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Saints/Martyrs/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Advent of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
December 18th, 2010
Saturday of Gaudete (Advent 3)
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
December 18, 2010 - Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 34:1-2,8-35:10; Revelation 6:1-17
Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, (Isaiah 45:8 from the Introit for Advent 4)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Rain comes out of the sky. So does snow. Sunlight comes from above. So do meteorites and falling satellites. But righteousness? Coming out of the sky? What is Isaiah talking about? Let the earth open and bring forth salvation? Lava comes out of the earth, but salvation?
Here we have a beautiful picture of something we heard about earlier in the week: the divine and human natures in Christ. Jesus is true God and true man, so that we may be saved. From above, from heaven, from the Godhead, the Son comes down. From below, from the earth, from the Virgin's womb, the Son takes on human flesh. Together in Christ, God and man are joined in this one holy person, Jesus.
And in that person, Jesus, we have righteousness and salvation: righteousness, because of His perfect life for us and salvation, because of His saving death for us. At the cross, we have God from above and man from below hanging there in that person, Jesus, paying the price for our sins. Up from the earth on Easter! Alive! Our salvation. Down from above on the Last Day, our salvation once again and once for all.
In His church tomorrow, water from this earth and His Word from on high are present(?)join to baptize. His ascended Body and Blood from above join with bread and wine from this earth to give us a holy Supper. Always what is above joining with what is below for our salvation that's how the Lord does it. That's His righteousness for you. That's His salvation for you.
So, let it rain! Let it pour! The Lord is pouring out His righteousness and salvation on you through His Son. In His church. From above. From below. All together in Christ. All for you. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Word of God, come down on earth, Living rain from heav'n descending; Touch our hearts and bring to birth Faith and hope and love unending. Word almighty, we revere You; Word made flesh, we long to hear You. (LSB 545:1)
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. 34:1-2; Is. 34:8-35:10
Judgment on the Nations
1Draw near,(A) O nations, to hear,
and give attention, O peoples!Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;
the world, and all that comes from it. 2For the LORD is enraged against all the nations,
and furious against all their host;
he has(B) devoted them to destruction,[a] has given them over for slaughter.
Footnotes:Isaiah 34:2 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 5
Cross references:Isaiah 34:1 : Psalm 49:1; Joel 3:1, 2 Isaiah 34:2 : Josh 6:21
8(A) For the LORD has a day of vengeance,
a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. 9(B) And the streams of Edom[a] shall be turned into pitch,
and her soil into sulfur;
her land shall become burning pitch. 10Night and day(C) it shall not be quenched;
(D) its smoke shall go up forever.(E) From generation to generation it shall lie waste;
none shall pass through it forever and ever. 11(F) But the hawk and the porcupine[b] shall possess it,
the owl and the raven shall dwell in it.(G) He shall stretch the line of(H) confusion[c] over it,
and the plumb line of emptiness. 12Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a kingdom,
and all its princes shall be nothing.
13(I) Thorns shall grow over its strongholds,
nettles and thistles in its fortresses.It shall be the haunt of(J) jackals,
an abode for ostriches.[d] 14(K) And wild animals shall meet with hyenas;
the wild goat shall cry to his fellow;indeed, there the night bird[e] settles
and finds for herself a resting place.
15There the owl nests and lays
and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow;indeed, there(L) the hawks are gathered,
each one with her mate. 16Seek and read from the book of the LORD:
Not one of these shall be missing;
none shall be without her mate.For the mouth of the LORD has commanded,
and his Spirit has gathered them. 17(M) He has cast the lot for them;
his hand has portioned it out to them with the line;they shall possess it forever;
from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.
The Ransomed Shall Return
1(N) The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
(O) the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.(P) The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of(Q) Carmel and(R) Sharon.(S) They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3(T) Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees. 4Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!(U) Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
5(V) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6(W) then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.(X) For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert; 7(Y) the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;in the haunt of(Z) jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8(AA) And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;(AB) the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[f] 9No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there. 10(AC) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return
and come to Zion with singing;(AD) everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Footnotes:Isaiah 34:9 Hebrew her streams Isaiah 34:11 The identity of the animals rendered hawk and porcupine is uncertain Isaiah 34:11 Hebrew formlessness Isaiah 34:13 Or owls Isaiah 34:14 Identity uncertain Isaiah 35:8 Or if they are fools, they shall not wander in it
Cross references:Isaiah 34:8 : Isaiah 61:2; 63:4; Psalm 137:7 Isaiah 34:9 : Deut 29:23 Isaiah 34:10 : Isaiah 66:24 Isaiah 34:10 : Rev 14:11; 18:18; 19:3 Isaiah 34:10 : Mal 1:4 Isaiah 34:11 : Isaiah 14:23; Zeph 2:14; Rev 18:2 Isaiah 34:11 : 2 Kgs 21:13; Lam 2:8; Amos 7:7-9 Isaiah 34:11 : Isaiah 24:10 Isaiah 34:13 : Isaiah 32:13 Isaiah 34:13 : Isaiah 13:22; Psalm 44:19; Mal 1:3 Isaiah 34:14 : Isaiah 13:21 Isaiah 34:15 : Deut 14:13 Isaiah 34:17 : Psalm 78:55 Isaiah 35:1 : Isaiah 55:12, 13 Isaiah 35:1 : Isaiah 32:15 Isaiah 35:2 : Song 5:15 Isaiah 35:2 : Song 7:5 Isaiah 35:2 : Isaiah 33:9; Song 2:1 Isaiah 35:2 : Isaiah 40:5 Isaiah 35:3 : Cited Heb 12:12; Isaiah 40:1 Isaiah 35:4 : Isaiah 40:10, 11 Isaiah 35:5 : Isaiah 32:3, 4 Isaiah 35:6 : Isaiah 35:5 Isaiah 35:6 : Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah 41:18; 43:19; 44:3, 4; John 7:38, 39 Isaiah 35:7 : Isaiah 48:20, 21; 49:10 Isaiah 35:7 : Isaiah 13:22 Isaiah 35:8 : Isaiah 40:3 Isaiah 35:8 : Isaiah 52:1 Isaiah 35:10 : Isaiah 51:11 Isaiah 35:10 : Isaiah 65:19; Isaiah 25:8; Rev 7:17; 21:4
Second Reading: Rev. 6:1-17
The Seven Seals
1Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of(A) the seven seals, and I heard(B) one of the four living creatures say(C) with a voice like thunder,(D) "Come!" 2And I looked, and behold,(E) a white horse! And(F) its rider had a bow, and(G) a crown was given to him, and he came out(H) conquering, and to conquer.
