Malagasy Lutheran Church
Communion’s prayer, Sunday I of the Advent
Week from 27 November to 02 December 2017
“The fulfillment of the promise”
Introduction: “The fulfillment of the promise”. Fulfillment is characteristic of God’s word. The Angel Gabriel said to Mary when telling her about God’s plan for her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,… ‘the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” Lk 1:30-35. Thereupon the angel encouraged Mary by saying: “For no word from God will ever fail” Lk 1:37. The certainty of the fulfillment of God’s promises is indeed the reason why we firmly believe in them. Actually It is through the fulfillment of God’s words that his glory is revealed–that is his holiness, his righteousness and his grace. The sign of this fulfillment appeared through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For if it is written: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” Jn 1:1; John also said: “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” Jn 1:14. Blessed is he who believes in the promise of God.
Monday 27: God fulfills his promise.
“The days are coming’, declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made” Jer 33:14a.
Reading 1: 2 Pet 3:9-10; Reading 2: Jer 33:14-18; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jer 33:14. Other references:
– “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Num 23:19
– “Who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘it shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be built,’ and of their ruins,’ I will restore them” Is 44:25-26.
Tuesday 28: God’s covenant ensures the fulfillment of the promise.
“The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” Jer 31:31.
Reading 1: Mt 26:20-29; Reading 2: Jer 31:31-34; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jer 31:31. Other references:
– “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear” Hag 2:4-5.
– “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing… And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” Jn 14:12-13
Wednesday 29: The promise has been fulfilled in the Word made flesh.
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” Lk 4:21.
Reading 1: Is 9:4-6; Reading 2: Lk 4:16-22; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Lk 4:20-21. Other references:
– “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” 2 Pet 1:16.
– “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us” 1 Jn 1:2.
Thursday 30: Believe in the promise.
“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Lk 1:45.
Reading 1: 2 Pet 1:16-19; Reading 2: Lk 1:39-45; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Lk 1:45. Other references:
– “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.’ And is servant was healed at that very hour” Mt 8:13.
– “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” 2 Cor 6:2b.
– “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy” Rev 1:3a.
Friday 01: The Messiah King will come.
“See, your king comes to you” Mt 21:5b.
Reading 1: Zec 9:9-12; Reading 2: Mt 21:1-9; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 21:5. Other references:
– “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” Rev 22:20-21.
– “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” Rev 3:20.
Saturday 02: Receive the Messiah King. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” Mt 23:39b.
Reading 1: Ps 113:1-9; Reading 2: Mt 23:29-39; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 23:37-39. Other references:
– “Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory” Ps 24:9-10.
– “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Rev 5:13.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German and can be seen on the website www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “Hifi-english”.
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