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Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Advent of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
ELCA Readings:
Psalm 42
Psalm 42
1As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
3My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
4These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
5Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help
6and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me.
8By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
9I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?”
10As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
11Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Zechariah 8:1-17
Zechariah 8:1-17
8The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 2Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. 4Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. 5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? 7Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; 8and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.
9Thus says the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strong—you that have recently been hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of hosts. 10For before those days there were no wages for people or for animals, nor was there any safety from the foe for those who went out or came in, and I set them all against one other. 11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the Lord of hosts. 12For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13Just as you have been a cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong. 14For thus says the Lord of hosts: Just as I purposed to bring disaster upon you, when your ancestors provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, 15so again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; do not be afraid. 16These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, 17do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.
Matthew 8:4-17, 28-34
Matthew 8:4-17, 28-344Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
5When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” 7And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 10When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.
14When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; 15he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. 16That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
28When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. 33The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.
LCMS Readings:
December 15th, 2010
Wednesday of Gaudete (Advent 3)
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
December 15, 2010 - Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, (Small Catechism, The Creed: Second Article)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As we prepare for Christmas, it's good to review again what we believe about the One whose birth we will celebrate. Jesus is true God and true man. This separates the true faith from all the fraud religions out there which deny and reject this truth. Even Jews and Muslims, who are often called “people of the Book,” and “cousins” of Christians deny this central fact: Jesus is truly God.
But the teaching that Jesus is true God and true man isn't just a fact for us to confess and to show whether or not others are Christians—it is for our salvation.
Jesus is true God, begotten from eternity. That means that when He is conceived and born, it is God coming to us. Our Lord doesn't make us find a way to Him. He comes to us in our sinfulness. We could never see God's face without being consumed by His holiness. So, the Son comes, hidden in the flesh and, yet, is still true God who can do all of what He does in the flesh, because He is true God.
Jesus is true man, born of the Virgin Mary. That means that He has a body and soul like we do, that He can suffer and bleed and die like we do. In fact, that's why He became man: to redeem us human beings who have thrown ourselves in with sin. Jesus became one of us so that He could save us. God doesn't need a body, but He takes on a body, because we have bodies and He is saving us, all of us, both body and soul.
When Jesus gives His life on the cross, God dies and this man's sacrifice is of infinite value; it covers all people. Jesus, because He is true God and true Man, can truly be your Savior. In the Name of Jesus. Amen .
Behold the Lamb of God That bears the world's transgression, Whose sacrifice removes The devil's dread oppression. Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away our sin, Who for our peace and joy Will full atonement win. (LSB 346:3)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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Collect
Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Is. 30:27-31:9
27Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar,
burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke;[a]his lips are full of fury,
and his tongue is like a devouring fire; 28(A) his breath is(B) like an overflowing stream
that reaches up to the neck;to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction,
and to place on the jaws of the peoples(C) a bridle that leads astray.
29You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart,(D) as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to(E) the mountain of the LORD, to(F) the Rock of Israel. 30And the LORD(G) will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger(H) and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst(I) and storm and hailstones. 31The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD,(J) when he strikes with his rod. 32And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD lays on them(K) will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres.(L) Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them. 33For(M) a burning place[b] has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready,(N) its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance;(O) the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt
1Woe to(P) those who go down to Egypt for help
and rely on horses,who(Q) trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,but(R) do not look to the Holy One of Israel
or consult the LORD! 2And(S) yet he is wise and brings disaster;
(T) he does not call back his words,but(U) will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of(V) those who work iniquity. 3The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses(W) are flesh, and not spirit.When the LORD stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,
and they will all perish together.
4For thus the LORD said to me,(X) "As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,
and when a band of shepherds is called out against himhe is not terrified by their shouting
or daunted at their noise,(Y) so the LORD of hosts will come down
to fight[c] on Mount Zion and on its hill. 5(Z) Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts
will protect Jerusalem;he will protect and deliver it;
he will spare and rescue it."
