Daily Lectionary For September 12–September 18, 2010

Daily Lectionary For September 12–September 18, 2010

September 12 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; Philippians 4:1-23
September 13 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Colossians 1:1-23
September 14 Holy Cross Day; 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Colossians 1:24-2:7
September 15 2 Chronicles 34:1-4, 8-11, 14-33; Colossians 2:8-23
September 16 2 Chronicles 35:1-7, 16-25; Colossians 3:1-25
September 17 2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Colossians 4:1-18
September 18 Nehemiah 1:1-2:10; 1 Timothy 1:1-20

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS:  SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

A large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke 7:11–17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:14–21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman’s son (2 Kings 17:17–24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us. “To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.”

Collect: O Lord, we pray that Your grace may always go before and follow after us, that we may be continually given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.

Old Testament: 1 Kings 17:17–24
Epistle: Ephesians 3:13–21
Holy Gospel: Luke 7:11–17