Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

Introit: Ps. 39:4-5, 7-8; antiphon: Isaiah 35:10
Gradual: Ps. 45:14-15
Old Testament: Is. 65:17-25
Psalm 149 (antiphon: v. 2)
Epistle: 1 Thess. 5:1-11 
ProperVerse: Rev. 21:2
Gospel: Matt. 25:1-13

By Faith We Are Prepared for Christ's Return
"The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:1-11). The arrival of the bridegroom will be sudden and unexpected. Therefore you are to be watchful and ready like the five wise virgins. "For you know neither the day nor the hour" when the Son of Man is to return. (Matt. 25:1-13). The lamps are the Word of Christ. The oil in the lamps is the Holy Spirit, who works through the Word to create and sustain the flame of faith in Christ. The foolish are those who do not give proper attention to the working of the Holy Spirit in baptism, preaching, and the supper, and so their faith does not endure. The wise, however, are those who diligently attend to these gifts of the Spirit, and who therefore have an abundance of oil. The flame of faith endures to the end. By God's grace they are received into the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth created by the Lord for the joy of His people (Is. 65:17-25).

Final key passages of Jeremiah 

Phil. 4:6-20

Mark 1:1-13

Introit: Ps. 95:1-4; antiphon: Ps. 95:6-7a
Gradual: Ps. 116:8, 1
Old Testament: Is. 51:9-16
Psalm 126 (antiphon: v. 1)
Epistle: Col. 1:9-14
ProperVerse: Ps. 36:9
Gospel: Matt. 9:18-26

The Strength of the Lord Is Our Salvation from Sin, Death, and Darkness
A shroud of darkness engulfs us.  Sin, death, and disease threaten to sever us from life's fullest measure. Without new life in Christ Jesus, there would be no light to dissipate, dispel, or curb grief and sadness.  But Jesus has qualified us "to share in the inheritance of the saints of light" delivering us from the dark domain (Col. 1:9-14).  "I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand,ÉYou are my people" (Is. 51:9-16).  The presence of Christ, in word, wine, bread, and water, confronts our sinful nature with forgiveness.  In the sacraments, God claims us to be His very own children, creating, and sustaining our faith.  So in Christ, we humbly receive the words, "your faith has made you well" (Matt. 9:18-26).  On the last day God will surely awaken us also from slumber in resurrection glory.

More key passages 

The sexual revolution and the church 

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Introit: Ps. 85:1, 7, 9, 11; antiphon: Jer. 29:11a, 12
Gradual: Ps. 44:7-8
Old Testament: Prov. 8:11-22
Psalm 111 (antiphon: v. 10a)
Epistle: Phil. 3:17-21
ProperVerse: Ps. 115:11
Gospel: Matt. 22:15-22

Render to God the things of God
When confronted with the civic duty of paying taxes, our Lord Jesus, Wisdom incarnate, walked "in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice" (Prov. 8:20) and discerned that wisdom "is better than jewels" and "better than gold, even fine gold" (Prov. 8:11, 19). When we set our minds on earthly things, such as wealth and passing glory, our "end is destruction" (Phil. 3:19). However, our humble and prudent Lord has rendered "to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21), namely, perfect fear, love, and trust, as well as the complete sacrifice for our sin. In so doing, He also rendered to Caesar the things of honor and justice, submitting to the law of the land that put Him on the cross. The true "riches and honor are with [Him]," because "enduring wealth and righteousness" (Prov. 8:18) are found in our heavenly citizenship from which "we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." He "will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself" (Phil. 3:20-21).

More key passages in Jeremiah