Beginning the Year of Luke

The Sunday of September 8th will begin the Year of Luke. We will get to start back at the beginning with the Sunday of Creation. I have previously just been using Proper # to identify each week. But have realized that it may make more sense to offer a more systematic titling to these Sundays, such as the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost or 5th Sunday after Creation.

In the Year of Luke, I would like to point out that the Epistle Lessons will take us through the Book of 2 Corinthians first then during Epiphany spend some time in Acts so that Lent will be devoted to Philippians and Easter to 1 Peter. When we get to the Time of the Church (after Trinity Sunday) we will go through the Book of James.

There have been many interesting things during the Year of Mark and the Year of Matthew, which we have already went through. The Year of Luke will have some nice changes of pace. One of the obvious things is spending time focused on the Nativity of John the Baptist and Nativity of Jesus Christ. Also the Joy of having some replacements for the Psalm of the Day with different texts.

This year I am going to offer more Collects and the Catechism with the Psalm instead of additional devotional material. This will act more as a culmination to the Theme for each Lord's Day. In addition, if I remember I will add in Special feast texts with a brief discussion of them all.

Thank you very much for reading these devotionals of the Four Year Lectionary. If you would like to have more information please contact me, through the comment section.

Proper 17 (Ps) September 1st

Psalm 57:1-11
¹  Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, 

for in you my soul takes refuge; 

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, 

till the storms of destruction pass by. 

²  I cry out to God Most High, 

to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 

³  He will send from heaven and save me; 

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah 

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 

⁴  My soul is in the midst of lions; 

I lie down amid fiery beasts— 

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, 

whose tongues are sharp swords. 

⁵  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! 

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

⁶  They set a net for my steps; 

my soul was bowed down. 

They dug a pit in my way, 

but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 

⁷  My heart is steadfast, O God, 

my heart is steadfast! 

I will sing and make melody! 

⁸  Awake, my glory! 

Awake, O harp and lyre! 

I will awake the dawn! 

⁹  I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; 

I will sing praises to you among the nations. 

¹⁰  For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the clouds. 

¹¹  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! 

Let your glory be over all the earth!

Stand ready to face down the threats of this world. They will surround you on all sides. Some of these threats do come from other people. But the most fierce threats come from spiritual forces, which surround us on all sides. Even the early church ran into lions and beasts as they were thrown into the Colosseum. 

The Lord is our refuge and strength. He is the one who protects us from our enemies. He is the one who delivers us even from the jaws of death in death. It is God who takes us from death to life. We are dead in our sins and raised to new life in Baptism (or remembrance of said Baptism). God likewise has conquered death and even though we die yet shall we live. May the Glory of God fill the earth, and bring perfection back to your creation.

Let us Pray

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

Proper 17 (NTA)

Revelation 19:6-10

⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, 

“Hallelujah! 

For the Lord our God 

the Almighty reigns. 

⁷  Let us rejoice and exult 

and give him the glory, 

for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 

and his Bride has made herself ready; 

⁸  it was granted her to clothe herself 

with fine linen, bright and pure”— 

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 

⁹ And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” ¹⁰ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

These are the ones who have been clothed like Joshua. They have had their filthy garments removed and been clothed with fine linen. The multitude sings to the Lord in celebration because the wedding has finally come. This is the celebration of the Day of the Lord and Christ's return and the resurrection of the Body on the Last Day. It is then when all people will fall to their knees and worship God. But only the Holy Bride will enter into eternal life.

The song can strike fear into our heart. "For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" This is just another time when it is so important not to read one verse at a time.

How does the Bride make herself ready? Obviously, this points to the need for all people to do good works. All God's people must lead a holy life. They need to obey the Word of God. They need to welcome their Savior Jesus Christ. They need to repent of their sins.

But the truth comes in, "it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure." It is not her works that create the perfect garment. It is not even she who reaches out and puts it on. But it is God who puts the Armor on his Children. It is God who has his people clothed in fine linen. It is God who claims you to be his very own.

Proper 17 (GA)

Mark 3:22-30

 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” ²³ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. 

²⁸ “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

A better question for today is, how can Jesus cast out Jesus? A church divide against God will not stand. The Church is created and sustained by God through His Word (and the proper use of the sacraments). Many people claim to be Church but do not use his word nor confess him. The Devil has easily dressed up like Church and lead many people astray. 

Jesus does not dress up like the devil. Jesus is not the leader of the Demons, but he is Lord of All. Jesus commands demons because the Buck stops with Jesus. He comes to bind this caretaker of the people, or strong man. He comes to bind the demons and judge them. Likewise, he comes to judge evil.

