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Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Matriarch, Sarah, Thursday of the Second Week after Epiphany
Scriptural Readings:
January 20th, 2011
Thursday of Epiphany 2
Sarah
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
January 20, 2011 - Thursday of the Second Week after the Epiphany
Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:22-33
Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 47:1-14,21-23; Romans 9:19-33
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:25)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We won't really learn the Christian faith until we realize that Jesus did not come to be the big deal but to make His church the big deal. St. Paul is clear, that while the church loves Christ, HE came to save HER. She is the object of His love. It is for His Bride that His side was pierced to create and sustain her, just like Adam's wife came from his rib.
We won't really learn the Christian faith until we realize that when Christ sees us, He doesn't see our sins, our faults, our spots and our blemishes. St. Paul says that Christ gave Himself up for His bride and so washed her and made her to be without spot or stain or blemish. That means that by the shedding of His blood on the cross of Calvary and by His washing us at the baptismal font, our sins are wiped out. He doesn't see them. We are surrounded by churches who either don't take sin seriously, as something we need to be saved from, or else make Jesus into an overbearing Judge who is just watching you to catch you when you make a mistake.
This is the great joy of the Christian faith as God's Word teaches it: It is not a burden to be borne. Jesus is not a God to be “put up” with. He is a Lord and Savior who rescues us from sin and death and prepares an everlasting wedding feast for us to enjoy with Him forever. The essence of the faith is not that we put Jesus first but that He has put us first and always puts us first.
Now apply that to marriages and our Christian life. Husbands should always put their wives above themselves. Christians should always put others above themselves. When it comes to asking who is more important, we ought always to live as if the other person is, for that is how our Lord sees us. And His putting us first, to save us from sin and death, is what makes Him our Savior. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Come, friends, and share the feast; Here drink the wine supplied By Him who is both guest and host—For us, the crucified. (LSB 408:4)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Ezek. 47:1-14; Ezek 47:21-23
Water Flowing from the Temple
1Then he brought me back to(A) the door of the temple, and behold,(B) water was issuing from below(C) the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of(D) the altar. 2Then he brought me out by way of(E) the north gate and led me around on the outside to(F) the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
3Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand,(G) the man measured a thousand cubits,[a] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 4Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. 5Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6And he said to me,(H) "Son of man,(I) have you seen this?"
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river(J) very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into(K) the Arabah, and enters the sea;[b] when the water flows into(L) the sea, the water will become fresh.[c] 9And wherever the river goes,[d] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea[e] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From(M) Engedi to(N) Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of(O) the Great Sea.[f] 11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12And on the banks,(P) on both sides of the river, there will grow(Q) all kinds of trees for food.(R) Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail,(S) but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Division of the Land
13Thus says the Lord GOD: "This is the boundary[g] by which(T) you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel.(U) Joseph shall have two portions. 14And you shall divide equally what(V) I swore(W) to give to your fathers.(X) This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.
Footnotes:Ezekiel 47:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters Ezekiel 47:8 That is, the Dead Sea Ezekiel 47:8 Hebrew will be healed; also verses 9, 11 Ezekiel 47:9 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Hebrew the two rivers go Ezekiel 47:9 Hebrew lacks the waters of the sea Ezekiel 47:10 That is, the Mediterranean Sea; also verses 15, 19, 20 Ezekiel 47:13 Probable reading; Hebrew The valley of the boundary
Cross references:Ezekiel 47:1 : Ezekiel 43:1, 2 Ezekiel 47:1 : Psalm 46:4; Joel 3:18; Zech 14:8; Rev 22:1 Ezekiel 47:1 : Ezekiel 9:3 Ezekiel 47:1 : Ezekiel 43:13 Ezekiel 47:2 : Ezekiel 40:35 Ezekiel 47:2 : Ezekiel 40:6 Ezekiel 47:3 : Ezekiel 40:3 Ezekiel 47:6 : Ezekiel 2:1 Ezekiel 47:6 : Ezekiel 8:6 Ezekiel 47:7 : Ezekiel 47:12; Rev 22:2 Ezekiel 47:8 : Deut 1:1 Ezekiel 47:8 : Deut 3:17; 4:49; Josh 3:16 Ezekiel 47:10 : 1 Sam 23:29 Ezekiel 47:10 : Isa 15:8 Ezekiel 47:10 : Josh 15:12 Ezekiel 47:12 : Ezekiel 47:7 Ezekiel 47:12 : Gen 2:9 Ezekiel 47:12 : Psalm 1:3; Jer 17:8 Ezekiel 47:12 : Rev 22:2 Ezekiel 47:13 : Ezekiel 45:8; Ezekiel 48:1-7, 23-28 Ezekiel 47:13 : Ezekiel 48:4, 5; Josh 17:14-18 Ezekiel 47:14 : Ezekiel 20:5 Ezekiel 47:14 : Gen 12:7 Ezekiel 47:14 : Ezekiel 48:29
21(A) "So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22(B) You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and(C) for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you.(D) They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD.
