FLM TOBY FANANTENANA 67 Ha
Communion’s prayer, Sunday XI after Trinity
Week from 28 August to 02 September 2017
“The faithful servant”
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Introduction: Faithfulness is a characteristic of God (Rev 19:11). So He wants all his followers to be faithful as He is, according to Jesus’ words to his disciples, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Mt 5:48. Faithfulness means the righteousness of the trusted person, their trustworthiness towards the Lord who called, chose and sent them. They testify to the one who sends them, reflecting God’s nature and way, as He is their Lord. Through them God’s name may be glorified, but also may be blasphemed if they proved untrue (Rom 2:24). Righteousness is the main character of the faithful servant, having one way, one purpose and one goal with God, his Master. This means to submit to his mighty hand, to accept his leading and to agree that “no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” Jn 13:16. He walks in the fear of God, as someone who will give an account for his deeds (Heb 13:17). The servant’s obedience to his master who sent him is to do his work with righteousness and love (1 Cor 13:6). He does not have any other reason to act or to live for apart from the one the Lord called him for. However, he has even more reason to rejoice for he has been given the best part from God— which are his kingdom and his glory, his righteousness and his holiness—and has been thus called for “noble purposes” (2 Tim 2:20). Such a servant will bring a great joy to his master who will reward him by saying: “well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Mt 25:21; 23.
Monday 28: The faithful servant keeps God’s words.
“All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees” 2 Sam 22:23.
Reading 1: Jn 14:15-21; Reading 2: 2 Sam 22:21-29; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: 2 Sam 22:23. Other references:
– “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” Ps 119:11.
– “Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God” Jer 11:4.
Tuesday 29: The faithful servant does the will of God.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” Mt 21:31a.
Reading 1: Ps 40:6-10; Reading 2: Mt 21:28-31; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 21:31. Other references:
– “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future” Heb 3:5.
– “My food,’ said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” Jn 4:34.
Wednesday 30: The faithful servant, servant of the righteousness.
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” Rom 6:18.
Reading 1: Ps 26:1-8; Reading 2: Rom 6:17-23; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 6:17-18. Other references:
– “But Peter and John replied, ‘judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” Acts 4:19-20.
– “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed” 2 Tim 2:15a.
Thursday 31: The faithful servant serves in righteousness.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed” 2 Tim 2:15a. Reading 1: Lk 9:57-62; Reading 2: 2 Tim 2:11-15; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: 2 Tim 2:15a. Other references:
– “Remember, o Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly” 2 Kg 20:3
– “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” Eph 4:24.
Friday 01: The faithful servant serves in holiness.
“You have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness” Rom 6:22b.
Reading 1: Lev 10: 1-5; Reading 2: Rom 6:1-23; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 6:22. Other references:
– “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, becauseI am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground” Lev 11:44.
– “Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the Lord” Is 52:11.
– “In holiness and righteousness before him all our days” Lk 1:75.
Saturday 02: The faithful servant trusts in the One who sent him.
“Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” Rom 4:21.
Reading 1: Ps 16:1-11; Reading 2: Rom 4:13-21; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 4:21-22. Other references:
– “But I trust in you, O Lord, I say, ‘You are my God” Ps 31:14.
– “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day” 2 Tim 1:12.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German, and can be seen on the sites www.flm67ha.org and www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “Hifi – english”. © Madanet