Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

Acts 9:26-43

Color: White

Old Testament: Joshua 3:1–3, 7–8, 13–17
Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1–7
Psalm: Psalm 85; antiphon: v. 9
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:26–31
Gospel: Matthew 3:13–17
Introit: Psalm 89:1, 26–28; antiphon: Liturgical Text; Psalm 89:20
Gradual: Psalm 72:18–19
Verse: Psalm 143:10

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.

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Exodus 17

Revelation 6:12-7:12 

Questions and Answers about Church Polity and other topics

Color: White

Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1–6
Psalm: Psalm 24; antiphon: v. 7
Epistle: Ephesians 3:1–12
Gospel: Matthew 2:1–12
Introit: Psalm 72:1–2, 10–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text
Gradual: Isaiah 60:6b, 1
Verse: Matthew 2:2b

The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son
 
The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Exodus 16

Color: White

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1–16
Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1–5
Psalm: Psalm 89:1–8; antiphon: v. 8
Epistle: Galatians 4:1–7
Gospel: Luke 2:33–40
Gospel: Luke 2:22–40
Introit: Psalm 93:1, 3–4; antiphon: vv. 5, 2
Gradual: Psalm 45:2a, 1b
Verse: Psalm 93:1

The Seed of David Comes to His Temple
 
A Rod has come forth from the stem of Jesse (Is. 11:1–5)—the Seed of David whose kingdom shall be established forever (2 Sam. 7:1–16). In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son Jesus to redeem us from the judgment of the Law (Gal. 4:1–7). Now He is presented in the temple in fulfillment of the Law and revealed to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:22–40). Christ has enlightened us in baptism, giving us to be adopted as sons of God and heirs of eternal life. Receiving the Holy Sacrament of His body and blood, we are prepared to depart this world in peace, for our eyes have seen the salvation of God in Him.

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White

Old Testament: Exodus 40:17–21, 34–38
Psalm: Psalm 2; antiphon: v. 7
Epistle: Titus 3:4–7
Gospel: John 1:1–18
Gospel: John 1:1–14
Introit: Psalm 98:1–4; antiphon: Isaiah 9:6
Gradual: Psalm 118:26a, 27a, 23
Verse: Liturgical Text

The Living and Life-Giving Word of God Dwells among Us in the Flesh
 
In the beginning God created all things through His Word, His Son. But man fell into sin, and with man all creation was cursed. Therefore, God spoke His Word again, this time into the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle of our human nature (Ex. 40:17–21, 34–38). “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1–14). The Son of God took on our flesh and blood and died on the cross in order that we might receive the right to become the children of God through faith. Baptized into Christ’s body, we are made partakers of a new Genesis, “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4–7). In Christ, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man has truly appeared.

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White

Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2–7
Psalm: Psalm 96; antiphon: v. 2
Epistle: Titus 2:11–14
Gospel: Luke 2:1–14
Gospel: Luke 2:1–20
Introit: Psalm 2:1–2, 4–6; antiphon: Liturgical Text
Gradual: Psalm 98:3b–4a, 2
Verse: Psalm 95:1a, 6b

The Light of Christ Shines Forth in the Darkness
 
Heaven and earth rejoice on this night because the glory of the Triune God is manifested in the human birth of “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). In Him, the Father’s grace, mercy and peace rest upon the world. The silence of death is broken by this “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). And all we who have gone astray like lost and wandering sheep, who have “walked in the darkness” of doubt and fear and sinful unbelief, behold “a great light” in the nativity of Christ (Is. 9:2). In Him “the grace of God has appeared” (Titus 2:11). For this Child of Mary who is born for us, this dear Son of God who is given to us, will bear the burden of our sin and death in His own body on the cross. He thereby establishes a government of peace, “with justice and with righteousness,” which shall have no end; not by any work of man, but “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Is. 9:7).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship