Seventeenth
Sunday after Pentecost
As We Gather
It can be difficult to rejoice when the outlook is
bleak and unpromising. The Apostle Paul experienced many difficult times but he
had confidence in God who controls our future.
Therefore he was able to advise the Philippians to “Rejoice in the Lord
always.” Trusting in the promises of God made sure in Christ’s resurrection
allowed him to be content in every situation.
May we also have this peace that surpasses all understanding, even in
these difficult economic times.
Hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” ................................. LSB
803
Entrance Psalm Psalm
23 (antiphon: v. 5a)
P You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
C The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
P He makes
me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
C He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
P Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
C You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
P Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and
I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Collect of the Day
Almighty
God, You invite us to trust in You for our salvation. Deal with us not in the
severity of Your judgment but by the greatness of Your mercy; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Reading from the Book of Concord
Luther’s Large Catechism, The Third
Commandment, 100-102
Let
me tell you this, even though you know God’s Word perfectly and are already a
master in all things: you are daily in the devil’s kingdom [Colossians
1:13-14]. He ceases neither day nor night to sneak up on you and to kindle in
your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against these three commandments and
all the commandments. Therefore, you
must always have God’s Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your
ears. But where the heart is idle and
the Word does not make a sound, the devil breaks in and has done the damage
before we are aware [Matthew 13:24-30].
On the other hand, the Word is so effective that whenever it is
seriously contemplated, heard, and used, it is bound never to be without fruit
[Isaiah 55:11; Mark 4:20]. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and
devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts [Philippians 4:8]. For these words are not lazy or dead, but are
creative, living words [Hebrews 4:12]. And even though no other interest or
necessity moves us, this truth ought to urge everyone to the Word, because
thereby the devil is put to flight and driven away [James 4:7]. Besides, this
commandment is fulfilled and this exercise in the Word is more pleasing to God
than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah
25:6–9
6On this mountain the Lord
of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich
food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food
full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering
that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that
is spread over all nations.
8He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the
reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this
is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Gradual
P He will command his angels concerning you
C to guard you in all your
ways.
P Bless the LORD, O my soul,
C and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Ps. 91:11;
103:1
Epistle Lesson Philippians
4:4–13
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have
learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the
God of peace will be with you.
10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that
now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned
for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of
being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I
know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every
circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance
and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Holy Gospel Matthew 22:1–14
1Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The
kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his
son, 3and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the
wedding feast, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other
servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner,
my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come
to the wedding feast.’ 5But they paid no attention and went off, one
to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his
servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7The king was
angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their
city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready,
but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore to the main roads
and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10And those servants
went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So
the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11“But when the king came in to
look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12And
he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’
And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind
him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but
few are chosen.”
Hymn “Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng”............................................ LSB 813
Distribution Hymns
Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord................... LSB 637
O Lord, We Praise Thee.............................................................. LSB
617
Hymn “Now Thank We All Our God”................................. LSB 895
All
scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,
copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
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