Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 115 Psalm 125 Isaiah 43:1–24 Revelation 9:13—10:11 Large Catechism I:189–198

Readings Isaiah 7:10–14 Psalm 110:1–4 1 John 4:7–16 Matthew 1:18–25

Readings Psalm 102 Isaiah 42:1–25 Revelation 9:1–12 Large Catechism I:179–188

Readings Psalm 119:25–32 Psalm 141 Isaiah 40:18—41:10 Revelation 8:1–13 Large Catechism I:167–178 Commemoration Today we commemorate Katharina Luther, née von Bora. Born in 1499, Katharina von Bora was placed into a convent when she was still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April of 1523, Katharina, along with eight other nuns, was rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. In Wittenberg, Martin Luther helped the rescued nuns return to their families or start families of their own. Although initially hesitant to marry — as he feared assassination or execution by Rome — Luther believed that he must place his faith in God and practice what he preached. Katharina and Luther were married on 13 June 1525. God blessed the Luthers’ marriage with six children, and Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household. Although she suffered financial difficulties after Luther’s death in 1546, Katharina remained steadfast in her faith and her care for her children and others. Amongst her last recorded words, Katharina, on her deathbed, said that she would ‘stick to Christ as a burr to cloth.’

Readings Psalm 103 Psalm 19 Isaiah 40:1–17 Revelation 7:1–17 Large Catechism I:158–166 Commemoration Today we commemorate Adam and Eve. Father and mother to us all, Adam and Eve were the first two human beings created by God’s own hands. Adam, formed from the dust, was created first and Eve, formed from one of Adam’s ribs to be his companion, was created second. Failing to obey God and listening to the Serpent’s temptation, Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had forbidden, and Adam, forsaking his role as head, joined her in rebellion. For their disobedience, they were driven from the Garden; by their disobedience, death entered the world. Nevertheless, in the midst of the tragedy of the Fall, God promised that the woman’s Seed — Christ, the Savior — would crush the Serpent’s head. In His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, Christ defeated sin, death, and the devil — fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15. As Luther commented: ‘God arranged to remove through Christ whatever the devil brought in through Adam.’

Readings Isaiah 7:10–17 Psalm 24 Romans 1:1–7 Matthew 1:18–25

Readings Psalm 119:81–88 Psalm 145 Isaiah 34:1—35:10 Revelation 6:1–17 Large Catechism I:150–157

Readings Psalm 40 Psalm 20 Isaiah 33:1–24 Revelation 5:1–14 Large Catechism I:141–149

Readings Psalm 149 Psalm 61 Isaiah 32:1–20 Revelation 4:1–11 Large Catechism I:129–140

Readings Psalm 146 Psalm 80 Isaiah 30:27—31:9 Revelation 3:1–22 Large Catechism I:120–128

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

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

Readings Isaiah 35:1–10 Psalm 146 James 5:7–11 Matthew 11:2–15

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 Isaiah 11:1–10 Psalm 72:1–7 Romans 15:4–13 Matthew 3:1–12

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 Isaiah 2:1–5 Psalm 122 Romans 13:8–14 Matthew 21:1–11 Matthew 24:36–44

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

Readings Deuteronomy 8:1–10 Psalm 67 Philippians 4:6–20 1 Timothy 2:1–4 Luke 17:11–19

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 Malachi 3:13–18 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:13–20 Luke 23:27–43

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 Malachi 3:13–18 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:13–20 Luke 23:27–43

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.