Sunday June 30 is the sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Bible study and Sunday School begin at 9. Worship is at 10:30. We will be following the liturgy of Divine Service Setting Three beginning on page 184 in the LSB hymnal. We will include a little catechetical work, reviewing the small catechism’s summary of confession and absolution as found on page 326. Hymns chosen for the day are #553 O Christ, Our Hope, Our Hearts’ Desire; #552 O Christ Who Shared Our Mortal Life verses 1, 5, 6, 4; #616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me; and #548 Thanks to Thee, O Christ, Victorious
Scripture texts assigned in the three-year lectionary are Psalm 30:3-12; Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15; and Mark 5:21-43.
Psalm 30 is a psalm of David, sung at the dedication of the temple. As the LSB study Bible footnotes explain, the temple was actually not built until some years later by David’s son, Solomon. Instead, Psalm 30 commemorates the land David bought and the temporary altar he built to make a sacrifice to God in thanksgiving for God’s mercy. David had been guilty of pride. He had assumed his protection and comfort depended on the number of soldiers he commanded, so regularly he did a head count. God was displeased about this trust in worldly things, so sent a plague that killed 70,000 of David’s men. David was led to realize his real defense and source of comfort is God. So David writes a psalm thanking God for correcting him, and showing him favor by not destroying him. David’s arrogance led to humiliation. God’s mercy led to restoration. David’s sorrow turned into rejoicing. David’s words would turn us all to see God as our merciful deliverer from physical and spiritual danger. We are encouraged to cry to God in our distress. He hears you, and He will help you.
The Old Testament lesson is from the book of Lamentations, a series of complaints or cries of grief expressed by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah suffered a great deal during his ministry. His calls for repentance, urging the people of Judah to return to God, were widely rejected. False prophets spoke an opposite and rosier message. Leadership sought to kill him in order to silence him. Of course, scripture and history show that his message was correct. In Sunday reading from Chapter 3, Jeremiah reminds himself and the people that God’s love and mercy is unchanging. Challenges and suffering may come into your life in this sin-broken world, but be assured, God is still caring for you. In His compassion He will watch over you and restore you. Of course, the best example of His mercy is that He does not hold your sin against you, but instead had His Son Jesus pay for that sin by dying for you. Let us continue to hope and trust in Him. He is the way to eternal life.
For the epistle lesson we continue reading through St. Paul’s second available letter to the congregation in Corinth. Chapter 8 is part of Paul’s instruction on stewardship. A famine was taking place in Jerusalem. Congregations of Christians from all around the Mediterranean were moved by compassion to take up a financial collection to send to give some aid. The Corinthians, living in relatively wealthy setting, had begun a collection but soon lost interest. Paul urges them to remain compassionate and finish the charity work they had begun. He mentions Jesus as the prefect example of charity, giving all He had, even His life, in order that you and I, poor sinful beggars, could enjoy the benefits and treasures of heaven already begun. Pray that the Spirit would give you the eyesight of Jesus that you see the needs of others, and be a wise and compassionate steward of the gifts given you.
The Gospel lesson from Mark 5 recounts two miracle stories, we might say one inside the other. Jesus heals a woman who had been bleeding for many years. He also raised a young girl who had died, back to life. Miracle stories are difficult to apply. Jesus did not give physical healing to everyone He encountered. Why these two? We don’t know. There were no noticeable differences from others in the crowd. There is mystery here that gets us in trouble if we try to explain too much. We do not know why some are healed and others are not. We can only trust that God will do His will and what He sees as best for us. What we can say with confidence is that miracles done by Jesus give visible reinforcement to the message that He is preaching. He should be listened to. He has brought the reign of God into our sick and weakened world. Jesus has begun reversing the damage done to us and to nature by our Fall into sin. Full healing and restoration are on the way. Jesus, true God, is faithful and He will accomplish it.
COLLECT: Heavenly Father, during His earthly ministry Your Son, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. By the healing medicine of Your Word and Your Sacraments continue to pour into our hearts such faith and love toward You that we may live eternally; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about Sunday’s texts. God bless you. Pastor Boster
