Month: July 2022

EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 13

July 31, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Our world enjoys labeling people. Whether by skin color, gender, economic status, ethnic background, political affiliation, age, or whatever else it may be, labels are popular. This sort of labeling divides people into categories and causes much strife and argument. There was labeling going on in Colossae as well: Greek, Jew, circumcised, uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free. But in Colossians, Paul gives us a label that we share and a label that leads not to divisive evil but to amazing generosity and love. Paul writes, “You have been raised with Christ.” Imagine that. He doesn’t say that you will one day in the future be raised with Christ (although that is also true), he says, “You have been raised with Christ.” That is the label we are marked with in Holy Baptism. This comes to us by grace and calls forth from us a life abundant with generosity.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–26
(All is vanity.)

EPISTLE READING: Colossians 3:1–11
(You have been raised with Christ.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 12:13-21 (Be on guard against covetousness.)

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 12

July 24, 2022

AS WE GATHER
In the long, difficult path of persevering in faith, sometimes it can seem as if God is distant from our everyday problems, not responding to our prayers. This is a common experience faced by the people of God. Today’s Readings work together to encourage us as we travel the arduous path of following Jesus. Abraham pleads with God on behalf of mercy for the righteous people in the city of Sodom. Will God spare the city for 50 righteous people? 45? 30? 20? 10? The Lord God hears Moses’ pleas and agrees that He will spare the city if even 10 righteous people dwell there. Lot and his family were delivered from Sodom. Moses asked, he sought, he knocked. And God answered. Jesus encourages us to ask, to seek, to knock. Jesus promises that those who ask, receive; those who seek, find; and to those who knock a door will be opened. This doesn’t mean that the answers will always be what we want or that bad things will not happen to us. It does mean that no matter the circumstance, God is there with mercy. Rooted and built up in Jesus, and established in this faith, we are led by God to abound in thanksgiving and to continue to walk in Jesus no matter the circumstances of life.

Bible Readings

FIRST READING: Genesis 18: 20–33
(Abraham pleads to God, and He relents.)

EPISTLE READING: Colossians 2:6–15
(Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to persevere in Christ.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 11:1–13
(Jesus teaches about prayer.)

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 11

July 17, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Our only hope is Jesus! He is the eternal Word of God who in love entered our world to bring life and salvation to all people. Jesus proclaimed Himself Lord and Christ and then commissioned His apostles and disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness in His name to all nations. In churches, in homes, in crowded marketplaces, and along road and pathways, the Gospel has been proclaimed, and still is proclaimed, to save sinners. We’ve gathered to hear Jesus speak. The Spirit of God is working to draw us to our Savior. Lord, give us grace always to choose “the good portion.”

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 18:1–10a
(Abraham offers hospitality to his visitors.)

EPISTLE READING: Colossians 1:21–29 (To Jew and Gentile, Paul holds out only one hope for salvation: “We proclaim Christ!”)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 10:38–42 (Jesus at the home of Martha and Mary)

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 10

July 10, 2022

AS WE GATHER
A Good Samaritan. This phrase has become a cliché in our culture today that some use without much thought, but how many know the account from which this phrase comes? Today, we hear Jesus tell a parable involving the Good Samaritan in the Holy Gospel. Consider just who this “Good Samaritan” is. Perhaps the One who embodies this Good Samaritan best is our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Jesus comes to us, beaten up by sin and the devil, as good as dead. Yet Jesus touches us with His Word and shelters us in His Church. Taking His love and service even further, Jesus lays down His life for us in His sacrificial death. Having been loved this way, we now “go and do likewise.”

Bible Readings

FIRST READING: Leviticus 19:9–18
(“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”)

EPISTLE READING: Colossians 1:1–14 (Christ has delivered us from darkness.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 10:25–37 (The Good Samaritan)