Cross references:Ezekiel 47:21 : Ezekiel 47:13 Ezekiel 47:22 : Ezekiel 45:1; 48:29 Ezekiel 47:22 : Isa 14:1; Eph 3:6 Ezekiel 47:22 : Exodus 12:19, 48, 49; Rom 10:12; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11
Second Reading: Rom. 9: 19-33
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For(A) who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man,(B) to answer back to God?(C) Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21(D) Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump(E) one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience(F) vessels of wrath(G) prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known(H) the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he(I) has prepared beforehand for glory— 24even us whom he(J) has called,(K) not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25As indeed he says in Hosea,
(L) "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,'
and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" 26(M) "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,'
there they will be called(N) 'sons of the living God.'"
27And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:(O) "Though the number of the sons of Israel[a] be as the sand of the sea,(P) only a remnant of them will be saved, 28for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." 29And as Isaiah predicted,
(Q) (R) "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
(S) we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah."
Israel’s Unbelief
30What shall we say, then?(T) That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is,(U) a righteousness that is by faith; 31but that Israel(V) who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness[b](W) did not succeed in reaching that law. 32Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the(X) stumbling stone, 33as it is written,
(Y) "Behold, I am laying in Zion(Z) a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
(AA) and whoever believes in him will not be(AB) put to shame."
Footnotes:Romans 9:27 Or children of Israel Romans 9:31 Greek a law of righteousness
Cross references:Romans 9:19 : 2 Chr 20:6; Job 9:12; Dan 4:35 Romans 9:20 : Job 33:13 Romans 9:20 : Isa 29:16; 45:9 Romans 9:21 : Isa 64:8; Jer 18:6 Romans 9:21 : 2 Tim 2:20 Romans 9:22 : Romans 9:21, 23; Acts 9:15 Romans 9:22 : Prov 16:4; 1 Pet 2:8 Romans 9:23 : Eph 3:16; Romans 2:4 Romans 9:23 : Romans 8:29 Romans 9:24 : Romans 8:28 Romans 9:24 : Romans 3:29 Romans 9:25 : Hos 2:23; 1 Pet 2:10 Romans 9:26 : Hos 1:10 Romans 9:26 : Romans 8:14; Matt 16:16 Romans 9:27 : Isa 10:22, 23; Hos 1:10 Romans 9:27 : Romans 11:5 Romans 9:29 : Isa 1:9 Romans 9:29 : James 5:4 Romans 9:29 : Deut 29:23; Isa 13:19; Jer 49:18; 50:40; Amos 4:11 Romans 9:30 : Romans 10:20 Romans 9:30 : Romans 1:17; 3:21, 22; 10:6; Gal 2:16; 3:24; Phil 3:9; Heb 11:7 Romans 9:31 : Romans 10:2, 3; 11:7 Romans 9:31 : Gal 5:4 Romans 9:32 : 1 Pet 2:8 Romans 9:33 : 1 Pet 2:6, 7; Isa 28:16; Psalm 118:22 Romans 9:33 : Isa 8:14 Romans 9:33 : Romans 10:11 Romans 9:33 : Isa 49:23; Joel 2:26, 27
Thursday Father Reading
"'You have prepared a table for me before the face of those who trouble me.' Who are these who trouble me? The temptations of the enemy, agitations, lusts, and the honors of the world. But at the Table of the Ruler tribulations become consolations." [St. Chrysostom. Commentary on Psalm 23." 5th 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.