6(AA) Turn to him from whom people[d] have(AB) deeply revolted, O children of Israel. 7For in that day(AC) everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.
8(AD) "And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man;
and a sword, not of man, shall devour him;and he shall flee from the sword,
and his young men shall be(AE) put to forced labor. 9(AF) His rock shall pass away in terror,
and his officers desert the standard in panic,"declares the LORD, whose(AG) fire is in Zion,
and whose(AH) furnace is in Jerusalem.
Footnotes:Isaiah 30:27 Hebrew in weight of uplifted clouds Isaiah 30:33 Or For Topheth Isaiah 31:4 The Hebrew words for hosts and to fight sound alike Isaiah 31:6 Hebrew they
Cross references:Isaiah 30:28 : Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thess 2:8 Isaiah 30:28 : Isaiah 8:8; Nah 1:8 Isaiah 30:28 : Isaiah 37:29 Isaiah 30:29 : 1 Sam 10:5; 1 Kgs 1:40 Isaiah 30:29 : Isaiah 2:3 Isaiah 30:29 : Isaiah 26:4; 44:8; Deut 32:18 Isaiah 30:30 : Psalm 18:13 Isaiah 30:30 : Isaiah 29:6 Isaiah 30:30 : Isaiah 28:2; Josh 10:11 Isaiah 30:31 : Isaiah 9:4; Mic 6:9 Isaiah 30:32 : Exodus 15:1 Isaiah 30:32 : Isaiah 11:15; 19:16; Isaiah 2:19 Isaiah 30:33 : 2 Kgs 23:10; Jer 7:31 Isaiah 30:33 : Ezek 24:9, 10 Isaiah 30:33 : Psalm 18:8; Ezek 20:48 Isaiah 31:1 : Isaiah 30:2; 36:6 Isaiah 31:1 : Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 30:16; 36:9 Isaiah 31:1 : Isaiah 22:11 Isaiah 31:2 : Psalm 94:8-10 Isaiah 31:2 : Num 23:19 Isaiah 31:2 : Isaiah 22:14 Isaiah 31:2 : Psalm 94:4 Isaiah 31:3 : Jer 17:5 Isaiah 31:4 : Hos 11:10; Amos 1:2; 3:8 Isaiah 31:4 : Isaiah 42:13 Isaiah 31:5 : Deut 32:11; Psalm 91:4 Isaiah 31:6 : Isaiah 30:15 Isaiah 31:6 : Isaiah 1:5 Isaiah 31:7 : Isaiah 2:20; 30:22 Isaiah 31:8 : Isaiah 37:36 Isaiah 31:8 : Gen 49:15; Prov 12:24 Isaiah 31:9 : Deut 32:31; Isaiah 30:29 Isaiah 31:9 : Isaiah 30:33 Isaiah 31:9 : Psalm 21:9; Mal 4:1
Second Reading: Rev. 3:1-22
To the Church in Sardis
1"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him(A) who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
"'I know your works. You have the reputation(B) of being alive,(C) but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works(D) complete in the sight of my God. 3(E) Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up,(F) I will come(G) like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not(H) soiled their garments, and they will walk with me(I) in white, for they are(J) worthy. 5(K) The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never(L) blot his name out of(M) the book of life.(N) I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6(O) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
To the Church in Philadelphia
7"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of(P) the holy one,(Q) the true one,(R) who has the key of David,(S) who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8"'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you(T) an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make those of(U) the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold,(V) I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that(W) I have loved you. 10(X) Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try(Y) those who dwell on the earth. 11(Z) I am coming soon.(AA) Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize(AB) your crown. 12(AC) The one who conquers, I will make him(AD) a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him(AE) the name of my God, and(AF) the name of the city of my God,(AG) the new Jerusalem,(AH) which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13(AI) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
To the Church in Laodicea
14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the(AJ) Amen,(AK) the faithful and true witness,(AL) the beginning of God’s creation.