3When he opened the second seal, I heard(I) the second living creature say, "Come!" 4And out came another horse,(J) bright red. Its rider was permitted(K) to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
5When he opened the third seal, I heard the(L) third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold,(M) a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying,(N) "A quart[a] of wheat for a denarius,[b] and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and(O) do not harm the oil and wine!"
7When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of(P) the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8And I looked, and behold,(Q) a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill(R) with sword and with famine and with pestilence and(S) by wild beasts of the earth.
9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(T) the altar(U) the souls of those who had been slain(V) for the word of God and for(W) the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord,(X) holy and true,(Y) how long(Z) before you will judge and(AA) avenge our blood on(AB) those who dwell on the earth?" 11Then they were each given(AC) a white robe and(AD) told to rest a little longer,(AE) until the number of their fellow servants[c] and their brothers[d](AF) should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
12When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold,(AG) there was a great earthquake, and(AH) the sun became black as(AI) sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13and(AJ) the stars of the sky fell to the earth(AK) as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14(AL) The sky vanished(AM) like a scroll that is being rolled up, and(AN) every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave[e] and free,(AO) hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16(AP) calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of(AQ) him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17for(AR) the great day of their wrath has come, and(AS) who can stand?"
Footnotes:Revelation 6:6 Greek choinix, a dry measure equal to about a quart Revelation 6:6 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer Revelation 6:11 Greek fellow bondservants Revelation 6:11 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church Revelation 6:15 Or servant; Greek bondservant
Cross references:Revelation 6:1 : Revelation 5:1, 5-7 Revelation 6:1 : Revelation 4:7 Revelation 6:1 : Revelation 14:2; 19:6 Revelation 6:1 : Revelation 22:20 Revelation 6:2 : Zech 6:3; Revelation 19:11, 19, 21 Revelation 6:2 : Psalm 45:4, 5; Hab 3:8, 9; Zech 9:13, 14 Revelation 6:2 : Revelation 14:14; Zech 6:11 Revelation 6:2 : Revelation 3:21 Revelation 6:3 : Revelation 4:7 Revelation 6:4 : Zech 1:8; 6:2 Revelation 6:4 : Matt 10:34; 24:6, 7 Revelation 6:5 : Revelation 6:3 Revelation 6:5 : Zech 6:2 Revelation 6:6 : Ezek 4:10, 11; 5:10, 16 Revelation 6:6 : Revelation 7:3; 9:4 Revelation 6:7 : Revelation 6:3 Revelation 6:8 : Zech 6:3 Revelation 6:8 : Ezek 14:21 Revelation 6:8 : Lev 26:22; Deut 32:24 Revelation 6:9 : Revelation 14:18; 16:7 Revelation 6:9 : Revelation 20:4 Revelation 6:9 : Revelation 1:9 Revelation 6:9 : Revelation 1:2 Revelation 6:10 : Revelation 3:7 Revelation 6:10 : Psalm 94:3; Zech 1:12 Revelation 6:10 : Revelation 11:18; 19:2 Revelation 6:10 : Psalm 79:10; 119:84; Luke 18:7, 8 Revelation 6:10 : Revelation 3:10 Revelation 6:11 : Revelation 3:4; 7:9 Revelation 6:11 : Revelation 14:13 Revelation 6:11 : Heb 11:40 Revelation 6:11 : Gen 15:16 Revelation 6:12 : Revelation 11:13; 16:18; Heb 12:26 Revelation 6:12 : Matt 24:29 Revelation 6:12 : Isa 50:3 Revelation 6:13 : Revelation 8:10; 9:1 Revelation 6:13 : Isa 34:4 Revelation 6:14 : Revelation 20:11; 21:1 Revelation 6:14 : Revelation 6:13 Revelation 6:14 : Revelation 16:20; Isa 54:10; Jer 4:24; Ezek 38:20; Nah 1:5 Revelation 6:15 : Isa 2:19, 21 Revelation 6:16 : Hos 10:8; Luke 23:30 Revelation 6:16 : Revelation 4:2 Revelation 6:17 : Jer 30:7; Joel 2:11, 31 Revelation 6:17 : Ezra 9:15; Psalm 76:7; Mal 3:2; Luke 21:36
Saturday Father Reading
"Christ took what was, by nature, bread and gave thanks, saying, 'This is My Body.' And the cup He likewise proclaimed to be His Blood." [St. Irenaeus. "Against Heresies," Book IV, chapter 17. 2nd 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.
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