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Matriarch, Sarah, Thursday of the Second Week after Epiphany
Scriptural Readings:
January 20th, 2011
Thursday of Epiphany 2
Sarah
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
January 20, 2011 - Thursday of the Second Week after the Epiphany
Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:22-33
Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 47:1-14,21-23; Romans 9:19-33
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:25)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We won't really learn the Christian faith until we realize that Jesus did not come to be the big deal but to make His church the big deal. St. Paul is clear, that while the church loves Christ, HE came to save HER. She is the object of His love. It is for His Bride that His side was pierced to create and sustain her, just like Adam's wife came from his rib.
We won't really learn the Christian faith until we realize that when Christ sees us, He doesn't see our sins, our faults, our spots and our blemishes. St. Paul says that Christ gave Himself up for His bride and so washed her and made her to be without spot or stain or blemish. That means that by the shedding of His blood on the cross of Calvary and by His washing us at the baptismal font, our sins are wiped out. He doesn't see them. We are surrounded by churches who either don't take sin seriously, as something we need to be saved from, or else make Jesus into an overbearing Judge who is just watching you to catch you when you make a mistake.
This is the great joy of the Christian faith as God's Word teaches it: It is not a burden to be borne. Jesus is not a God to be “put up” with. He is a Lord and Savior who rescues us from sin and death and prepares an everlasting wedding feast for us to enjoy with Him forever. The essence of the faith is not that we put Jesus first but that He has put us first and always puts us first.
Now apply that to marriages and our Christian life. Husbands should always put their wives above themselves. Christians should always put others above themselves. When it comes to asking who is more important, we ought always to live as if the other person is, for that is how our Lord sees us. And His putting us first, to save us from sin and death, is what makes Him our Savior. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Come, friends, and share the feast; Here drink the wine supplied By Him who is both guest and host—For us, the crucified. (LSB 408:4)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Ezek. 47:1-14; Ezek 47:21-23
Water Flowing from the Temple
1Then he brought me back to(A) the door of the temple, and behold,(B) water was issuing from below(C) the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of(D) the altar. 2Then he brought me out by way of(E) the north gate and led me around on the outside to(F) the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
3Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand,(G) the man measured a thousand cubits,[a] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 4Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. 5Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6And he said to me,(H) "Son of man,(I) have you seen this?"
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river(J) very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into(K) the Arabah, and enters the sea;[b] when the water flows into(L) the sea, the water will become fresh.[c] 9And wherever the river goes,[d] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea[e] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From(M) Engedi to(N) Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of(O) the Great Sea.[f] 11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12And on the banks,(P) on both sides of the river, there will grow(Q) all kinds of trees for food.(R) Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail,(S) but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Division of the Land
13Thus says the Lord GOD: "This is the boundary[g] by which(T) you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel.(U) Joseph shall have two portions. 14And you shall divide equally what(V) I swore(W) to give to your fathers.(X) This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.
Footnotes:Ezekiel 47:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters Ezekiel 47:8 That is, the Dead Sea Ezekiel 47:8 Hebrew will be healed; also verses 9, 11 Ezekiel 47:9 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Hebrew the two rivers go Ezekiel 47:9 Hebrew lacks the waters of the sea Ezekiel 47:10 That is, the Mediterranean Sea; also verses 15, 19, 20 Ezekiel 47:13 Probable reading; Hebrew The valley of the boundary
Cross references:Ezekiel 47:1 : Ezekiel 43:1, 2 Ezekiel 47:1 : Psalm 46:4; Joel 3:18; Zech 14:8; Rev 22:1 Ezekiel 47:1 : Ezekiel 9:3 Ezekiel 47:1 : Ezekiel 43:13 Ezekiel 47:2 : Ezekiel 40:35 Ezekiel 47:2 : Ezekiel 40:6 Ezekiel 47:3 : Ezekiel 40:3 Ezekiel 47:6 : Ezekiel 2:1 Ezekiel 47:6 : Ezekiel 8:6 Ezekiel 47:7 : Ezekiel 47:12; Rev 22:2 Ezekiel 47:8 : Deut 1:1 Ezekiel 47:8 : Deut 3:17; 4:49; Josh 3:16 Ezekiel 47:10 : 1 Sam 23:29 Ezekiel 47:10 : Isa 15:8 Ezekiel 47:10 : Josh 15:12 Ezekiel 47:12 : Ezekiel 47:7 Ezekiel 47:12 : Gen 2:9 Ezekiel 47:12 : Psalm 1:3; Jer 17:8 Ezekiel 47:12 : Rev 22:2 Ezekiel 47:13 : Ezekiel 45:8; Ezekiel 48:1-7, 23-28 Ezekiel 47:13 : Ezekiel 48:4, 5; Josh 17:14-18 Ezekiel 47:14 : Ezekiel 20:5 Ezekiel 47:14 : Gen 12:7 Ezekiel 47:14 : Ezekiel 48:29
21(A) "So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22(B) You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and(C) for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you.(D) They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD.
