Festival of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles
Posted on October 28, 2023 by under
Scripture: Acts 13:26-41 (NKJV)
13:26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:
‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:
‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”
Devotion
The Son, according to Paul’s Gospel, is the incarnation and revelation of God’s grace. Every man of Israel knew that the Old Testament history of Israel is a record of Israel’s persistent failure and God’s indomitable grace. That grace overruled even Israel’s ultimate failure and crowning disobedience—the rejection of the Son and Savior—by raising His Son from the dead and raising up witnesses and evangelists to attest to His guilty people the good news of the fulfillment of what God promised to the fathers.
What the Law could not do, God has done: Israel is free; freed by the forgiveness of sins proclaimed in Jesus. Before this incredible miracle of grace Israel must be moved to bow in fear and faith. This beautiful proclamation of the Gospel echoes in our ears this day. According to the Law we have no choice but to confess we are also guilty of the same disobedient failure toward our gracious call to be Jesus Christ’s disciples. None of us dare claim we have lived up to the call to be good stewards of God’s gifts and faithful servants doing our vocation in His holy vineyard. But by His Gospel and forgiveness in Christ, the Lord’s Bride is the shining light she is meant to be through her holy, righteous Bridegroom.
Prayer: O Almighty God, Who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
