The Commemoration
of Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans
Thursday
after Easter 7
June 5, 2014
He is Risen
and Ascended. He is Risen and Ascended Indeed! Alleluia!
The Easter
season is almost over. This coming Sunday is Pentecost, the eighth Sunday after
Easter. The number eight often appears in the Bible and is often associated
with renewal and new beginnings. That is why a traditional baptismal font has
eight sides.
On Pentecost
we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit with “tongues” of fire, the sound of
a mighty rushing wind and the gift of human languages to aid in the spreading
of the Gospel. The Spirit continues to come today through the word and sacraments.
This Sunday we will celebrate that coming with the baptisms of Kearse William
and Victor Stefanini McAllister. So, an already special service will be made
even more special.
The
liturgical color for Pentecost is red, which reminds us of the fiery flames the
Spirit used. Red is also the color for martyrs and Reformation. For martyrs it
is though as representing their blood. In reference to the Reformation it is
both blood (many gave their lives for the Gospel) and the work of the Spirit
through the Reformation.
We
will have a special liturgy for Sunday and it will be printed out in the
bulletin. It will be a communion service. The appointed lessons are: Numbers
11:24–30; Acts 2:1–21; John 7:37–39. The sermon text is Numbers 11:29. The
sermon title is “The Dream of Moses.” Our opening hymn will be “Holy Spirit,
Light Divine" (LSB 496). Our baptismal hymn will be “Dearest Jesus, We Are Here”
(LSB 592).
Our sermon hymn will be “Baptized into Your Name Most Holy” (LSB 599). Our Sanctus hymn will be “Holy,
Holy, Holy” (LSB 507:1-2). Our distribution hymns
will be “Come, Holy
Ghost, God and Lord” (LSB 497), "Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord" (LSB 637), and "Creator Spirit, by
Whose Aid" (LSB 500). Our closing hymn will be “Stay
with Us” (LSB 879).
Below is a
video of our opening hymn, “Holy Spirit, Light Divine.” The words are provided,
and the music, and even some nice pictures, but no singing.
Our Sunday morning Bible hour begins at 9:00 am. We will start the Old Testament book of Ruth. This is a
great story that I’m sure most everyone knows. But is there more? How does it
point to Jesus? How does honor and shame factor into the drama? There are many
other questions (and answers) we will address.
What now
follows is a summary of Sunday’s lessons provided by the LCMS, and then the
lessons themselves.
The Risen Lord Jesus Pours Out the
Holy Spirit
The Lord
took “some of the Spirit” that was on Moses “and put it on the
seventy elders” of Israel (Num. 11:25), and they “prophesied in the
camp” (Num. 11:26). In the same way, our risen Lord Jesus poured out His
Holy Spirit at the Feast of Pentecost — the 50th day and the “Eighth Sunday” of
Easter. When “a sound like a mighty rushing wind” and “tongues as of
fire appeared” and rested on each of the 12 apostles, “they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit” and proclaimed “the mighty works of God”
(Acts 2:2–4, 11). The Lord Jesus grants this same Spirit to His Church on earth
to proclaim Him glorified on the cross and risen victorious from the grave for
us sinners. From His open heart, our crucified and risen Lord pours out His
Holy Spirit in “rivers of living water” (John 7:38) and invites everyone
who thirsts to come to Him and drink freely (John 7:37). Through this
life-giving work of the Holy Spirit, we hear our pastors “telling in our own
tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11) and “everyone who calls
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
Numbers
11:24–30
24 So
Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the
people and placed them around the tent. 25Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to
him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy
elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did
not continue doing it.
26 Now
two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and
the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not
gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a
young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28And
Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord
Moses, stop them.” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my
sake? Would that all the Lord's
people were prophets, that the Lord
would put his Spirit on them!” 30And Moses and the elders of Israel
returned to the camp.
Acts
2:1–21
2:1 When
the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And
suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it
filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided
tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues
as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now
there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under
heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they
were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And
they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking
Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native
language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from
Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them
telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were
amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But
others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But
Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men
of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear
to my words. 15For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since
it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered
through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And
in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all
flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy,
and your young men shall see
visions,
and your old men shall dream
dreams;
18 even
on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out
my Spirit,
and they shall
prophesy.
19 And
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the
sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord
comes,
the great and
magnificent day.
21 And
it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved.’
John
7:37–39
37 On
the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If
anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in
me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living
water.’” 39Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who
believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Two Quick Notes:
- Don’t forget, you can listen to Easter music throughout the Easter season through live streaming on your internet on Lutheran Public Radio. Also, CLASSIC99.com, which is part of the KUFO family, is playing mostly Easter music.
- Don’t forget to sign-up for our Summer Series, “Resolving Everyday Conflict.” It will begin Wednesday, June 25, at 7:00 pm
- Today is the Commemoration of Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans. If you would like to know a bit about this man you can read the post from June, 2012.
Well, I pray
we will see you Sunday morning.
Easter Blessings
in Christ,
Pastor John
Rickert
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