December 2023

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The First Sunday after Christmas – Sunday 31 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Psalm 93:5, 2; 1, 3–4;45:2a, 1b;93:1 ✠ Lection: Jeremiah 31:31-34;Galatians 4:1–7;St. Luke 2:33-40 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Christmastime is not immune to controversy nor to conflict. Overall, most people tend to be nicer, more giving, jollier than at other times of the year, yet we know, some by very close and personal experience, that controversy and conflict can happen anywhere and anytime people are involved. As we have heard, so have we seen that we have the most certain Reason, theRead More →

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The Nativity of Our Lord – Monday 25 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Isaiah 9:6;Psalm 98:1-4;118:26a, 27a, 23 ✠ Lection: Isaiah 52:6–10;Hebrews 1:1-12;St. John 1:1–14 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. To what shall we compare this generation? It is like a guest invited to and seated at a great banquet feast and yet proceeds to ignore the Table and eat from the gruel in the dog’s bowl. We shall not completely disparage the gruel, for is it not also provision from the Lord’s hand? Likewise, we shall not disparage the gift of family and presentsRead More →

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Vigil of the nativity – Sunday 24 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Psalm 2:6-7;24:1, 3-5;98:3b–4a, 2;2:7 ✠ Lection: Isaiah 62:1–4a;Romans 1:1–6;St. Matthew 1:18b–21 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas! What we experience today is a liturgical oddity that is infrequently seen, but oddity may convey a shred of negativity. Let us not at all be negative on this Eve of the Holy Nativity of Our Lord that is also the fourth and final Sunday in Advent. When that fourth Sunday falls on December 24th, the Church has historically observed an interestingRead More →

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Gaudete Midweek – Wednesday 20 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Philippians 4:4-5;Psalm 85:1, 2, 6, 8;80:1–2;80:2b ✠ Lection: Isaiah 2:2-5;Isaiah 7:10-15;St. Luke 1:26-28a In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We like to give up. Not only in easy, permissible times, such as Advent midweek meals, but in important matters, especially if suffering is involved or if we don’t see any reward or payoff coming from us sucking it up and putting in honest effort. Some of us give up more quickly than others, but for each one of us, there is something or somethings that canRead More →

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Gaudete – Sunday 17 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Philippians 4:4-5;Psalm 85:1, 2, 6, 8;80:1–2;80:2b ✠ Lection: Isaiah 40:1-8;1 Corinthians 4:1-5;St. Matthew 11:2-10 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do you rejoice in the Lord always? It’s quite a steep and startling admonition by St. Paul, is it not? Always is as often as often can get. So, how about ever? Do you ever rejoice in the Lord? Do you ever find yourself optimistic about what He has done in you and has in store for you ahead? Do you see your remaining time in thisRead More →

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Populus Zion Midweek – Wednesday 13 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Isaiah 62:11;30:30, 29;Psalm 80: 1, 3, 14, 17;50:2-3, 5;St. Luke 21:26b-27 ✠ Lection: Malachi 3:1-5;4:5-6a; St. Matthew 11:11-15            In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As this Adventide is already half-over, we prepare for our coming Lord further by examining our life, our very existence, in the kingdom, in the reign, of heaven, for, indeed, He draws near. We hear what our dear Lord tells us about the Day that has come and in which we now live. Many in the Church like the words fromRead More →

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Populus Zion – Sunday 10 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Isaiah 62:11;30:30, 29;Psalm 80: 1, 3, 14, 17;50:2-3, 5;St. Luke 21:26b-27 ✠ Lection: Song of Songs 2:8b-14;Romans 15:4-13;St. Luke 21:25-33 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Behold, your King is coming to you and He brings with Him the Kingdom of Heaven. He has come to draw near to us who have distanced ourselves from Him, but He has yet brought the Kingdom in its full measure or else it would have been of no use for us to confess our sins this morning. When theRead More →

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Wednesday of Ad Te Levavi – 6 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Psalm 25:1-3a;25:4–5, 21–22;25:3-4;85:7 ✠ Lection: James 5:7–10; St. Matthew 3:1–6 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Don’t be scared. Don’t shrink back from this stern warning coupled with its awful, awesome reason. Remember that your King comes to you not to condemn you but to save you; not to break you or quench you like a bruised reed or a smoldering wick, but to lift you up from the darkness of this world; to satisfyRead More →

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Ad Te Levavi – Sunday 3 December A✠D 2023 ✠ Psalmody: Psalm 25:1-3a;25:4–5, 21–22;25:3-4;85:7 ✠ Lection: Jeremiah 23:5–8;Romans 13:11-14;St. Matthew 21:1–9 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Behold, your King is coming to you! Two weeks ago on the Second Last Sunday in the Church Year, we were reminded of how terrifying the truth of the King coming on the Last Day will be for the goats, the unbelievers, who will be cast away from the glorious presence of God into everlasting punishment. But the righteous, the sheep, the blessed of the Father, will be welcomedRead More →