Reflections for the season of Epiphany for 2011.
How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! (Psalm 84:1 from the Introit for the Transfiguration)
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24).
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36)
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. (The Second Commandment)
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.(Colossians 3:13)
Then Abraham said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And the Lord said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." (Genesis 18:32)
The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.'" (Matthew 13:28-29)
Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. (Psalm 37:1 from the Introit for Epiphany 5)
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (Romans 8:22)
You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. (The First Commandment)
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." (Luke 2:22-24)
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10)
And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me." (Jonah 1:12)
But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8 from the Introit for Epiphany 4)
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17)
And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'? (2 Kings 5:13)
[A bishop must] hold fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (Titus 1:9)
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."(Acts 9:17)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Matthew 24:45-46)
"For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (Matthew 8:9)
The Lord preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 97:10 from the Introit for Epiphany 3)
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; (Romans 12:10)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:25)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy, Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? ...On the Last Day He will raise up me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. (Small Catechism: The Creed, Third Article)
But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Mark 8:33)
But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." (Exodus 33:20)
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. (John 2:6)
Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. (Psalm 66:5 from the Introit for Epiphany 2)
Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim. (1 Kings 8:6)
And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:42)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins... What does this mean?...In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers... (Small Catechism, Apostles' Creed, Third Article)
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption --that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)
Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:17)
But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. (Matthew 3:15)