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Quinquagesima
Quinquagesima
March 2, 2025
Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1–13\rOld Testament: Isaiah 35:3–7\rPsalm: Psalm 89:18–29; antiphon: v. 20\rPsalm: Psalm 146; antiphon: v. 2\rEpistle: 1 Corinthians 13:1–13\rGospel: Luke 18:31–43\rIntroit: Psalm 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: vv. 2b–3\rGradual: Psalm 77:14–15\rTract: Psalm 100:1–3\r\rFaith Alone\r \rThe seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31–43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him “Son of David.” Indeed, Jesus is the Lord’s anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1–13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1–13). Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3–7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
March 5, 2025
Color: Black\r\rOld Testament: Jonah 3:1–10\rOld Testament: Joel 2:12–19\rPsalm: Psalm 51; antiphon: v. 17\rPsalm: Psalm 51:1–13; antiphon: v. 17\rEpistle: 2 Peter 1:2–11\rGospel: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21\rGospel: Matthew 6:16–21\rIntroit: Psalm 57:1–3a, c; antiphon: Liturgical Text\rGradual: Psalm 57:1a, 3a\rTract: Psalm 103:10; 79:8a, 9a\r\rReturn to the Lord Your God with All Your Heart, for He Has Reconciled You to Himself\r \r“Consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the people” (Joel 2:15–16). Lent, with its corporate fast, begins today. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return(Imposition of Ashes, from Genesis 3:19). “Who knows, whether God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger” (Jonah 3:9)? We know. Faith believes that, for Christ’s sake, “a broken and contrite heart our God will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2:13); therefore, we do not hesitate to return to him with all our heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” (v.12). He raises the dead, as we shall see in forty days’ time. Satan opposes such reconciliation and life. He would twist our discipline into self-serving pride (Matthew 6:1–12), leading us into unbelief and unfruitfulness until we fall from the Lord’s precious and very great promises (2 Peter 1:4, 8). For this reason, our Lenten discipline not only gives something up but also takes up the sustenance and exercise of faith: hearing His Word and turning from ourselves—to God in prayer and to our neighbor with charity. Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love” (v. 5–7). \r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Divine Service with Ashes
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Pastors' Study Group in Plano
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First Sunday in Lent
First Sunday in Lent
March 9, 2025
Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 3:1–21\rOld Testament: 1 Samuel 17:40–51\rPsalm: Psalm 32; antiphon: v. 7\rPsalm: Psalm 118:1–13; antiphon: v. 5\rEpistle: Hebrews 4:14–16\rEpistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1–10\rGospel: Matthew 4:1–11\rIntroit: Psalm 91:1–2, 9–10, 13; antiphon: vv. 15a, c, 16\rGradual: Psalm 91:11–12\rTract: Psalm 91:1, 4a, 15a, 16\r\rJesus Does Battle in Our Place\r \rIn the Garden, man exalts himself to be a god in place of God (Gen. 3:1–21). He succumbs to the temptation of the devil, and eating of the forbidden fruit, he receives death. But in the sin-cursed wilderness, God humbles Himself to become man in place of man (Mt. 4:1–11). He does not eat but fasts and bears the onslaughts of the devil for us that we may be restored to life. Jesus stands as David in our place to do battle against the Goliath, Satan (1 Samuel 17:40–51). Though outwardly Jesus appears weak, yet He comes in the name of the Lord of hosts. He draws from the five smooth stones of the books of Moses and slings the Word of God. The stone sinks into the forehead, and the enemy falls. In Christ we are victorious over the devil. Let us therefore not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1–10), but seeing that we have a great High Priest, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain help in time of need (Heb 4:14–16).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Second Sunday in Lent
Second Sunday in Lent
March 16, 2025
Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 32:22–32\rPsalm: Psalm 121; antiphon: vv. 1–2\rEpistle: Romans 5:1–5\rEpistle: 1 Thessalonians 4:1–7\rGospel: Matthew 15:21–28\rIntroit: Psalm 25:1–2a, 7–8, 11; antiphon: vv. 6, 2b, 22\rGradual: Psalm 25:17–18\rTract: Psalm 106:1–4\r\rHolding God to His Word\r \rJacob wrestled with God; he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Him (Gen. 32:22–32). So it was with the Canaanite woman. Though Jesus seemed to ignore and reject her, she continued to call upon His name and look to Him for help (Mt. 15:21–28). Even when the Lord called her a little dog, she held on to Him in faith and would not let Him wriggle out of His words: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” This Gentile woman shows herself to be a true Israelite, who struggles with God and man in Christ and prevails. “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire” (Mt. 15:27–28). This is the sanctifying will of God (1 Thess. 4:1–7)—to test your faith in order that it may be refined and strengthened. For tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And hope in Christ does not disappoint (Rom. 5:1–5).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Pastor Off
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[F] St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus
[F] St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus
March 19, 2025
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
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Vespers
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Third Sunday in Lent
Third Sunday in Lent
March 23, 2025
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
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[F] The Annunciation of Our Lord
[F] The Annunciation of Our Lord
March 25, 2025
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
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Fourth Sunday in Lent
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 30, 2025
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
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