Christ For You

Created to Be Redeemed

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Invocabit

Introit: Ps. 91:1-2, 9-10, 13; antiphon: Ps. 91: 15-16

Gradual: Ps. 91:11-12

Old Testament: Gen. 3:1-21

      or 1 Sam. 17:40-51

Psalm 32 (antiphon: v. 7)

      or Psalm 118:1-13 (antiphon: v. 5)

Epistle: 2 Cor. 6:1-10

      or Heb. 4:14-16

Tract: Ps. 91:1, 4a, 15a, 16

Gospel: Matt. 4:1-11

Jesus Does Battle in Our Place\rIn the Garden, man exalts himself to be a god in place of God (Gen. 3:1-21). He succumbs to the temptation of the devil, and eating of the forbidden fruit, he receives death. But in the sin-cursed wilderness, God humbles Himself to become man in place of man (Mt. 4:1-11). He does not eat but fasts and bears the onslaughts of the devil for us that we may be restored to life. Jesus stands as David in our place to do battle against the Goliath, Satan (1 Samuel 17:40-51). Though outwardly Jesus appears weak, yet He comes in the name of the Lord of hosts. He draws from the five smooth stones of the books of Moses and slings the Word of God. The stone sinks into the forehead, and the enemy falls. In Christ we are victorious over the devil. Let us therefore not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1-10), but seeing that we have a great High Priest, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain help in time of need (Heb 4:14-16).

Introit: Ps. 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: Ps. 31:2b-3

Gradual: Ps. 77:14-15

Old Testament: 1 Sam. 16:1-13

      or Is. 35:3-7

Psalm 89:18-29 (antiphon: 20)

      or Psalm 146 (antiphon: v. 2)

Epistle: 1 Cor. 13:1-13

Tract: Ps. 100:1-3

Gospel: Luke 18:31-43

Faith Alone

The seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31-43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him "Son of David." Indeed, Jesus is the Lord's anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1-13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1-13). Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3-7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life.

Introit: Ps. 44:1-2, 7-8; antiphon: Ps. 44:23, 25a, 26a

Gradual: Ps. 83:18, 13

Old Testament: Is. 55:10-13

Psalm 84 (antiphon: v. 4)

Epistle: 2 Cor. 11:19-12:9

      or Heb. 4:9-13

Tract: Ps. 60:1-2, 5

Gospel: Luke 8:4-15

Scripture Alone

The Sower sows the seed of His Word (Luke 8:4-15). This Word is living and powerful (Heb. 4:9-13) to conceive new life in those who hear it. But the planting of Christ is attacked by the devil, the world, and the flesh. Satan snatches the Word away from hard hearts. The riches and pleasures of this life choke off faith. Shallow and emotional belief withers in time of temptation and trouble. But see how Christ bears this attack for us! Christ's cross was planted in the hard and rocky soil of Golgotha. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Satan and His demons hellishly hounded and devoured Him. Yet, through His dying and rising again, He destroyed these enemies of ours. Jesus is Himself the Seed which fell to the ground and died in order that it might sprout forth to new life and produce much grain. In Him, the weak are strong (2 Cor. 11:19-12:9). He is the Word of the Father which does not return void (Is. 55:10-13) but yields a harvest hundredfold.

Introit: Ps. 18:1-2a, 27, 32, 49; antiphon: Ps. 18:5-6a

Gradual: Ps. 9:9-10, 18-19a

Old Testament: Ex. 17:1-7

Psalm 95:1-9 (antiphon: v. 6)

Epistle: 1 Cor. 9:24-10:5

Tract: Ps. 130:1-4

Gospel: Matt. 20:1-16

Grace Alone

The people of Israel contended with the Lord in the wilderness (Ex. 17:1-7). They were dissatisfied with His provision. In the same way, the first laborers in the vineyard complained against the landowner for the wage he provided them (Matt. 20:1-16). They charged him with being unfair, but in reality he was being generous. For the Lord does not wish to deal with us on the basis of what we deserve but on the basis of His abounding grace in Christ. The first-those who rely on their own merits-will be last. "For they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Cor. 10:5). But the last, those who rely on Christ, will be first. For Christ is the Rock (1 Cor. 9:24-10:5). He is the One who was struck and from whose side blood and water flowed that we may be cleansed of our sin.