Satan would naturally accuse the righteous one of being Satan, in order to divert attention from himself and his lies. But the Truth shines the light over all of Satans Lies. Once the trong man is bound, Jesus can claim you for is very own. Jesus comes to rescue people from the lies. He comes to deliver slaves from their master, aka Satan. 

This is the work of proclaiming Christ: you proclaim sin and death and Satan for what they are. You proclaim Christ for what He is, the Savior of he World. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit any of us come to faith. It is the Holy Spirit who speaks God's Word through our sanctified lips.

Proper 17 (OTA)

Isaiah 59:15-21

¹⁴  Justice is turned back, 

and righteousness stands far away; 

for truth has stumbled in the public squares, 

and uprightness cannot enter. 

¹⁵  Truth is lacking, 

and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. 

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him 

that there was no justice. 

¹⁶  He saw that there was no man, 

and wondered that there was no one to intercede; 

then his own arm brought him salvation, 

and his righteousness upheld him. 

¹⁷  He put on righteousness as a breastplate, 

and a helmet of salvation on his head; 

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, 

and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 

¹⁸  According to their deeds, so will he repay, 

wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; 

to the coastlands he will render repayment. 

¹⁹  So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, 

and his glory from the rising of the sun; 

for he will come like a rushing stream, 

which the wind of the Lord drives. 

²⁰  “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, 

to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. 

²¹ “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” 

God has put on garments of vengeance to seek out justice for his people. The Lord is displeased because there is unchecked evil in the world. The people of the nations have long stood against God's people. But the people have even mistreated one another. They have taken advantage of the poor and foolish. 

There are two important lessons here. The first is that God is going to execute justice over his creation. You who have done evil things should be afraid, be very afraid. The second is God is sending his Spiit to put words in your mouth. The truth of God will be spoken by his Spirit in every generation. 

God demands justice and therefore, he will send a Redeemer. This redeemer will come to make sure justice is taken care of. He will come to judge the living and the dead. He will judge us all. god has judged us all. Jesus took our judgment upon himself. He likewise sent the Holy Spirit to speak this truth in every generation. The Word of God placed in my mouth is God's forgiveness for sinners.

Christ has died for sinners. He has come to judge you, and to cleanse you, and to cloth you with the breastplate and helmet. He does this because he loves you. God loves you and forgives you, in Christ.

Proper 7 (OT)

Zechariah 3:1-10

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” ³ Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. ⁴ And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” ⁵ And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by. 

⁶ And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, ⁷ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. ⁸ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. ⁹ For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. ¹⁰ In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Please read these other lessons, because here again we have the appearance of the Devil, and a necessary change in clothing. When you think of the Chief priest like Moses standing before God on behalf of all the people of Israel. All God's people are filthy, they need a bath and a change of clothes.

The accuser rightly accuses the chief priest. He also stands before the Angel of The Lord accusing each of you. He tells him about all the evil things you have done. You points out all the times you have abandoned your confession of faith. He will even accuse you of not being worthy of God's grace.

But "I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. " God is going remove all your sins. He is going to do this in a single day, or I should say did it in a single day. God sent the righteous branch to his people. He sent his holy servant to die on the cross for the remission of all your sins. Christ has answered all the accusations of the accuser by taking your punishment upon himself and clothing you in clean white robes. So let us all enjoy the forgiveness of Christ as we welcome others to sit under the true Vine.

Proper 17 (G)

Mark 5:1-20

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. ² And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. ³ He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, ⁴ for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. ⁶ And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. ⁷ And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” ⁸ For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” ⁹ And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. ¹¹ Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, ¹² and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” ¹³ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 

¹⁴ The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. ¹⁷ And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. ¹⁸ As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. ¹⁹ And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. 

What causes the people of the village to be afraid? Are they afraid because he cast out demons? Are they afraid because the herdsmen lost their pigs? Or are they afraid because he seems to have taken control of the uncontrollable? They have tried to control this man in the past. They realized they were facing a force beyond physical restraint. Thus, they avoided Legion all together.

A problem child is often in need of restraint. The prisoner is trapped or locked away because he is a threat to society. But what do you do with the uncontainable? You kill them or force them to depart and never come back.

The demons in your life are many. They are found leading you into all kinds of trouble. Some of them have only recently shown themselves, others have been with you from birth. But we can not control them. They are beyond our power.

Christ comes to cast out your demons. He takes your uncleanliness away. He does not teach you lies but shows you the truth. Jesus puts you in your right mind. He even cloths you with righteousness. When other people recognize this transformation, it can become very scary. But the truth will set you free. God has had mercy on you, and forgives you all your sins. He even claims you from your demons to be his own.

