abram Rescues Lot; Melchizedek

Readings Psalm 37 Psalm 10 Isaiah 65:8–25 Luke 3:1–20 Large Catechism II:9–24

Readings Psalm 40 Psalm 65 Isaiah 63:15—65:7 Luke 2:41–52 Large Catechism II:1–8

Readings Isaiah 60:1–6 Psalm 72:1–15 Ephesians 3:1–12 Matthew 2:1–12

Readings Psalm 108 Psalm 110 Isaiah 63:1–14 Luke 2:21–40 Large Catechism I:324–333

Genesis 5–9 Genealogy; Noah; the Flood; Curse of Ham

Readings Psalm 62 Psalm 98 Isaiah 62:1–12 Luke 2:1–20 Large Catechism I:311–323 Commemoration Today we commemorate J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe served as the pastor of Neuendettelsau in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s. Although he never left Germany, Löhe had a significant impact on Lutheranism in North America. Recognizing the need for Church workers, Löhe assisted in the training of missionary pastors to be sent to the New World and Australia. A number of the men sent by Löhe would become founders of what is today the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (the LCMS). It was also due in part to Löhe’s financial backing that a theological school in Fort Wayne, IN, and a teachers’ institute in Saginaw, MI, were established. Löhe is widely recognized and fondly remembered for his confessional integrity and his dedication to Christian charity.

Readings 1 Kings 3:4–15 Psalm 119:97–104 Ephesians 1:3–14 Luke 2:40–52

Genesis 1–4 Creation; Cain and Abel; Lamech; Enosh