Color: White\r\rOld Testament: 2 Samuel 7:4–16\rPsalm: Psalm 127; antiphon: v. 1a\rEpistle: Romans 4:13–18\rGospel: Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 128:1\rGradual: Psalm 45:6–7b\rVerse: Matthew 1:24a\r\rSt. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus\r \rIt was King David’s idea to build a permanent house for the ark of the covenant and the Lord’s name (2 Sam. 7:5–7). The temple he planned was built by King Solomon, but it was never really David or Solomon who housed and protected God. “The Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house” (2 Sam. 7:11). St. Joseph was not Jesus’ true father, since the child “conceived in [Mary] is from the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). The Church commemorates him instead as the “guardian of Jesus.” Heeding the word of God’s angels, protecting the unborn Christ, sparing the infant Jesus from Herod’s wrath, seeing Him “out of Egypt” again (Matt. 2:13–23), and bringing Him up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), Joseph is an example for all Christian fathers and guardians. But as with David “housing” the Lord who made a house for him, Joseph was never really the guardian. Christ was. His name is “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). The “offspring” promised to Abraham and renewed in the promises to David is the One “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:16–18). He is David’s King, Abraham’s Lord, Joseph’s Guardian and our Savior.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Exodus 8:16–24\rOld Testament: Jeremiah 26:1–15\rPsalm: Psalm 136:1–16; antiphon: v. 26\rPsalm: Psalm 4; antiphon: v. 8\rEpistle: Ephesians 5:1–9\rGospel: Luke 11:14–28\rIntroit: Psalm 25:1–2, 17–18, 20; antiphon: vv. 15–16\rGradual: Psalm 9:19, 3\rTract: Psalm 123:1–3a\r\rJesus Overcomes the Strong Man\r \rJeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the Word of the Lord (Jer. 26:1–15). So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14–28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Ex. 8:16–24). They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil’s armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:1–9). As children of light, our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 7:10–14\rPsalm: Psalm 45:7–17; antiphon: v. 6\rEpistle: Hebrews 10:4–10\rGospel: Luke 1:26–38\rIntroit: Psalm 34:1–3; antiphon: Isaiah 62:11b\rGradual: Psalm 45:6–7b\rVerse: Luke 1:46b–47; 2:30–31\rVerse: Luke 1:38a\r\rIncarnate by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary and Made Man\r \r“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). But “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). He opens ears to hear and wombs to conceive. “Let it be to me according to your word,” says St. Mary (Luke 1:38). The Most High who once dwelt in the tabernacle comes to overshadow Mary, who believes the angel’s “annunciation” (Luke 1:35). “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Is. 7:14). In Jesus Christ, God is with us — even from the moment of His conception. This miracle, that Mary should become the mother of God, will be a sign against the proud in Israel; it is the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah and David. “I delight to do your will, O my God,” says Christ (Ps. 40:8). From Mary’s flesh, the Most High has prepared a body for His Son (Heb. 10:5), a body to be offered “once for all” as the sacrifice that alone takes away sins and gives a righteousness apart from the Law (Heb. 10:10). Through His conception, life and death, we have been sanctified. God favors us in this child. And like the blessed Virgin Mary, blessed “are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 49:8–13\rOld Testament: Exodus 16:2–21\rPsalm: Psalm 132:8–18; antiphon: v. 13\rSecond Reading: Acts 2:41–47\rEpistle: Galatians 4:21–31\rGospel: John 6:1–15\rIntroit: Psalm 122:1–2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a\rGradual: Psalm 122:1, 7\rTract: Psalm 125:1–2, 5b\r\rThe Lord Feeds His People\r \rThe Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Ex. 16:2–21). Now He who is Himself the living bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the five thousand (John 6:1–15). This takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude had followed Jesus across the sea, and when He went up on a mountain. Seen in this way, Jesus is our new and greater Moses, who releases us from the bondage of Mount Sinai and makes us free children of the promise (Gal. 4:21–31). Five loaves become twelve baskets—that is, the five books of Moses find their goal and fulfillment in Christ, whose people continue steadfastly in the doctrine and fellowship of the twelve apostles, and in the breaking and receiving of the bread of life, which is the body of Christ together with His precious blood, and in the prayers (Acts 2:41–47). So it is that God’s people “shall not hunger or thirst” (Is. 49:8–13). For He abundantly provides for us in both body and soul.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship