Church Calendar

Color: White

Old Testament: Daniel 3:8–28
Psalm: Psalm 2; antiphon: v. 7
Second Reading: Acts 13:26–33
Gospel: Luke 24:36–48
Gospel: Luke 24:36–49
Introit: Psalm 105:1–2, 7a, 8a, 42a, 43a; antiphon: Liturgical Text
Gradual: Psalm 118:24, 2
Verse: Matthew 28:2b

Color: White

First Reading: Acts 3:13–15, 17–19
Psalm: Psalm 61; antiphon: vv. 6–7
Epistle: Colossians 3:1–7
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Gospel: John 21:1–14
Introit: Psalm 118:13–14, 17–18, 29; antiphon: v. 17
Gradual: Psalm 118:24, 2
Verse: John 21:14

Color: White

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1–14
Psalm: Psalm 33; antiphon: v. 6
Epistle: 1 John 5:4–10
Gospel: John 20:19–31
Introit: Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2a
Verse: Matthew 28:7b; John 20:26a, c

The Wounds of Christ Give Us Life
 
“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood” (1 John 5:7). These three point to Christ and flow from Christ. Jesus shows His disciples His hands side, from which blood and water flowed, saying “Peace be with you.” He presents the wounds which turn our fear to gladness and which restore us to the Father. Jesus breathes on His disciples and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:23). His breath, His words are Spirit and life. They raise up our dry, dead bones and give us new and everlasting life (Ezek. 37:1–14). Christ now gives His ministers to speak His forgiving, Spirit-filled words to the penitent in His stead. Our Lord continues to come to His people, presenting His wounds to us in the Sacraments of water and blood. He bids us to touch His side at His table, to receive His risen body and blood in true faith, that believing we may have life in His name.

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White

Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11–16
Psalm: Psalm 23; antiphon: v. 6
Epistle: 1 Peter 2:21–25
Gospel: John 10:11–16
Introit: Psalm 33:1, 18–20; antiphon: vv. 5b, 6a
Verse: Luke 24:35b; John 10:14

The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep
 
Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11–16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: White

Old Testament: Isaiah 40:25–31
Old Testament: Lamentations 3:22–33
Psalm: Psalm 147:1–11; antiphon: v. 5
Epistle: 1 John 3:1–3
Epistle: 1 Peter 2:11–20
Gospel: John 16:16–22
Introit: Psalm 66:3, 5, 8–9; antiphon: vv. 1–2
Verse: Psalm 111:9a; Luke 24:26

Those Who Wait on the Lord Shall Rejoice
 
The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11–20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1–3). We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lam. 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red

Old Testament: Isaiah 52:7–10
Psalm: Psalm 146; antiphon: v. 5
Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:5–18
Gospel: Mark 16:14–20
Introit: Psalm 92:1–5; antiphon: Mark 16:15
Gradual: Psalm 119:105, 103; 45:1a, c
Verse: Mark 1:15

St. Mark, Evangelist
 
The Lord sends His messengers out “as lambs in the midst of wolves” bearing the message, “Peace be to this house” (Luke 10:3–5). St. Mark does “the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5) and “publishes peace” (Is. 52:7). He is remembered as the lion-hearted evangelist, depicted with his fellow evangelists as the four living creatures of Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. The evangelist is often identified with John Mark of Acts and the cousin of Barnabas, with whom he worked in Cyprus to “proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). Despite their earlier differences, Mark was reconciled with St. Paul, who considered him “very useful … for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). Later he worked in Rome (1 Peter 5:13), where tradition has it that he wrote his Gospel from St. Peter’s sermons before founding the church in Alexandria and facing a martyr’s death.

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship