Thursday in Week 8 of Pentecost
I was thinking about the names of the seasons of the Church year last night and decided that the season of Pentecost is probably the older form. The Sundays after Trinity is probably a later innovation. I think this merely because Pentecost is in the Holy Bible while Trinity Sunday is not. I'll still need to find out for sure though, it bugs me not knowing that bit of history.
Commemoration today: Joanna, Mary the Mother of James, and SalomeKnown in some traditions as "the faithful women," the visit of these three persons and other women to the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning is noted in the Gospel records of Matthew (28:1), Mark (16:1) and Luke (24:10). Joanna was the wife of Cuza, a steward in Herod's household (Lk. 8:3). Mary, the mother of James (the son of Alphaeus), was another of the women who faithfully provided care for Jesus and His disciples from the time of His Galilean ministry through His burial after the crucifixion. Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56), joined with the women both at the cross and in the bringing of the spices to the garden tomb. These "faithful women" have been honored in the church through the centuries as examples of humble and devoted service to the Lord. [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
Daily readings
Deuteronomy 3:18-28 Romans 9:19-33 Matthew 24:1-14Morning: Psalms 18 Evening: 19 & 20From the Romans reading:
30What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
What is the stumbling block? That Jesus came as a dying servant and not as a conquering king, and that we are saved by faith in him alone and not through our own righteous works.