Brothers and sisters, grace and peace to you in the name of our redeemer Jesus. We continue in the season of Lent, a time to recall the perfect life and death of Jesus who gave His life as a sacrifice to pay for your forgiveness and entry into heaven. I encourage you to set aside time to read the Bible and to receive the Lord’s Supper. In these things God delivers forgiveness. You are also invited to attend one of the remaining Wednesday midweek services beginning at 6:30.
Please make plans to attend the Maundy Thursday Service, April 2. We are planning for two serves on Good Friday, April 3, at noon and 6:30. Easter schedule will be posted next week.
Plans for the May 2 German Sausage Dinner are under way.
Sunday, March 15 is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. We will follow a slightly modified version of the liturgy of Divine Service Four beginning on page 203 in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB hymnal).
The hymns chosen for the day are #421 Jesus Grant that Balm and Healing; #422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image; #690 Hope of the World; #637 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord; and #849 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness.
Scripture texts we will be reading are Psalm 142:1-7; Isaiah 42:14-21; Ephesians 5:8-14; and John 9:1-41. Themes that connect the readings are being blind as a metaphor to being unaware of God’s will, and similarly, being brought from darkness into light.
In the Old Testament Lesson, God speaks through the prophet, comparing two servants. The first is the Messiah, the coming Lord’s Servant. He will bring restoration to the earth and will give new sight to the blind. As a metaphor, this indicates the Servant will bring faith in God to an unbelieving world. The second servant refers to Israel who has been disobedient. The people act deaf and blind, as though they are oblivious to God’s will for them.
In the epistle lesson, a portion of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (western Turkey), he reminds us that Jesus has produced a change in us. Formerly we walked int the darkness of sin. Jesus (the Light of the world) has brought us into the light of the gospel. So, we should be discerning, avoiding the works of darkness associated with sin, and instead produce fruits of repentance as acts of gratitude for the gospel and Jesus sacrificial death. Remember Jesus sees all we do. Nothing is hidden from Him. So we confess our sin, ask for forgiveness, and strive to do the good works we were created and redeemed to do.
In the gospel lesson, Jesus restores the sight of a man born blind. As the story develops, it emphasizes spiritual blindness is worse the physical blindness. By faith, the blind man can see who Jesus is. His sight is restored. On the other hand, the religious leaders whose eyes function quite well, see Jesus and His miracles, but in their spiritual blindness refuse to acknowledge Him as their Lord and Savior. In an ironic twist the blind man becomes a witness of the gospel to the sighted religious leaders. We are each encouraged to open our eyes and ears to see, hear, and receive the gospel as its promises are presented to us in absolution and the sacraments.
COLLECT: Almighty God our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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 Scripture lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
