readings for July 15-21

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: The Seventh Sunday After Trinity

In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God apart from any burdensome work (Genesis 2:7–17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground.” In other words, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:19–23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4000 (Mark 8:1–9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Collect: O God, whose never-failing providence orders all things both in heaven and earth, we humbly implore You to put away from us all hurtful things and give to us those things that be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.

Old Testament: Genesis 2:7–17

Epistle: Romans 6:19–23

Holy Gospel: Mark 8:1–9

Readings for the Week of 6th Sunday after Trinity  July 15-21, 2012

July 15                  The Righteousness that Exceeds—Matthew 5:17-26

                                                Judges 15:1—16:3; Galatians 3:23–4:11

July 16                                     The Rich Young Ruler—Luke 18:18-34

                                                          Judges 16:4-30; Galatians 4:12-31

July 17                           Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus—Luke 18:35-43

                                                          1 Samuel 1:1-20; Galatians 5:1-26

July 18                   Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’s House—Luke 19:1-10

                                                  1 Samuel 1:21—2:17; Galatians 6:1-18

July 19                                 The Parable of the Minas—Luke 19:11-28

                                                           1 Samuel 2:18-36; Acts 15:22-41

July 20            The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers—Luke 20:1-19

                                                               1 Samuel 3:1-21; Acts 16:1-22

July 21                                                                       Sunday’s readings

                                      Genesis 2:7–17; Romans 6:19–23; Mark 8:1–9