Introit:Ps 34:2-4, 17 (antiphon: Ps 48:1)
Gradual: [Ps. 91:11; 103:1]
Psalm: Ps 111 (antiphon: Ps 111:10)
OT: Ruth 1:1-19a
Epistle:2 Tim 2:1-13
Proper Verse: Luke 5:15
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

Faith Returns Thanks to God and Worships Him in the Person of Christ Jesus
Jesus comes in mercy and, by His Word, heals you in body and soul. "Go and show yourselves to the priests," for you are cleansed (Luke 17:14), and you are granted access to the Lord's temple. It is "at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks" (Luke 17:16) that you worship God, for Christ Jesus is your great High Priest; His body is the true temple. In Him, you "find rest, each of you in the house of her husband" (Ruth 1:9), for the Lord has "visited his people and given them food" (Ruth 1:6). The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food „ bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead" (2 Tim. 2:8). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely "the word of God is not bound" (2 Tim. 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted "to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2), so that you "may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach and confess the one Lord and Savior „ Jesus Christ.

Introit:Ps 74:18-19, 21, 20a, 22a (antiphon: Ps 74:2a)
Gradual: [Ps. 91:11; 103:1]
Psalm: Ps 121 (antiphon: Ps 121:1-2)
OT: Gen 32:22-30
Epistle:2 Tim 3:14„4:5
Proper Verse: Luke 18:8
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

Faith Clings to the Word and Promises of God and Perseveres in Prayer
"Left alone," Jacob wrestled through the night with the Lord, "until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24). Though "Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him" (Gen. 32:25), he would not let go until the Lord blessed him. At times, we, too, strive with God; He strives with us and blesses us by grace. So Jesus teaches us "always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). Jesus speaks of "a judge who neither feared God nor respected man" and of a widow "who kept coming to him and saying, ïGive me justice against my adversary'" (Luke 18:2_3). Because of her persistence, the judge agreed to "give her justice" (Luke 18:5). Our Lord dispenses justice generously and swiftly, giving "justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night" (Luke 18:7). He does so according to the Gospel. Therefore, His ministers are to persevere faithfully in their vocation, in what they "have learned and have firmly believed" (2 Tim. 3:14). On the basis of "the sacred writings" (2 Tim. 3:15), they are to "preach the word" at all times and not lose heart (2 Tim. 4:2).

Introit:Ps 56:10-13 (antiphon: Ps 56:3)
Gradual: [Ps. 91:11; 103:1]
Psalm: Ps 5 (antiphon: Ps 5:11a)
OT: Gen 4:1-15
Epistle:2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18
Proper Verse: Luke 18:16b
Gospel: Luke 18:9-17

In Humble Repentance, Faith Lives by Grace and Mercy and Is Exalted by God in Christ
Jesus tells a parable "to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous" (Luke 18:9). In this parable, the Pharisee unjustly boasted before God on the basis of his own merits, whereas the tax collector intently prayed, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). That poor, miserable sinner trusted Christ, and he went "down to his house justified, rather than the other" (Luke 18:14). So do little children, "even infants," come to Jesus with their need, and they "receive the kingdom of God" through faith (Luke 18:15_17). For "the one who humbles himself will be exalted," but "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled" (Luke 18:14). That is why "the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard" (Gen. 4:4_5). St. Paul's life, "poured out as a drink offering," was another sacrifice like Abel's (2 Tim. 4:6). The Lord stood by Paul and strengthened him, that "the message might be fully proclaimed" (2 Tim. 4:17). It is by that Gospel message of Christ that we "have loved his appearing" and as repentant sinners pray to "the Lord, the righteous judge" by faith (2 Tim. 6:8).

Introit:Ps 50:1-2, 14-15 (antiphon: Ps 50:23)
Gradual: [Rev. 7:14b; Ps. 84:5]
Psalm: Ps 130 (antiphon: Ps 130:3-4)
OT: Is 1:10-18\nEpistle:2 Th 1:1-5 (6-10) 11-12
Proper Verse: Luke 19:9b, 10
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

The Lord Comes to Save and Call Us to Himself by the Tree of His Cross
God will judge "those who do not obey the gospel" (2 Thess. 1:8), but "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven" (2 Thess. 1:7), He will "be glorified in his saints" (2 Thess. 1:10). For by His cross, you are "considered worthy of the kingdom of God" (2 Thess. 1:5). Therefore, "give ear to the teaching of our God" (Is. 1:10), and "let us reason together" by faith in His Gospel (Is. 1:18). "Make yourselves clean" (Is. 1:16), not by "the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats" (Is. 1:11), but by the blood of Christ. His salvation comes to you by grace, as it came to Zacchaeus. That man sought "to see who Jesus was," but he could not "because he was small in stature" (Luke 19:3). It is by way of a tree that Zacchaeus is found by the One he sought, for Jesus Himself "was about to pass that way" (Luke 19:4). The Lord calls Zacchaeus down and goes "in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner" (Luke 19:7). So also, He visits us as sinners, securing eternal redemption for us through the tree of His holy cross.

Introit:Ps 115:2-4, 8, 17-18 (antiphon: Ps 115:11)
Gradual: [Rev. 7:14b; Ps. 84:5]
Psalm: Ps 148 (antiphon: Ps 148:13)
OT: Ex 3:1-15
Epistle:2 Th 2:1-8, 13-17
Proper Verse: Luke 20:38
Gospel: Luke 20:27-40

The Triune God Curbs Evil and Overcomes Death with Resurrection
Christians live as "sons of God, being sons of the resurrection" (Luke 20:36), for the Lord our God "is not God of the dead, but of the living" (Luke 20:38). "Those who deny that there is a resurrection" (Luke 20:27) neither know the Scriptures nor the power of God, but the baptized faithful know "that the dead are raised" (Luke 20:37). For the Lord, who was, and is and is to come, knows Israel's sufferings and has "come down to deliver them" (Ex. 3:8). Moses reveals the name of Yahweh to God's chosen people, by which He is "remembered throughout all generations" (Ex. 3:15). In contrast to that sacred remembrance of His name, St. Paul warns against the antichrist, who "takes his seat in the temple of God" (2 Thess. 2:4). That lawless man preaches and practices the activity of Satan. Christians, however, are comforted by the coming of the Lord Jesus, who slays the antichrist and refutes his false doctrine "with the breath of his mouth" (2 Thess. 2:8). By His preaching, "stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught" (2 Thess. 2:15). Hear, receive and believe God's promise of love, comfort and good hope.