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Almighty and everlasting God, deliver us from temptation and the powers of evil, that we may be faithful unto death and receive from Your hand the crown of everlasting life. Whether we live or die, we belong to You. Comfort us with this promise, that we may join the company of the saints on Your appointed day and enter into the heavenly places to worship at Your throne on high; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forevermore.

The season of Pentecost has arrived! With the arrival of the Holy Spirit, this season of the Church Year is marked by growth. We see evidence of the growth the Spirit is seeking in this week’s Readings. The Lord and giver of life seeks to see His people grow faithful hearts through faithful worship, resulting in faithful service. When the way ahead isn’t as clear or as comfortable as we would like, we rely on the Lord’s wisdom, leading us back to His faithful servant, Jesus Christ, who clears the obstacles of our sinfulness and comforts us with His Word and sacramental gifts.

Blessed Father, from You comes all that is, and we are forever indebted to Your grace for the gift of life. Receive this day our special thanks for the redemption You have provided in Jesus Christ, Your Son, and for the work of the Spirit in bringing us to know You by faith and to be adopted as Your children by Baptism into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not daughter of Zion; behold your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

When keeping score at a baseball game, numbers are used for each of the defensive positions. One is the pitcher, two the catcher, three is first base, four is second base, five is third base, and six is shortstop. Seven, eight and nine then cover left, center and right fields. Thus a shortstop to second to first double play is recorded 6-4-3 DP. As far as I know, this has not changed.

A little over halfway into his Gospel Luke records Jesus telling this parable:  “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15.3-7)

Lord God, heavenly Father, plant us as trees by the stream of Christ, our Savior. Root us securely in His Word and wisdom. Do not let us turn from You, nor put our trust in man and this flesh, which fail. Preserve us from all anxiety, and take our fears away through right fear of You. Cause us, by Your Holy Spirit, to bear much fruit and, when affliction and persecution come, to stand firm and rejoice at the great reward that is laid up for those who trust in You; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the same Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.