Cross references:Ezekiel 47:21 : Ezekiel 47:13 Ezekiel 47:22 : Ezekiel 45:1; 48:29 Ezekiel 47:22 : Isa 14:1; Eph 3:6 Ezekiel 47:22 : Exodus 12:19, 48, 49; Rom 10:12; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11
Second Reading: Rom. 9: 19-33
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For(A) who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man,(B) to answer back to God?(C) Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21(D) Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump(E) one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience(F) vessels of wrath(G) prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known(H) the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he(I) has prepared beforehand for glory— 24even us whom he(J) has called,(K) not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25As indeed he says in Hosea,
(L) "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,'
and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" 26(M) "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,'
there they will be called(N) 'sons of the living God.'"
27And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:(O) "Though the number of the sons of Israel[a] be as the sand of the sea,(P) only a remnant of them will be saved, 28for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." 29And as Isaiah predicted,
(Q) (R) "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
(S) we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah."
Israel’s Unbelief
30What shall we say, then?(T) That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is,(U) a righteousness that is by faith; 31but that Israel(V) who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness[b](W) did not succeed in reaching that law. 32Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the(X) stumbling stone, 33as it is written,
(Y) "Behold, I am laying in Zion(Z) a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
(AA) and whoever believes in him will not be(AB) put to shame."
Footnotes:Romans 9:27 Or children of Israel Romans 9:31 Greek a law of righteousness
Cross references:Romans 9:19 : 2 Chr 20:6; Job 9:12; Dan 4:35 Romans 9:20 : Job 33:13 Romans 9:20 : Isa 29:16; 45:9 Romans 9:21 : Isa 64:8; Jer 18:6 Romans 9:21 : 2 Tim 2:20 Romans 9:22 : Romans 9:21, 23; Acts 9:15 Romans 9:22 : Prov 16:4; 1 Pet 2:8 Romans 9:23 : Eph 3:16; Romans 2:4 Romans 9:23 : Romans 8:29 Romans 9:24 : Romans 8:28 Romans 9:24 : Romans 3:29 Romans 9:25 : Hos 2:23; 1 Pet 2:10 Romans 9:26 : Hos 1:10 Romans 9:26 : Romans 8:14; Matt 16:16 Romans 9:27 : Isa 10:22, 23; Hos 1:10 Romans 9:27 : Romans 11:5 Romans 9:29 : Isa 1:9 Romans 9:29 : James 5:4 Romans 9:29 : Deut 29:23; Isa 13:19; Jer 49:18; 50:40; Amos 4:11 Romans 9:30 : Romans 10:20 Romans 9:30 : Romans 1:17; 3:21, 22; 10:6; Gal 2:16; 3:24; Phil 3:9; Heb 11:7 Romans 9:31 : Romans 10:2, 3; 11:7 Romans 9:31 : Gal 5:4 Romans 9:32 : 1 Pet 2:8 Romans 9:33 : 1 Pet 2:6, 7; Isa 28:16; Psalm 118:22 Romans 9:33 : Isa 8:14 Romans 9:33 : Romans 10:11 Romans 9:33 : Isa 49:23; Joel 2:26, 27
Thursday Father Reading
"'You have prepared a table for me before the face of those who trouble me.' Who are these who trouble me? The temptations of the enemy, agitations, lusts, and the honors of the world. But at the Table of the Ruler tribulations become consolations." [St. Chrysostom. Commentary on Psalm 23." 5th 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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