Pioneer and Perfecter of Our Faith--May 10, 2020

Holy God, robed in majesty

and girded with strength,

you have sent us Jesus,

pioneer and perfecter

of our faith.

Your Spirit was upon him;

he brought good news to the poor;

proclaimed release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free.

Jesus did all you commanded,

and he endured the cross,

disregarding its shame.

Give us strength

to follow Jesus

in a ministry of love:

healing, caring, freeing.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 93; 150; 136; 117

Lev. 8:1-13, 30-36

Heb. 12:1-14

Luke 4:16-30

Selected Verses

Ps. 93:1a

The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty;
          the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength.

Lev. 8:36

Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded through Moses.

Heb. 12:2

…looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Luke 4:18

“…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…”  [Jesus, reading Isaiah in the synagogue]