Preparing for Worship - September 29, 2024

There are two possible sets of readings for this Sunday. I will list all but only give very brief explanations, as there are 9 possible Scriptures, and I cannot cover them all very thoroughly. Churches can use the readings for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost. These are:

Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29

Psalm 104:27-35

James 5:(1-12)13-20

Mark 9:38-50

You can study the Epistle from James 5 by looking at the previously posted podcast. The Words from Psalm 104 show the mercy and care of the Lord in “providing food in due season,” caring for His people, and calling for trust in Him and praise, even as farmers patiently trust the Lord, in that James 5 lesson.

In the Old Testament lesson from Numbers, God’s people are grumbling (warned about in the Epistle), complaining about the manna God was providing, and wanting something else. Moses is also becoming very frustrated because he cannot control or deal with these rebellious people. He almost wishes to give up and die. God provides 70 helpers for Moses and gives them a measure of the Holy Spirit, as Moses had. Moses rejoices in all those who are faithfully helping, even if two of them are not doing everything in the planned way.

This parallels the Gospel lesson from Mark 9, where John complains about someone who is not one of the chosen disciples casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus rejoices in anyone truly doing some good, trusting in the name of Christ. Jesus also warns about going astray and leading others astray. Jesus wants us to battle sin in our lives that would hurt us and others. Sin comes from sinful hearts (Mark 7:20-230, so Jesus is not asking us literally to cut off parts of our body, but to take sin seriously and battle it with the Lord’s help and forgiveness.

The other set of readings possible this week are for focusing on St. Michael and All Angels Sunday. The readings are:

Daniel 10:10-14, 12:1-3

Psalm 91

Revelation 12:7-12

Matthew 18:1-11 or Luke 10:17-20

This set of readings focuses upon the fact that God created holy angels, as well as our amazing universe and the first human beings, Adam and Eve, to live on the earth along with all of its other creatures. The Epistle from Revelation 12 speaks of the rebellion of the devil, Satan, and other angels who became evil and opposed God. They were cast out of the presence of God and came to earth, tempting Adam and Eve to fall into sin, as well. Ever since, there has been a battle between good and evil, including angels, with the victory over evil coming finally through God’s own Son, Jesus, the Lamb who was sacrificed for us. Satan always attacks and accuses us of our sins, but through Jesus, there is forgiveness and life. The archangel Michael is mentioned here and in the Old Testament reading in Daniel 10 as a leader of the holy angels, battling Satan and his forces. The angel who speaks to Daniel had been battling, together with Michael, evil spirits in Persia, who were influencing leaders and people there toward evil. This holy angel then strengthens Daniel (think of how angels strengthened Jesus, tempted in the wilderness and in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Matthew 4:11 and Luke 22:43). The angel also tells Daniel more things to come in the future, with regard to leaders of Greece, and in Daniel 12, in the end times, when Michael will help deliver God’s people for everlasting life, while others, apart from Christ, will receive everlasting shame and contempt in hell.

The Psalm, Psalm 91, speaks of God’s overarching care for His people. Part of His care is holy angels, who help and protect God’s people who trust in the Lord (Psalm 91:9-13). The devil quotes from this passage, out of context, trying to get Jesus to jump off the temple. Surely, God’s angels would help Him, but Jesus knows that He was not to put God to the test but to do His will always.

The Gospel lesson, Matthew 18:1-11, speaks of God’s care, even for little children who have the gift of simple faith, and that there are guardian angels watching over them, from the presence of the Heavenly Father. There are also reminders to battle evil temptations within us, as described in the Mark 9 passage in the first set of readings. See that for more comments. Finally, Luke 10:17-20 indicates that Jesus gave power to His own disciples to battle evil spirits in His Name. Even more important, though, is that their names are written in heaven, as among those who have been rescued by the gift of faith in Jesus and His saving work for them. That is the best gift.

There is so much more in these passages, but hopefully, this will give you a start in looking at them before and after worship.