Today the Church celebrates St. Mark, the Evangelist, the young man who fled naked from the garden when Jesus was arrested, and the young man who backed out on Paul and Barnabbas in their missionary work, but whom St. Paul requested be brought to him in a wonderful act of restoration. Thank God for the witness and proclamation of St. Mark!Collect of the Day (LSB)
Almighty God, You have enriched Your Church with the proclamation of the Gospel through the evangelist Mark. Grant that we may firmly believe these glad tidings and daily walk according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Hymn Verse
For Mark, O Lord, we praise You,
The weak by grace made strong,
Whose labors and whose Gospel
Enrich our triumph song.
May we, in all our weakness,
Reflect Your servant life
And follow in Your footsteps,
Enduring cross and strife (LSB 518:15)
Readings from “For All the Saints: A Prayerbook By and For the Saints”
Isaiah 62:6-12
2 Timothy 4:1-11
Acts 12:25-13:3
The reading from 2 Timothy 4 gives great wisdom, guidance, and even comfort, as it prepares us for the challenges we face today in the Church and as it draws our attention to Jesus and His crown of righteousness. Here are verses 1-8:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
2 comments:
That was great. Thanks for writing it.
And if Issues was still on, we would hear all about St. Mark, the Evangelist from Pastor Todd and Rev. Peter Scaer or Rev. Will Weedon or one of our other dear friends from Concordia. But it's not on anymore.
Shame on the LCMS leadership. Issues was educating the church as to true unity we have with those of our number that went before us. I want 'our grandfather's church'.
You have a great blog.
Thanks, Barbara. Keep reading, and I'll do my best to keep teaching.
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