The gospel lesson for Sunday October 16 includes two interconnected themes: prayer and faith. We pray to God because He commands and graciously invites us to, and also because we believe He is alive, He hears us, He is willing and able to help us, and He graciously cares for us and wants the best for us. God is powerful but also merciful. Praying is evidence that we believe that. Those who trust in God continue to pray to Him.
The Scripture texts for Sunday 16th are Psalm 121; Genesis 32:22-30; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8.
Hymns from the LSB hymnal chosen for the day are #869 With the Lord Begin Your Task; #734 I Trust, O Lord, Your Holy Name; #761 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me, and for those present for communion, we will sing #623 Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray during the distribution.
Psalm 121 is categorized as a “song of ascents”, a kind of hymn people would have sung as they approached Jerusalem and the temple to worship there. The singers trust God’s promise that He will protect and provide for them. We are all making a journey toward meeting God in heaven. The psalm reminds us that God is our faithful Helper and Keeper. It is beneficial to continue looking toward Him.
The old Testament reading from Genesis 32 recounts that the Hebrew patriarch Jacob was about to meet his estranged brother Esau. Years earlier Jacob had tricked Esau out of his inheritance, and then fled the country afraid that Esau might kill him in anger/revenge. Before contact is made, Jacob sends gifts and his family and servants ahead so that Esau would meet them first and perhaps be mollified. Jacob staying behind, intends to spend the night alone, but instead is challenged to wrestle a divine stranger until morning. From the conversation that follows, it is likely this messenger is the pre-incarnate Son of God. In any case, the wrestling match is emblematic of Jacob’s rebellious nature and his struggle to trust God. Jacob is given a new name, Israel, and the moment becomes a turning point in his response to God. God chooses the tribes/sons of Israel to be His people amidst a pagan world.
In the epistle lesson, portions of 2 Timothy 3 and 4, St. Paul encourages his young coworker Timothy to be faithful as he serves in the role of pastor. All of us should pay attention to his admonition to make use of the Scriptures because they God-breathed, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. The Scriptures make us wise for salvation for they point us to Jesus. So we should continue in what we learned to believe at church. We should read the Scriptures regularly so that we can be alert to the lies and distortions promoted by false teachers, and so that we can be comforted and assured by the revelation of God’s grace through Jesus.
At the end of Chapter 17 of Luke’s gospel account, Jesus teaches about the Last Day and the return of the Son of Man to gather together God’s people into heaven. People are urged to remain faithful. In Luke Chapter 18:1-8, Jesus reinforces this instruction regarding faithfulness by telling a parable about prayer. Constant prayer is evidence of faith, trusting in a saving God.
COLLECT: O Lord, Almighty and everlasting God, You have commanded us to pray, and promised to hear us. Mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may direct and govern our hearts in all things so that we may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
If you cannot attend Sunday’s service, we intend to stream it on Facebook Live beginning at 10:30. You are also encouraged to join
together for Bible study, beginning at 9. Please also alert me to any prayer requests or questions about the service. The Lord be with you. Pastor Boster
