September 23, 2007
Vol. 1, no. 14
Beloved in the Lord: Grace and Peace to you in the name of the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Amen.
Pray continually; giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:17-18.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.*
Strange, isn’t it, how prayer can be two seemingly opposite things at the same time. On the one hand it is so simple that, yes, even infants can pray. Words are not required. And yet, in that truth lies another truth, that prayer is sublime, reaching the very Majesty of God in the heavens. This is our prayer life, both simple and sublime, both practiced and free-flowing. And while the language of prayer is simple enough even for infants, it is often completely neglected by adults. As with any language, the prayer language also fades with disuse. It only becomes stronger the more you do it. Prayer, beloved, is a gracious invitation from God. He promises to hear us when we pray. He will not turn us away, but will embrace us. Spend deliberate time in prayer. Make it a priority everyday. Make it a priority to teach your children by your faithful example, to lead your spouse with encouragement. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord be with you,
Pastor Jim
*TLH 454, v. 3
Worship Practices
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: What is the significance of the white robe (the alb)?
A: The white robe I wear under the chasuble is reminiscent of daily dress in the 1st century Roman Empire, the time when Jesus, the Apostles and Fathers of the Church lived and preached. The significance and meaning of the alb is best described by the prayer said when it is put on: Purify me, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that, being made white in the Blood of the Lamb,I may come to eternal joy.
Five Minutes with Herr Luther
Psalm 119:27,129 Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts: so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works. . . . Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
Christ says: "Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God." Here one might ask, What mystery is that? The mysteries of the kingdom of God are such things which lie hid in the kingdom of God; as does Christ with all His graces, whom He has shown to us. He who knows Christ aright, knows what God's kingdom is, and what may be found there. It is called a mystery, because it is secret and hid from human sense and reason where the Holy Ghost does not reveal it; for although many do hear and discern the same, yet, notwithstanding, they never conceive nor understand it. They hear of Christ and speak of Christ, that He has given Himself to death for our sins, but the same is only upon their tongues and in their ears, but not in their hearts, for they neither believe it nor are sensible of it, as St. Paul says: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." Therefore Christ says: "To you it is given to know," that is, the Spirit of God gives it to you, so that you not only hear and see it, but you receive it within your hearts and believe it, therefore it is no mystery or secret to you. But to those who have not faith in their heart, though they hear it, to them it remains a mystery.
Information Copyright © 2007 Robin Fish. All rights reserved.
Church History
+ Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist +
21 September, New Testament
One day Jesus was walking and saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at a tax collection post, and said to him, "Follow Me." Matthew stood up and followed Him, becoming one of His twelve apostles (see Matthew 9:9-13; parallels Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32).
Tax collectors in those days were social outcasts. Devout Jews avoided them because they were usually dishonest (they were expected to make their profits by cheating the people). Nationalistic Jews hated them because they were agents of the Roman government and doubly hated them if (like Matthew) they were Jews, because they had gone over to the enemy, betraying their own people for money.
Throughout the Gospels, we find tax collectors (publicans) mentioned as a standard type of sinful and despised outcast. Matthew brought many of his former associates to meet Jesus, and social outcasts in general were shown that the love of God through His Son extended even to them.
The name "Matthew" means "gift of the Lord." Mark and Luke, in the story of his calling, name him "Levi." Perhaps this was his original name, and he received a new name from Jesus when he became a disciple. Perhaps he was a member of the tribe of Levi. Of Matthew's life after Pentecost, the Scriptures tell us nothing. Later accounts vary: Some report that he was martyred, others that he died a natural death. The Christian community since early times has commemorated him as a martyr.
The four evangelists each have a symbol, Matthew’s is a man with wings. This symbol comes from the vision of Ezekiel, who saw four winged creatures around the throne of God, a man, an ox, a lion and an eagle. Matthew was given the man because his Gospel opens with the genealogy of Christ, making Christ’s humanity certain. He is our God who became a man like us in all ways except sinning.
Next Week’s Readings
XSt. Michael, the Archangel, and All Angels (observed)X
Daniel 10:10–14; 12:1–3
Revelation 12:7–12
Matthew 18:1–11
Psalm 91
Next Week’s Hymns
Not for Tongues of Heaven's Angels LSB 695
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle LSB 454
Water, Blood, and Spirit Crying LSB 597
We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God LSB 941
We Sing for All the Unsung Saints LSB 678
The Lord be with you!
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 908 W. Main Middleville, MI 49333 +269-795-2391+ goodshepherdlcms@gmail.com