Epiphany and Pre-Lent 2012

Epiphany and Pre-Lent Reflections for 2012

February 21, 2012 - Tuesday of Quinquagesima

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends … For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8, 12)

February 20, 2012 - Monday of Quinquagesima

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

February 19, 2012 - Quinquagesima

And taking the twelve, he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise." But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said . (Luke 18:31-34)

February 18, 2012 - Saturday of Sexagesima

Into your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. (Psalm 31:5, from The Introit for Quinquagesima)

February 17, 2012 - Friday of Sexagesima

Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. (John 6:4-6)

February 16, 2012 - Thursday of Sexagesima

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

February 15, 2012 - Wednesday of Sexagesima

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 Small Catechism, Second Commandment)

February 14, 2012 - Tuesday of Sexagesima

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

February 13, 2012 - Monday of Sexagesima

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11)

February 12, 2012 - Sexagesima

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)

February 11, 2012 - Saturday of Septuagesima

You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. (Psalm 44:7-8, from The Introit for Sexagesima)

February 10, 2012 - Friday of Septuagesima

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. (John 4:1-3)

February 9, 2012 - Thursday of Septuagesima

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:17-18).

February 8, 2012 - Wednesday of Septuagesima

You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. (The Small Catechism, First Commandment)

February 7, 2012 - Tuesday of Septuagesima

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

February 6, 2012 - Monday of Septuagesima

And the Lord said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." (Exodus 17:5-6)

February 5, 2012 - Septuagesima

"I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?" (Matthew 20:14-15)

February 4, 2012 - Saturday of the Week after the Transfiguration

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. (Psalm 18:1-2a from the Introit for Septuagesima)

February 3, 2012 - Friday of the Week after the Transfiguration

And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. (Exodus 34:33)

February 2, 2012 - The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord

"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation..." (Luke 2:29-30)

February 1, 2012 - Wednesday of the Week after the Transfiguration

What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. (The Small Catechism, Baptism Part 4)

January 31, 2012 - Tuesday of the Week of the Transfiguration

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19)

January 30, 2012 - Monday of the Week of the Transfiguration

Then the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings. (Exodus 3:7)

January 29, 2012 - The Transfiguration of Our Lord

And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.(Matthew 17:8)

January 28, 2012 - Saturday of the Third Week after Epiphany

Your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. (Psalm 77:18, from the Introit for The Transfiguration of Our Lord)

January 27, 2012 - Friday of the Third Week after Epiphany

How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith that trusts this word of God in the water. For without God's word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit (The Small Catechism, Baptism Part 3)

January 26, 2012 - St. Titus

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9)

January 25, 2012 - The Conversion of St. Paul

And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:4-5)

January 24, 2012 - St. Timothy

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:1)

January 23, 2012 - Monday of the Third Week after Epiphany

To the contrary, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." (Romans 12:20)

January 22, 2012 - The Third Sunday after Epiphany

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:3)

January 21, 2012 - Saturday of the Second Week after Epiphany

"The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory. For You are the Lord, most high over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” (Psalm 97:6, 9 from the Introit for Epiphany 3)

January 20, 2012 - Friday of the Second Week after Epiphany

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32)

January 19, 2012 - Thursday of the Second Week after Epiphany

What benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare …” Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned . (The Small Catechism, Baptism Part 2 and Mark 16:16)

January 18, 2012 - The Confession of St. Peter

"And He continued by questioning them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered and said to Him,' You are the Christ.'” (Mark 8:29)

January 17, 2012 - Tuesday of the Second Week after Epiphany

"And having gifts according to the grace given to us differently; if prophecy, according to the analogy of the faith; if service in the serving, if the teaching, in the teaching." (Romans 12:6-7)

January 16, 2012 - Monday of the Second Week after Epiphany

"And it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My Back" (Exodus 33:22-23a)

January 15, 2012 - The Second Sunday after Epiphany

"And Jesus says to her, 'Woman, what is that to Me and to you? My hour has not yet come.' His mother says to the servants,' Whatever He says to you, do it.'” (John 2:4-5)

January 14, 2012 - Saturday of the First Week after Epiphany

"All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name. It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 66:4, 92:1 from the Introit for Epiphany 2)

January 13, 2012 - Friday of the First Week after Epiphany

"A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." (Isaiah 42:3)

January 12, 2012 - Thursday of the First Week after Epiphany

"And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, 'Child, why have you treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I are looking anxiously for You.'” (Luke 2:48)

January 11, 2012 - Wednesday of the First Week after Epiphany

"Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God 's command, and combined with God 's Word. Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, 'Therefore, having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." (Small Catechism, Baptism Part 1)

January 10, 2012 - Tuesday of the First Week after Epiphany

“… there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." (1Corinthians 1:26-27)

January 9, 2012 - Monday of the First Week after Epiphany

"And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground …” (Joshua 3:17)