THE FAMILY CATECHETICAL HOUR:  THE PRIESTHOOD AT PRAYER

THE FAMILY CATECHETICAL HOUR:  THE PRIESTHOOD AT PRAYER

                            Discussion, Study, and Prayer Guide for God's Priestly People

                           for the week of 14 – 20 May (SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER)

 

 

                                Theme:  CHRIST PRESERVES US IN THE TRUTH

 

            VERSE:  "ALLELUIA!  We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  ALLELUIA!  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  ALLELUIA!"  (Ro. 6:9; Jn. 14:18; VERSE)

 

            + HYMNS FOR NEXT SUNDAY:  564; 539*; 708; 639; 529 in Lutheran Service Book.  (In Lutheran Worship 271*; 413.  In The Lutheran Hymnal:  429.  Meditate on and learn by heart the hymn(s) marked with an asterisk (*).)

            + THE Psalm 1:1-6 (Pray the Psalm daily)

 

 

                                            THE PROPERS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

 

            + Psalm 1:1-6  The psalmist draws a contrast between the blessed and the wicked.  Note that the psalmist doesn't correlate blessedness with wealth or power or status, but with joy in hearing and studying God's Word.  Blessedness, he says, comes through a relationship with the source of every blessing.  God help us to understand what blessedness truly is—and cherish it.

            + Acts 1:12-26:  Following Jesus' ascension into heaven, the disciples waited in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit as they had been instructed.  As they waited, they sought to follow God's will in the Scriptures and trusted his guidance to provide a replacement for Judas.  God grant that we would faithfully seek his will and follow his guidance.

            + 1 John 5:9-15:  St. John writes concerning the sure and certain testimony of God himself, that God bestows the gift of eternal life on all who know and trust in his Son Jesus.  To believe this is to have eternal life, but not to believe is to call God a liar.  Knowing God’s mercy and grace toward us gives us confidence that he will grant us everything we request in accord with his will.  God grant us to trust his promises and have the assurance of eternal life.

            + John 17:11b-19:  In this section of Jesus' prayer on Maundy Thursday, Jesus prays for his disciples, that God would protect them in the world, would grant them true unity, and would make them holy.  This is Jesus' will for his Church, a will he works to accomplish still today through his Word and Spirit.  God grant us unity through his Word and preserve us as his own, holy and dearly loved, until he returns.

 

 

                                             DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK

 

            Monday:                 Numbers 8:5-26                               Luke 15:11-32

            Tuesday:               Numbers 9:1-23                               Luke 16:1-18

            Wednesday:          Numbers 10:11-36                           Luke 16:19-31

            Thursday:              Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35                  Luke 17:1-19

            Friday:                   Numbers 11:24-29; 12:1-16             Luke 17:20-37

            Saturday:               STUDY the Readings for Sunday (the Propers noted above)

                                 OR   Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33                    Luke 18:1-17

            Sunday:                 Numbers 14:1-25                             Luke 18:18-34

 

 

                        CATECHISM FOR THE WEEK:  (Please learn by heart).

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

The Third Petition:   Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?  The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God's will done?  God's will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God's name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.  This is His good and gracious will.

 

 

            THE COLLECT FOR NEXT SUNDAY [Seventh Sunday of Easter] "O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever."  AMEN!