From trinitycamphill.org, sanctus.org, higherthings.org and wapedia.com:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Advent of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
ELCA Readings:
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Psalm 21
Psalm 21
1In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord, and in your help how greatly he exults!
2You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked you for life; you gave it to him— length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great through your help; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6You bestow on him blessings forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them like a fiery furnace when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.
10You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their children from among humankind.
11If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
Genesis 15:1-18
Genesis 15:1-18
15After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
7Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” 8But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. 13Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; 14but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
Matthew 12:33-37
Matthew 12:33-3733“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
LCMS Readings:
December 8th, 2010
Wednesday of Populus Zion (Advent 2)
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
December 8, 2010 - Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:14-25:12; 1 John 2:15-29
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? ...He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. (The Apostles' Creed, First Article)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Why does God send His Son? Why does Jesus arrive? Why does He ride into Jerusalem? Why is He born to grow up and die? Advent tells us that Jesus is coming. The Catechism reminds us why the Father sent His “Son: Only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness in me.”
It's why God does everything He does for us―not because we deserve it, but because He's our heavenly Father. Watch out for the religion that says you're worth saving! Beware the preacher who tells you God can't live without you. If there is even the tiniest speck of hope, because of something in us, then we are doomed!
No, the Lord saves us, because He's our heavenly Father and that's what He does. The Son comes to be man because He loves and obeys His Father. And here's the one time the Father DOESN'T protect from evil and harm―when it's His only-begotten Son. There He lets wickedness betray and murder His Son for our salvation. By that sacrifice of His only-begotten, the Lord rescues us from every danger of sin and death. By His Son's death, the Father has saved us.
Now, by your Baptism into Christ, God has truly become your Father. Because He is the Father of Jesus, He is now your Father. Now, you are as precious in His sight as His own Son, because you are His child in Christ. Now, all of the Father's work is to preserve and protect you from all harm and danger and to bring you to everlasting life. Advent points us to the Father sending His Son into this world, so that we know we have such a heavenly Father who loves us by saving us. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Of the Father's love begotten Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see Evermore and evermore. (LSB 384:1)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collect
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Is. 24:14-25:12
14They lift up their voices, they sing for joy;
over the majesty of the LORD they shout from the west.[a] 15(A) Therefore in the east[b] give glory to the LORD;
in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 16(B) From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise,
of glory to(C) the Righteous One.But I say, "I waste away,
I waste away. Woe is me!For(D) the traitors have betrayed,
with betrayal the traitors have betrayed."
17(E) Terror and the pit and the snare[c]
are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth! 18(F) He who flees at the sound of the terror
shall fall into the pit,and he who climbs out of the pit
shall be caught in the snare.For(G) the windows of heaven are opened,
and(H) the foundations of the earth tremble. 19The earth is utterly broken,
the earth is split apart,
the earth is violently shaken. 20The earth(I) staggers like a drunken man;
it sways like a hut;(J) its transgression lies heavy upon it,
and it falls, and will not rise again.
21On that day the LORD will punish
the host of heaven, in heaven,
and(K) the kings of the earth, on the earth. 22(L) They will be gathered together
as prisoners in a pit;they will be shut up in a prison,
and after many days(M) they will be punished. 23(N) Then the moon will be confounded
and the sun ashamed,for(O) the LORD of hosts reigns
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,and his glory will be before his elders.
God Will Swallow Up Death Forever
1O LORD,(P) you are my God;
(Q) I will exalt you; I will praise your name,for you have done wonderful things,
(R) plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 2For you have made the city(S) a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;the foreigners’ palace is a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt. 3(T) Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you. 4(U) For you have been a stronghold to the poor,
a stronghold to the needy in his distress,
(V) a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;(W) for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,
5(X) like heat in a dry place.You subdue the noise of the foreigners;
as heat by the shade of a cloud,
so the song of the ruthless is put down.
6(Y) On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
(Z) of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 7And he will swallow up(AA) on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
(AB) the veil that is spread over all nations.
8(AC) He will swallow up death forever;and(AD) the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,
and(AE) the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
(AF) for the LORD has spoken. 9It will be said on that day,
"Behold, this is our God;(AG) we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the LORD; we have waited for him;
(AH) let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 10For the hand of the LORD will rest(AI) on this mountain,
and(AJ) Moab shall be trampled down in his place,
as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.[d] 11(AK) And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it
as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,
but the LORD(AL) will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill[e] of his hands. 12And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,
lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust.