Proper 17 (CL)

Ephesians 6:10-24

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 

²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. 

²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. 

Love incorruptible? The text sounds very difficult. We are fighting against spiritual forces. We have to put on this armor, if we can find it. We then have to pray for all the saints, even one would image saints in other denominations. We are asked to speak boldly. Then we only get this grace because we love our Lord with "love incorruptible."

All of this sounds impossible. Are you righteous enough to wear that breastplate? Are you swift enough to run with the Gospel? Are you worthy to stand against these forces? There may be times in our life when the evil one allows us to think we are strong enough. You may even want to walk through the valley of the shadow of death by yourself. But you will always fail.

It is God himself who stands as your defense. Here the illustration of armor in other places simple loathing. God wraps you in the sacrifice of Christ for your righteousness, truth, peace, and love. Jesus Christ loves you with the incorruptible love. God is our fortress and our strength and even our Armor. The only way we face down our enemies, is with God as our sure defense.

We are worthy of this Armor nor able to find it on our own, but God calls us, and dresses us ready for the battle we face. But more than that he wins the battle for us. 

Proper 16 (Ps) August 25th

Psalm 9:11-20

¹¹  Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! 

Tell among the peoples his deeds! 

¹²  For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; 

he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 

¹³  Be gracious to me, O Lord! 

See my affliction from those who hate me, 

O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 

¹⁴  that I may recount all your praises, 

that in the gates of the daughter of Zion 

I may rejoice in your salvation. 

¹⁵  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; 

in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 

¹⁶  The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; 

the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 

¹⁷  The wicked shall return to Sheol, 

all the nations that forget God. 

¹⁸  For the needy shall not always be forgotten, 

and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 

¹⁹  Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; 

let the nations be judged before you! 

²⁰  Put them in fear, O Lord! 

Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah 

Let the Nations of the Earth recognize that they are weak and God is strong. God will be the judge of the Nations. He will come in support of the afflicted. God comes to look after the orphans and slaves. He comes to care for his own children.

The Psalmist desires us to make known the deeds of God. This means speaking about the Flood, Sodom and Gamorah, and the Ten Plagues. God has come and judged the Nations of this World. god has even judged his own people for their wickedness.

God has even judged the entire World so many years ago, on the cross. Christ was crucified for the sins of the entire World, every nation under heaven. It is through this sacrifice that you are no longer orphans and slaves to sin but you are made children of God. Jesus washes you in His blood and clothes you with His own righteousness. 

Let us Pray

Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Proper 16 (NTA)

2 Timothy 1:3-18

³ I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴ As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 

⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹ who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰ and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, ¹² which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. ¹³ Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 

¹⁵ You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, ¹⁷ but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— ¹⁸ may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. 

St Timothy was caled by God to the Holy calling to preach the Word of God. St Paul shares this Holy calling as a preacher and apostle and teacher. They have both been filled with the Holy Spirit, and instructed in the true faith. They have been Baptized in the name of the Triune God. They both have suffered on account of the Gospel.

The example given to each of us  in this text is that we can be like St Paul and St Timothy or we can be like Lois and Eunice and Onesiphorus. These are not preachers. These are not Public Ministers. These are Mothers and a Father(s), who have born witness to their Children. They have brought their Holden up in the true faith. They have taught their children to hear the word of God. They have even shown an example for others on how to support missions abroad as well as next door.

There are many examples in our own lives of people and times when we have not done these things. We do always like to take the time away from the Television, or sports, or personal hobbies to go to Church or do daily devotions. But these are ways that we can help to instruct our children and even potential future preachers and teachers in the church.

God amazing forgives us for our lack of devotion. God forgives you for your lack of instruction. God forgives our neighbor for his lacks of devotion. God set his Son to call people to faith. God sends his Holy Spirit to call people out of darkness into the Light. Jesus gives us his very blood shed for your forgiveness. He desires you and your children to hear and learn of all the gifts God has enstore for your life.

Proper 16 (OTA)

Proverbs 4:1-27

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, 

and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 

²  for I give you good precepts; 

do not forsake my teaching. 

³  When I was a son with my father, 

tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 

⁴  he taught me and said to me, 

“Let your heart hold fast my words; 

keep my commandments, and live. 

⁵  Get wisdom; get insight; 

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 

⁶  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; 

love her, and she will guard you. 

⁷  The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, 

and whatever you get, get insight. 

⁸  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; 

she will honor you if you embrace her. 

⁹  She will place on your head a graceful garland; 

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” 

¹⁰  Hear, my son, and accept my words, 

that the years of your life may be many. 

