Brothers and sisters, I hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas. Unto you a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. By His life and sacrifice, Jesus has set you free from the control of sin and death. He has given us reason to celebrate whatever our situation. But that joyful message can be difficult to appreciate sometimes. Please keep in your prayers those who are hospitalized or in nursing homes, and others going through difficult times that would make celebrating difficult.
Sunday, December 28th is the First Sunday after Christmas. During Sunday’s service we follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 of the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #385 From East to West; #765 God Moves in a Mysterious Way; #389 Let All Together Praise Our God; and #383 A Great and Mighty Wonder.
Scripture lessons assigned to the day are Psalm 111:1-10; Isaiah 63:7-14; Galatians 4:4-7; and Matthew 2:13-23.
The Old Testament lesson is taken from one of the closing chapters of God’s prophecy given through Isaiah. Throughout history God has hated sin, and taken action to judge and remove the sin. As a result of this hatred of rebellion, Isaiah mentions that at times, God reveals Himself as our enemy, fighting against us. The goal is to bring about grief over sin, leading to repentance. But Isaiah also recalls the revelations of God as a loving and compassionate savior. Throughout history God has delivered His people from trouble. He redeems His people, He lifts them up, He sustains them and gives them rest. The message is clear, that our future also depends on this delivering God. Through Christ He considers you and other believers as His children.
In the epistle lesson, Galatians 4 , St. Paul reminds us of God’s plan of salvation. Jesus is not an accident. His delay was planned. He arrived at a time set by God. Jesus came as our substitute, born in human flesh to live under the burden of God’s Law, and fulfilling the requirements for each of us. He redeemed us, giving Himself in exchange for you. And through the word included in baptism He has given you a new status—not a slave to sin, but an adopted child, chosen by Him to receive the benefits of His eternal and heavenly inheritance.
This year the first Sunday after Christmas is on December 28, a date the church traditionally commemorates the “martyrdom of the innocents”, referring to infant boys put to death during a murderous campaign ordered by the Jewish king, Herod. Calling the infants innocent does not mean they had no sin. We are all born with a sinful nature. But innocent is to say defenseless and undeserving of the cruelty and horrors these boys and their families experienced. Herod learned from visiting Magi that a baby had been born who would be King of the Jews. Herod, in a paranoid and evil attempt to preserve his control, ordered that all infant boys in the region were to be put to death. The gospel lesson recounts the events surrounding the infant Jesus and His parents flight to Egypt to escape the danger. From His childhood Jesus faced danger and attempts at derailing God’s plan of salvation. We do not understand why God would allow the children to die. Throughout history God has allowed horrifying things to happen. They are evidence that the path to salvation is often accompanied by affliction. It is quite confusing. But God urges us to trust Him. He assures us His steadfast love revealed in Jesus will overcome every trial and grief.
COLLECT: Almighty, Gracious God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us, and in the incarnation of Your Son even more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; 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 schedules or the Scripture lessons for this Sunday. God bless you. Pastor Boster