Introit: Ps. 84:1-2a, 4, 10-11; antiphon: Ps. 77:18

Gradual: Ps. 45:2a, 110:1

Old Testament: Ex. 34:29-35

      or Ex. 3:1-14

Psalm 2 (antiphon: v. 7)

Epistle: 2 Peter 1:16-21

ProperVerse: Ps. 96:2-3

Gospel: Matt. 17:1-9

Jesus Is Transfigured and Manifests His Glory

The Lord appeared to Moses in the light of the burning bush (Ex. 3:1-14). Later Moses' face would shine with the light of God's glory when he came down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29-35). At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with the One who is the Light of Light Himself (Matt. 17:1-9). Jesus' glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature. By this epiphany, our Lord confirmed the prophetic word (2 Pet. 1:16-21), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He manifested His majesty as the eternal Son of the Father, and He wonderfully foreshowed our adoption as sons (Collect). We who have been baptized into Christ's body are given a glimpse of the glory that we will share with Him in the resurrection on the Last Day.

Introit: Ps. 97:1, 10-12; antiphon: Ps. 97:6,9

Gradual: Ps. 102:15-16

Old Testament: 2 Kings 5:1-15a

Psalm 110:1-4 (antiphon: v. 2a)

Epistle: Rom. 1:8-17

      or Rom. 12:16-21

ProperVerse: Ps. 97:1

Gospel: Matt. 8:1-13

Jesus Came for Gentiles, Too

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile (Rom. 1:8-17). Even in the Old Testament, the Gentiles were beneficiaries of God's saving power. Though unimpressed at first with the Word of God, a Syrian commander is persuaded to receive that Word, and in the water he is cleansed and brought to faith in the God of Israel (2 Kings 5:1-15a). Evil is overcome by good (Rom 12:16-21). So also in the New Testament, a Roman centurion demonstrates great and humble faith in the Lord (Matt. 8:1-13). All he needs is the Word of Christ, for he trusts that Jesus' Word of healing has authority to accomplish what it says. And indeed it does. The centurion's faith is praised by our Lord above that of any Israelite. For the last shall be first, and the first last. Apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation-not even for a Jew-but only weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Introit: Ps. 66:1-5, 20; antiphon: Ps. 66:4, 92:1

Gradual: Ps. 107:20-21

Old Testament: Ex. 33:12-23

      or Amos 9:11-15

Psalm 67 (antiphon: v. 1)

      or Psalm 111 (antiphon: v. 9)

Epistle: Eph. 5:22-33

      or Rom. 12:6-16

ProperVerse: Ps. 148:2

Gospel: John 2:1-11

Jesus' First Miracle Reveals God's Glory

The coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of creation. The sign of this restoration is that "the mountains shall drip sweet wine" (Amos 9:11-15). When the elements of a fallen creation fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very best wine (John 2:1-11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory. The "back" of God (Ex. 33:12-23) is revealed to those who believe. The hour will come when Jesus will again manifest His glory by taking creation's curse into His own body to release us from its power. The Bridegroom will give His life for the Bride (Eph. 5:22-32), and from His side will flow water and blood, the holy sacraments by which she is cleansed and made one with Him. Through this sacrificial love of Christ we are enabled to "love one another with brotherly affection . . ." and to "outdo one another in showing honor" (Rom. 12:6-16).

Introit: Ps. 89:1, 26-28; antiphon: Liturgical text, Ps. 89:20

Gradual: Ps. 72:18-19

Old Testament: Joshua 3:1-3, 7-8, 13-17

      or Is. 42:1-7

Psalm 85 (antiphon: v. 9)

Epistle: 1 Cor. 1:26-31

ProperVerse: Ps. 143:10

Gospel: Matt. 3:13-17

In His Baptism, Jesus Takes His Place with Sinners

Our Lord Jesus is baptized "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:13-17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, Jesus trades places with us. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Our glory, therefore, is in "Christ Jesus, who became to us . . . righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:26-31). Jesus is the "chosen" One sent from the Father to release us from the prison house of sin and death (Is. 42:1-7). Baptized into Christ, we also become the chosen ones, beloved of the Father. We cross the Jordan with Jesus (Joshua 3) through death into the promised land of new life with God.