¹¹  I have taught you the way of wisdom; 

I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 

¹²  When you walk, your step will not be hampered, 

and if you run, you will not stumble. 

¹³  Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; 

guard her, for she is your life. 

¹⁴  Do not enter the path of the wicked, 

and do not walk in the way of the evil. 

¹⁵  Avoid it; do not go on it; 

turn away from it and pass on. 

¹⁶  For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; 

they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 

¹⁷  For they eat the bread of wickedness 

and drink the wine of violence. 

¹⁸  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, 

which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 

¹⁹  The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; 

they do not know over what they stumble. 

²⁰  My son, be attentive to my words; 

incline your ear to my sayings. 

²¹  Let them not escape from your sight; 

keep them within your heart. 

²²  For they are life to those who find them, 

and healing to all their flesh. 

²³  Keep your heart with all vigilance, 

for from it flow the springs of life. 

²⁴  Put away from you crooked speech, 

and put devious talk far from you. 

²⁵  Let your eyes look directly forward, 

and your gaze be straight before you. 

²⁶  Ponder the path of your feet; 

then all your ways will be sure. 

²⁷  Do not swerve to the right or to the left; 

turn your foot away from evil. 

A Father talking to his Son teaches him the things he needs to succeed in life. A Father also teaches his Son how to the basic things he needs to know. There are three major sections: the first describes the need for wisdom and insight, second the path of righteousness, and finally the way of life.

Many parents desire their children to lead a better life than they did. Solomon knew the mistakes he had made, and desired his children to strive for the things of God. There is not one of us who has lived up to our confirmation pledge, but we hope that our children would. But our children tend to copy their parents. They fall into te same sins of their parents. They follow in the insight of their Father.

Jesus listened to the Words of His Father. He learned, or already knew, the wisdom of His Father. He followed in the footsteps the Father placed before him. Jesus Christ goes to the cross for the sack of his brothers. He dies for your forgiveness. He dies to call you back to the Way that leads to Life. He calls you to listen to walk the path of righteousness. He presents Wisdom for you to grow and learn.

Jesus does all this because he loves you. Your Father sends you Jesus so that you would be righteous and your wickedness is removed.

Proper 16 (GA)

Matthew 6:22-24

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³ but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 

There is part of me that kinda dis agrees with the premiss you can not serve two masters. But the illustration reminds us that it is two contradictory masters. You can not serve two people that have opposing agendas. But a house servant may have two masters or more. There is the master of the house and then there are the head servants, or the so-called chain of command. But all these masters have the same vision or plan that should align with the head of the chain.

God is the head of the chain. Satan may like to think he is on a different chain, but he is just a rebellious servant. Nations may think they are the head of the chain but likewise they are just links along the way. Even church bodies may claim to be their own separate chain but they are all joined together.

God is the head of all creation. Christ comes and pays the price for all creation. When Christ returns he will renew the entire creation, while casting those disobedient servants, the rebellious of the world, into Hell. God is the one in complete control. If you try to serve him and a rebellious master it can not be done. You will love one more than the other. And God does not share credit.

God created everything you don't get any credit. God provides you with everything you need, he does not share credit. God is responsible for saving you from your sins, he does not share credit. You are responsible for your own damnation, God does not share credit. God sent his Son to rescue us from damnation and Hell, God does not share credit.

Jesus forgives you all your sins. He is your master. He is your Lord. He does this for you.

Proper 16 (G)

Mark 9:38-50

³⁸ John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For the one who is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. 

⁴² “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

There are many triathlons and marathons in the summer, people have been training all year if not several years for these events. People running and some like myself walking in 5ks and 10ks. At these events there are water stations. People handing out cups of cold water to the runners. I have heard some people say these people even help encourage them to keep up their running as they are starting to tier out. Just the act of giving someone a cold glass of water to help them continue the race.

But this text should really be an endightment against every parent. Jesus talks about leading little children astray. This could be a Sunday School teacher teaching evolution or a Parent denying their child the education in Sunday School and Church. This is even against parents who neglect daily devotions with their children. For those of you who are not parents, this is also about your instructions through words and deeds.

If you have neglected to instruct your children it is not too late. If you have grand children you can always instruct them. No matter how you have failed and even if you need a millstone tied around your neck, turn to the cross. Do your own daily devotions and listen to the word of God not for instruction but for forgiveness. Christ came into the world, sure to teach us, but most importantly to die for you. He took that large millstone around his own neck. He took your sins to his cross and died in your place. This gift of forgiveness is given to you just as much as it is offered to our children.