Produced by Lutherans for Life, Life Thoughts in the Church Year are designed to help pastors and congregations see the church year through the lens of the sanctity of human life. Life Thoughts are based on the appointed readings from Lutheran Service Book using the Three-Year Lectionary.
October 4 – Pentecost XVIII (Proper 22A) – Jesus’ parable about vineyard tenants (Matthew 21:38-41) warns against abortion and assisted suicide. These acts always kill a son or daughter, without ever delivering the liberty they advertise. They ink us into contracts payable only with guilt and grief. But entrusting ourselves to Christ, who creates bodies and sustains souls even amid costs and losses (Philippians 3:7-8) like surprise pregnancy or terminal diagnosis, this gives life not only to “me” but to “us” (Psalm 80:18).
October 11 – Pentecost XIX (Proper 23A) – Jesus Christ has already swallowed up death forever. It belongs to Him and Him alone. He reserves the right to provide life to us on His terms and decide in His time when we die. His death and resurrection have freed us from needing to seek it for ourselves or for anybody else. His peace and presence, promises and power pass us not only into death’s shadow but through it—without ever setting up residence.
October 18 – St. Luke, Evangelist – Abortion and assisted suicide insist on a salvation by works. They believe only pretty, popular, powerful, productive persons deserve to survive. Almighty God doesn’t delight in this kind of physical strength (Psalm 147:11). His grace and love give every life value, and so St. Luke’s Gospel proclaims the Lord’s joy and ours over blind, deaf, lame, mute (Isaiah 35:5-6), unborn (Luke 1:44), elderly (Luke 2:36-38), and even me and you!
October 25 – Pentecost XXI (Proper 25A) – Scripture highly praises motherhood (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8) and fatherhood (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12). The Holy Spirit inspires the Apostle Paul to use them as words for the love of one Christian for another. We protect each other like fathers and take care of each other like mothers. If this clearly excludes the killing of even a neighbor (Leviticus 19:16), how much more shall we cherish the lives of children, however young, and parents, however old!
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