15"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.(AM) Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17(AN) For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor,(AO) blind, and naked. 18I counsel you(AP) to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and(AQ) white garments so that you may clothe yourself and(AR) the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes,(AS) so that you may see. 19(AT) Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and(AU) knock.(AV) If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(AW) I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21(AX) The one who conquers,(AY) I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as(AZ) I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22(BA) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Cross references:Revelation 3:1 : Revelation 1:4, 16 Revelation 3:1 : 1 Tim 5:6 Revelation 3:1 : Luke 15:24 Revelation 3:2 : Acts 14:26 Revelation 3:3 : 2 Tim 1:13 Revelation 3:3 : Revelation 2:5 Revelation 3:3 : Revelation 16:15; Matt 24:43; 1 Thess 5:2, 4; 2 Pet 3:10 Revelation 3:4 : Jude 23 Revelation 3:4 : Revelation 6:11; 7:9; Eccles 9:8 Revelation 3:4 : Luke 20:35 Revelation 3:5 : Revelation 2:7 Revelation 3:5 : Exodus 32:32 Revelation 3:5 : Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; Phil 4:3 Revelation 3:5 : Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8 Revelation 3:6 : Revelation 2:7 Revelation 3:7 : Revelation 6:10 Revelation 3:7 : Revelation 3:14; Revelation 19:11; 1 John 5:20 Revelation 3:7 : Isa 22:22; Luke 1:32 Revelation 3:7 : Job 12:14; Matt 16:19 Revelation 3:8 : Acts 14:27; 1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12; Col 4:3 Revelation 3:9 : Revelation 2:9 Revelation 3:9 : Isa 45:14; 49:23; 60:14 Revelation 3:9 : Isa 43:4 Revelation 3:10 : Revelation 1:9; 2 Pet 2:9 Revelation 3:10 : Revelation 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 14; 17:8 Revelation 3:11 : Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 Revelation 3:11 : Revelation 2:25 Revelation 3:11 : Revelation 2:10 Revelation 3:12 : Revelation 2:7 Revelation 3:12 : 1 Kgs 7:21; 2 Chr 3:17; Jer 1:18; Gal 2:9; Psalm 23:6; 27:4 Revelation 3:12 : Revelation 14:1; 22:4 Revelation 3:12 : Revelation 21:2; Ezek 48:35; Gal 4:26; Heb 12:22 Revelation 3:12 : Revelation 21:10 Revelation 3:12 : Revelation 2:17 Revelation 3:13 : Revelation 2:7 Revelation 3:14 : 2 Cor 1:20 Revelation 3:14 : Revelation 3:7; Revelation 1:5; 19:11; 22:6 Revelation 3:14 : Col 1:15, 18; Revelation 21:6; 22:13; Prov 8:22 Revelation 3:15 : 2 Pet 2:21 Revelation 3:17 : Hos 12:8; Zech 11:5; 1 Cor 4:8 Revelation 3:17 : John 9:39-41; Eph 1:18 Revelation 3:18 : Isa 55:1; Matt 13:44; 25:9; Prov 8:19 Revelation 3:18 : Revelation 19:8; Revelation 3:4 Revelation 3:18 : Revelation 16:15 Revelation 3:18 : Revelation 3:17 Revelation 3:19 : Heb 12:6 Revelation 3:20 : Song 5:2 Revelation 3:20 : Luke 12:36 Revelation 3:20 : John 14:23; Luke 24:29, 30 Revelation 3:21 : Revelation 2:7 Revelation 3:21 : Revelation 20:4; Revelation 2:26; John 12:26; 2 Tim 2:12; Matt 19:28 Revelation 3:21 : Revelation 5:5; 6:2; 17:14; John 16:33 Revelation 3:22 : Revelation 2:7
Wednesday Father Reading
"Angels are standing by the celebrant - The whole order of virtues* are crying out - All the space around the altar is filled with these heavenly powers* in honor of Him who is lying thereon." [St. Chrysostom. "Book III: On the Priesthood." 5th Century]
[*Note: The terms "virtues" and "powers" are used to designate two orders of the heavenly angels]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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