Proper 19 C

As We Gather

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Having lost even a single sheep, the great Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus, will “leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it.” He says “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” When He finds the lost one and brings it home, the angels and all the company of heaven rejoice with Him, with great joy.

—www.LCMS.org

Introit (Psalm 30:2-5; antiphon: Psalm 30:11a, 12b)

P:
You have turned for me my mourning into | dancing;* O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you for- | ever!
C:
O Lord my God, I have cried to | you for help,* and you have | healed me.

P:
O Lord, you have brought up my soul | from Sheol;* you restored me to life from among those who go down | to the pit.
C:
Sing praises to the Lord, O | you his saints,* and give thanks to his | holy name.

P:
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a | lifetime.* Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the | morning.
C:
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now and will be forever. | Amen.

Collect of the Day

Lord Jesus, You are the good shepherd, without whom nothing is secure. Rescue and preserve us that we may not be lost forever but follow You, rejoicing in the way that leads to eternal life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Ezekiel 34:11–24

The Old Testament reading is from Ezekiel, chapter 34.

For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet? Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, ’til you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

This is the word of the Lord.

1 Timothy 1:12–17

The Epistle is from First Timothy, chapter one.

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

This is the word of the Lord.

Luke 15:1–10

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fifteenth chapter.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man 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. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Psalm 119:169–176

P:
Let my cry come before you, | O Lord;* give me understanding according | to your word!
C:
Let my plea come be- | fore you;* deliver me according | to your word.

P:
My lips will | pour forth praise,* for you teach me your | statutes.
C:
My tongue will sing | of your word,* for all your command- | ments are right.

P:
Let your hand be ready to | help me,* for I have chosen your | precepts.
C:
I long for your salvation, | O Lord,* and your law is | my delight.

P:
Let my soul live and | praise you,* and let your just decrees | help me.
C:
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your | servant,* for I do not forget your com- | mandments.

C:
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now and will be forever. | Amen.