Brothers and sisters, peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has blessed us with a stretch of beautiful weather. It feels good to be outside. As we continue in the season of Lent, I encourage you to set aside time to be in worship to hear God’s promises and receive the forgiveness He delivers through the absolution and the Lord’s Supper.
If you like Cantata music, then plan to attend a performance of the Houston Lutheran Chorale at Immanuel Lutheran Church (306 E 15th Street in the Heights) on Sunday March 17 beginning at 4 pm. Note: the parking lot of Immanuel is entered from Arlington Street.
Sunday, February 25th is the Second Sunday in Lent. We will continue to follow a modified version of the liturgy of Divine Service One beginning on page 151 in the LSB hymnal. For example, during Lent we are omitting ‘Alleluias”, substitute Hymn 422 for the hymn of praise, and add a Lenten response before the reading of the Gospel lesson..
Hymns chosen for the day are #704 Renew Me O Eternal Light; HYMN #422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image; #698 May We Thy Precepts Lord Fulfill; #637 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord; and #707 Oh That the Lord Would Guide My Ways.
Scripture readings for the day are Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 5:1-11; and Mark 8:27-38.
Psalm 22 is a psalm of David, but the words also point ahead to the suffering and death of Jesus. It is the cry of anguish of someone burdened by sin. God seems quite distant. Verse 23-31 express the joy of someone realizing that God has not abandoned them. He sees the suffering of His people and promises to deliver them. Jesus was sent to deliver us from sin and the control of the devil. By His suffering and death, He ultimately saves us from suffering and death. The afflicted will be satisfied. In thanksgiving for God’s care, we should praise Him and serve Him by serving our neighbor who needs to hear the relief God gives.
In the Old Testament reading from Genesis 17, God repeats promises to Abraham and his wife Sarah, including they will have many descendants. God’s everlasting covenant is marked by giving Abraham and Sarah their new names, and the circumcision of all the male members of their clan. Jesus received the same sign of circumcision. He is the fulfillment and active agent of God’s covenant. Abraham believed God’s promise. Many nations become his descendants of faith through the gospel attached to baptism and teaching and proclamation. Buried with Christ in baptism, God circumcises us with a circumcision made without hands. That is, we are no longer people of the flesh but people of the Spirit. All your fleshly sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus. Connected to Jesus you can stand before God, forgiven.
The Epistle reading is from the fifth chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. There are two things I would point out in this passage. The first is the process of moving through suffering to hope. Hope in this case is not wishful thinking, but rather confident anticipation. Paul does not describe the source of suffering. It would be accurate to say that all suffering is a result of sin, whether our individual sin, or the sin and brokenness of the world around us. Even Christians suffer. We may suffer even when we are doing good. Always keep in mind, Jesus has brought peace between you and God. Don’t let suffering discourage you or cause you to despair. Trust God. Jesus is evidence of His mercy toward you. The second point I would make follows from the first. Even when we were weak and ungodly, still actively sinning, Jesus died for us. He was not waiting for you to clean up your act, He saved you when you weren’t even aware of Him. If Jesus would save you when you were God’s enemy, how much more will He do for you now that your God’s child. Jesus is the key. He is the one who does everything to reconcile you to God. Believe in Jesus who suffered and died for you, and you will be saved from God’s wrath on the Day of Judgment.
In the Gospel reading from Mark 8, Peter makes the faithful observation and bold confession that Jesus is the Christ, that is, the Messiah, the One anointed by God to restore His people. Jesus explains how that restoration would take place. He would have to go to Jerusalem where He would be put to death, and three days later be raised from the grave. Hearing Jesus’ explanation, Peter tries to intervene and stop Jesus from continuing His mission. Jesus teaches His disciples that His kingdom is not marked by success and prosperity. Rather His followers live under a cross. To be Jesus’ disciple is not an easy life, but one that requires self-denial, setting aside personal desires, serving others. Those who lose their life for the sake of Jesus and the gospel will actually save it. You might have all the riches and success of the world, but they cannot reconcile you to God. Consider your priorities. Consider your calendar and your checkbook. Where does Jesus stand among the activities and important things in your life? Jesus is urging us to repent, and not put Him in second place to anything.
COLLECT: O, Almighty and gracious God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul,; 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.
Lenten Response: Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about Sunday’s Scripture lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
