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February 15, 2026
See TodayQuinquagesima
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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1 Sam. 16:1–13 or Isaiah 35:3–7 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Sam. 16:1–13
1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Isaiah 35:3–7
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
- Psalm
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Psalm 89:18–29 or Psalm 146 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Psalm 89:18–29
18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
Psalm 146
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
- Epistle
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1 Cor. 13:1–13 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become assounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
- Gospel
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Luke 18:31–43 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Quinquagesima
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Faith Alone
The seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31–43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him “Son of David.” Indeed, Jesus is the Lord’s anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1–13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1–13). Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3–7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life.
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — One-Year Lectionary (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
Source: LCMS One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
Historical Collect — Quinquagesima Sunday
O LORD, we beseech Thee mercifully hear our prayers, and, having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (Baltimore, 1893), Introits and Collects for the Church Year (opens in a new tab). Public-domain text (published 1893), transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for February 15, 2026 — Responsive Form
Most merciful Lord, Your Son was sought by blind Bartimaeus despite the crowd’s objections. Increase our faith in Christ’s unfailing love and His finished work of redemption, that we also would cry out to Him despite the taunts and discouragements of this faithless world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God who summons a people for His praise from age to age, remember _____________, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and _____________, our pastor(s). Through their faithful service, open the eyes of those blind to Your great love, that they would follow Your Son on His way, rejoicing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of the Church, uphold all Christians in the confession of their Lord’s name and faithful reception of His Word and blessed Sacraments. Give wisdom to our Lutheran Church, especially to her secretary and to the men nominated to serve as president and first vice-president. Give them discernment and equip them for their tasks that serve the Church. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of all, You bestow Your riches on all who call upon You. Bless parents with all wisdom as they teach their children Your ways, that all in the household may confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Remember our nation, O God, and all its leaders and public servants. Guide them into ways pleasing to You. Bless also the people of our country, that we would delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving Father, incline Your ear to all who are in distress of body and soul [especially _____________]. Comfort them with Your presence, strengthen their faith through Your gracious promises, and grant them healing according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, bless all here today who eat and drink the body and blood of Christ in His Holy Supper, that we would receive the Sacrament in repentance for the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of our faith, the salvation of our souls and to Your glory. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty and most merciful God, You urge Your Church to be strong and fear not. Inspire us to trust Your just judgment and expect the renewal of this world. Strengthen our hands and knees to pray without ceasing and to perform the works You have prepared for us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for February 15, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For great faith that cries out, like blind Bartimaeus, above the taunts and discouragements of a faithless world, to hear Christ’s word of healing and pardon, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faithful pastors, including _____________, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and _____________, our pastor(s), that through their service God would open the eyes of those blind to His great love, so that they would follow Jesus on His way, rejoicing, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all Christians, that they may faithfully confess their Lord’s name and receive His Word and blessed Sacraments; and for our Lutheran Church, especially her secretary and the men nominated to serve as president and first vice-president, that they may have wisdom and discernment for the good of the Church, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For parents, that God would bless them with all wisdom as they teach their children His ways, bestowing His riches in His Word, that all may confess Jesus as Lord, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and all its leaders and public servants, that our God would guide them into ways pleasing to Him; and that He would bless the people of our country, so that we would delight in His will and walk in His ways to the glory of His holy name, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who are in distress of body and soul, [especially _____________,] that our loving Father would comfort them with His presence, strengthen their faith through His gracious promises, and grant them healing according to His will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all here today who eat and drink the body and blood of Christ in His Holy Supper, that we would receive the Sacrament in repentance for the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of our faith, the salvation of our souls and to the glory of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For strong hands, firm knees and fearless hearts, that we may abound in good works, pray without ceasing, trust our Lord’s just judgment and expect His promised renewal of the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 849 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Quinquagesima (One-Year), Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity (One-Year) and Proper 19 (Series B).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 169 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 688 “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake
- Distribution LSB 637 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord
- Distribution LSB 689 Let Me Be Thine Forever
- Distribution LSB 758 The Will of God Is Always Best
- Closing LSB 924 Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — One-Year Lectionary Series 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.