Eventually Zion was meant to refer to all of God’s people and we still do that today. So, when the Bible uses the term Zion, which it does a lot, it’s not so much about geography or a specific hill. It’s using it as a reference to the people of God….
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Author: kyriss
Our God is a God of Hope
What is the “hope” that is in you? If your definition of hope goes something like this: “Wouldn’t it be nice, if…., or, “If only…” That’s NOT what the Scriptures mean by hope.
In today’s reading St. Paul called our God a “God of hope.” A God who fills His people with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may abound in hope. That’s not so they would abound in “wouldn’t it be nice,” or, “if only…”
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Ad te Domine Levavi: To You, I will lift up
Today we begin our 2022 Advent series. It is one that is being centered upon the Church’s more historic Introit Psalms. Those were long ago appointed for each of the four Sundays, and following weeks, of the Advent season. Each of those Sundays have received their names from Latin translations of the Introit appointed for each specific Advent week: Ad te levavi; Populus Zion; Gaudete; and Rorate coeli. Those names were derived from the first Latin language verse of the Introit given to the Church for hearing during each Advent week….For more, click on the title above
The triumphal advent of the King of peace
Today, the confessing Church throughout the world celebrates the Triumphal Advent of the King of Peace. Jesus is that King. We declare that for He is the One Who was heralded almost 2,000 years ago by crowds both following and leading His procession into Jerusalem.
That, and more, we have heard again from today’s readings. That is because this is the day that begins a new Church Year of our Lord. For centuries, its Gospel reading has been heard each year on this day. Yet, it is not the only time we hear today’s text in the Lord’s Services.
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The Church’s new song is not what some people think it is
Again, today, the Lord of the Church has preserved His Church through another year. Throughout this “Year of the Psalm,” which is now a long-held Catalina Lutheran tradition, on most Sunday’s of the past year, God’s Word of Law and Gospel has been proclaimed from the Psalms. Through the declaration of the convicting, condemnning and killing Law, and, we pray, the predominance in our proclamation of the acquitting, atoning and enlivening Gospel, you, God’s people have been encouraged to behold Christ Jesus as the Psalms reveal Him. That is, as the One Who bore the full brunt of the Law that you might receive the full benefits of His Good News….For more, click on the title above
Delivered for our sins and raised for our justification
The Creator of Man Who took on human flesh to be delivered for our sins and raised for our justification (that the faithful would believe, confess and know that we have been declared right with God) has brought us, once again, into the final division of the Trinity season. Its three weeks have been marked today with the special ways of proclaiming God’s Word that this congregation has used, for some time, to mark a seasonal change….for more, click on the title above.
Jesus reigns above all His enemies
Jesus reigns above all His enemies. That is good news for Jesus. That began for Him as He was suspended between heaven and earth—affixed to the wood of a cross long ago. It continued in His resurrection from the dead. That revealed that the last enemy of mankind, death, was then under His rule. Jesus’ reign was exalted above His enemies round about in His ascension to the position of all power, rule and authority over all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. His rule will reach its eternal fulfillment when Jesus returns on the clouds with power and glory in order to establish His everlasting kingdom. …For more, click on the title above
St Luke the Evangelist
The righteous man, Jesus, is your sure and certain hope
This year, today is the third Sunday in the fourth part of the Trinity season. The weekly readings continue be proclaimed in order to turn their hearers hearts and minds to their emphasis on the power Christians are given to endure as we live under the cross, that which comes to us through the Faith of Jesus. The texts reveal the power of God that gives you strength in your struggle against the temptations of the world. They lead you to hear and believe that our victory against all those who oppose us, on account of the Faith we rightly confess is assured through the death and resurrection of the only truly righteous Man, Jesus the Christ…For more, click on the title above.
King of the Hill
King of the hill. I’m sure you’ve all heard of that game. My father was in the Air Force and we moved around a lot. Before I was 10 we lived in Newfoundland, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Germany and Illinois. Everywhere we went we would end up playing this game and the rules never changed.
The object was to take the hill—even if you had to make little secret pacts with other kids (or even your brother)—to get to the top of the hill. …for more, click on the title above.