Footnotes:Isaiah 24:14 Hebrew from the sea Isaiah 24:15 Hebrew in the realm of light Isaiah 24:17 The Hebrew words for terror, pit, and snare sound alike Isaiah 25:10 The Hebrew words for dunghill and for the Moabite town Madmen (Jeremiah 48:2) sound alike Isaiah 25:11 Or in spite of the skill
Cross references:Isaiah 24:15 : Isaiah 45:6 Isaiah 24:16 : Isaiah 24:14 Isaiah 24:16 : Isaiah 26:2; 60:21 Isaiah 24:16 : Isaiah 21:2; 33:1 Isaiah 24:17 : Jer 48:43, 44; Job 20:24; Amos 5:19 Isaiah 24:18 : Isaiah 24:17 Isaiah 24:18 : Gen 7:11 Isaiah 24:18 : Psalm 18:7 Isaiah 24:20 : Isaiah 19:14; 29:9 Isaiah 24:20 : Isaiah 24:5, 6 Isaiah 24:21 : Psalm 76:12; Isaiah 10:12; 31:8 Isaiah 24:22 : Mic 4:11, 12 Isaiah 24:22 : Isaiah 29:6 Isaiah 24:23 : Isaiah 13:10 Isaiah 24:23 : Psalm 99:1, 2; Mic 4:7 Isaiah 25:1 : Exodus 15:2 Isaiah 25:1 : Psalm 107:32 Isaiah 25:1 : 2 Kgs 19:25 Isaiah 25:2 : Isaiah 17:1; Jer 51:37 Isaiah 25:3 : Isaiah 18:7 Isaiah 25:4 : Nah 1:7 Isaiah 25:4 : Isaiah 4:6 Isaiah 25:4 : 2 Chr 32:18 Isaiah 25:5 : Isaiah 32:2 Isaiah 25:6 : Isaiah 2:2, 3; 11:9; 24:23 Isaiah 25:6 : Psalm 63:5 Isaiah 25:7 : Isaiah 25:6 Isaiah 25:7 : 2 Cor 3:15 Isaiah 25:8 : Cited 1 Cor 15:54; Hos 13:14 Isaiah 25:8 : Rev 7:17; Isaiah 30:19 Isaiah 25:8 : Isaiah 37:4 Isaiah 25:8 : Isaiah 1:20 Isaiah 25:9 : Isaiah 26:8; Gen 49:18; Psalm 27:14 Isaiah 25:9 : Psalm 9:14 Isaiah 25:10 : Isaiah 25:6 Isaiah 25:10 : Isaiah 15:1 Isaiah 25:11 : Isaiah 16:12 Isaiah 25:11 : Isaiah 16:14
Second Reading: 1 John 2:15-29
Do Not Love the World
15(A) Do not love the world or the things in the world.(B) If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—(C) the desires of the flesh and(D) the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And(E) the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18Children,(F) it is the last hour, and as you have heard that(G) antichrist is coming, so now(H) many antichrists have come.(I) Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19(J) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for(K) if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out,(L) that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20But you have been(M) anointed by(N) the Holy One, and(O) you all have knowledge.[a] 21I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar but(P) he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is(Q) the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23(R) No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24Let(S) what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then(T) you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he made to us[b]—(U) eternal life.
26I write these things to you about(V) those who are trying to deceive you. 27But(W) the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and(X) you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and(Y) is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Children of God
28And now, little children, abide in him, so that(Z) when he appears(AA) we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his(AB) coming. 29If you know that(AC) he is righteous, you may be sure that(AD) everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Footnotes:1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts you know everything 1 John 2:25 Some manuscripts you
Cross references:1 John 2:15 : Rom 12:2; 2 Tim 4:10 1 John 2:15 : James 4:4 1 John 2:16 : Rom 13:14; Eph 2:3; 1 Pet 4:2; 2 Pet 2:18 1 John 2:16 : Eccles 4:8; 5:11 1 John 2:17 : 1 Cor 7:31 1 John 2:18 : 2 Tim 3:1; James 5:3; 2 Pet 3:3; Jude 18 1 John 2:18 : 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7; Matt 24:5, 24 1 John 2:18 : 1 John 4:1; Matt 24:5 1 John 2:18 : 1 Tim 4:1 1 John 2:19 : Deut 13:13; Acts 20:30 1 John 2:19 : John 17:12 1 John 2:19 : 1 Cor 11:19 1 John 2:20 : 1 John 2:27; 2 Cor 1:21 1 John 2:20 : Mark 1:24 1 John 2:20 : 1 John 2:27; John 14:26 1 John 2:22 : 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7 1 John 2:22 : 1 John 2:18 1 John 2:23 : 1 John 4:15; 5:1; 2 John 9 1 John 2:24 : 1 John 3:11; 2 John 6 1 John 2:24 : John 14:23; 1 John 1:3 1 John 2:25 : John 17:2 1 John 2:26 : 1 John 3:7; 2 John 7 1 John 2:27 : 1 John 2:20 1 John 2:27 : Jer 31:34; Heb 8:11 1 John 2:27 : John 14:17 1 John 2:28 : 1 John 3:2; Col 3:4 1 John 2:28 : 1 John 3:21; 4:17; 5:14 1 John 2:28 : 1 Thess 2:19 1 John 2:29 : 1 John 3:7 1 John 2:29 : 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18; 3 John 11
Wednesday Father Reading
"We believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, and sent by god the Father into the world, Who made His abode in Mary the virgin and took her flesh, whereby He hid from mortals the majesty of His Godhead, who is herein perfect God and perfect man, Who by grace bestowed upon men the eucharistic Bread and holy Wine, the Food of angels, that is, His true Flesh and His true Blood, saying, 'This is My Blood of the new and holy testament, which I have given to you. As often, therefore as you eat and drink of it, do this in remembrance of Me.'" [The Council of Nicea. 4th Century]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
No comments:
Post a Comment