MALAGASY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Communion’s prayer, Sunday III before Easter
Week from 05 to 10 March 2018
« God watches over his people »
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Introduction: “God watches over his people”: this means that He watches over their lives, feeds them, protects them from any danger that could harm them, sets them free from the boundage of death, raises them again so that they may live eternally. To this end, He gives them his promise of redemption, saying: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” Is.43:1. And in order to confirm this, He established a covenant with them, saying: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” Is.54:10. Surely God watches over his people. He is no stranger to their suffering, but gives ear and responds to their petitions. He said to Moses : “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians” Ex.3 :7-8a. Once more, He showed his heart, that of a compassionate Father towards his children, when He sent Jesus, the “Friend of the unfortunate and Overseer of the widows.” For “as he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’ Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people” ( Lk.7:12-16). God’s love to us has not changed until now. He is still watching over us, still willing to listen and answer to our pleas, and to grant all our requests so that we may live and serve Him. For this purpose, Jesus said: “Ask and it will be given to you” Mt.7:7.
Monday 05: God watches over his people.
“I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land” Is.49:8b.
Reading 1: Mt.11 :1-6. Reading 2: Is.49 :8-13. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Is.49 :8. Other references:
– “ They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations” Is.61:4.
– “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” Lk.1 :68-69.
Tuesday 05: God watches over his people’s path.
“Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” Jer.10:23.
Reading 1: Jas.4: 11-17. Reading 2: Jer.10: 19-25. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Jer.10:23. Other references:
– “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act” Ps.37:5.
– “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” Jn.14:6.
Wednesday 06: God watches over his people’s life.
“And in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God” Ex.16:12b.
Reading 1: Is.43:1-3a. Reading 2: Ex.16:11-18. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Ex.16:11-12. Other references:
– “Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed” Dt. 28: 5.
– “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” Mt.6:25.
Thursday 07: Jesus is the Overseer of his people.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” Jn.10:11.
Reading 1: Eze.34:11-16. Reading 2: Jn.10: 11-16. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Jn.10:11. Other references:
– “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” Heb.13:20-21
Friday 08: Jesus watches over his people in their fight.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” Jn.16:33b.
Reading 1: Ecc.6:6-14. Reading 2: Jn.16:29-33. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Jn16:32-33. Other references:
– “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you” 1 Sa.17:36-37.
– “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” Mt. 10: 29-30.
Saturday 09: Jesus gives life to his people.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” Jn.6:54a.
Reading 1: Eze.37: 1-10. Reading 2: Jn.6:52-65. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: Jn.6:52-54. Other references:
– “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” Lk.22:19.
– “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” Rev.12:11.
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