Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting ...
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH (MISSOURI SYNOD) Pastor Gerhard Grabenhofer Organist: Marianne Grabenhofer 71 W. First St. Corning, NY Phone 962-4970 [email protected] www.faithlutherancorning.org Jubilate [Shout for joy] 3rd Sunday after Easter—11 May 2014
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40.28) THE OFFICE OF MATINS—hymnal page 32 Pre-service Prayers (Hymnal pp. 4; 102-109; 118; 170) Hymn #202 Welcome, Happy Morning! At the final stanza, the congregation turns facing the processional cross
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: In the Name of the Father and of the () Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to set forth His praise, to hear His holy Word, and to ask for ourselves and on behalf of others those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. So that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship Him, let us, with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by His infinite goodness and mercy. Most merciful God, C: we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the () Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. Opening Versicles— Invitatory: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. / Venite Hymn #196 I Am Content! My Jesus Liveth Still
Hymnal pg. 32 pg. 33-34
Psalm—Psalm 100 P: Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; C: Come before His presence with singing. P: Know that the LORD, He is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; C: We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. P: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. C: Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. P: For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, C: And His truth endures to all generations. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. First Lesson— Isaiah 40. 25-31 25 To whom then will you compare Me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because He is strong in power not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall exchange their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Response— pg. 34 Second Lesson— John 16. 16-23 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"18 They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'?20 Most
assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Response— pg. 34 Sermon—Isaiah 40. 25-31 God’s Word, Not Our Feelings, Is The Reality 1. What our feelings tell us 2. God’s word tells us the truth [Silence for meditation] Offering The Canticle—Te Deum Laudamus
pg. 35-37
THE PRAYERS Kyrie pg. 39 Lord’s Prayer pg. 39 Salutation/ Collects pg. 40 P: Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth intending to return them into the way of righteousness. Grant that all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to it; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. C: Amen. FOR OUR SICK: O Lord of heavenly might, You rule over the bodies and souls of all, and in Your Son, our Savior Jesus, You healed all manner of infirmities and cured all manner of diseases. Mercifully help, in body and soul, Your servants who are ill, especially those of our congregation and those dear to us. If it is Your will, free them from their sickness, or grant them the grace to take joyfully their present sufferings in full assurance of the glory that will be revealed to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS: Almighty eternal God, You do not even drive the unbelieving Jews away from Your mercy. Hear our prayer that we offer for this blinded people: take away the veil from their hearts so that they may
recognize the Light of Your truth, Christ, and so be rescued from their darkness; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen. FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: Almighty God, in Your Word You called us to remember those suffering and in prison because of their faith in You. Send the Holy Spirit to comfort them and direct Your holy angels to watch over them. Give them strength to face their sufferings, and joy in the knowledge that You will never leave nor forsake them. Grant them, and us, the grace to forgive their persecutors as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him; in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. FOR THE UNBORN: Heavenly Father, You knit all human life together in the womb. Help us to cherish the unborn child as Your handiwork. Instill in us a selfless compassion to speak on their behalf when their lives are endangered. Shelter those children with Your love, Your care, Your compassion. May all people join us in celebrating life as Your gift and a blessing from Your hand. We ask in Jesus’ name, Who came as a child in His mother’s womb to be our Savior. Amen. FOR MARRIAGE: O Lord God, You created man and woman and have ordained them for the bond of marriage, making them fruitful and picturing in that the sacramental union of Your dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Church, His Bride. We beg Your infinite goodness and mercy that You will not let this, Your creation, ordinance and blessing to be disturbed or destroyed, but that You will graciously preserve it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen FOR TELLING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS: Lord Jesus Christ, You have made known to us the truth of Your salvation and by it have set us free from sin and death. Lead us to continue in Your Word and so truly be Your disciples, that as we tell the Good News about You to those around us, they may be set free also to glorify You; in Your name we pray. Amen.
Collect for Grace Benedicamus and Benediction Hymn #203 Morning Breaks upon the Tomb
pg. 40 pg. 40
The congregation faces the processional cross as it leaves
Silent Prayer TELL THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT FAITH Today—Happy Mothers’ Day Tuesday—Bible Study (Malachi) 6 pm Thursday—Bible Study (Malachi) 9.30 am Sunday—LWML Meeting after service REMEMBER IN PRAYER: Virginia Butler, Dan Fraser, Jonna Holden, Karen Weiner; Donald Zaun. Christ does not say, Learn from Me to create the world, to do miracles, to raise the dead, but this: I am gentle and lowly [Mt. 11.26]. (St. Augustine)
WELCOME TO FAITH! GOD’S HOUSE, YOUR HOME. Here is a word for you! —God’s Word. Here is a Savior for you! –God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Here is life for you! —God’s gift of life by grace through faith in Jesus. Guests, please do us the honor of signing the guest book in the entryway of the church. If you have any questions about Faith Lutheran Church and the doctrine we believe and confess or have no church home of your own, we invite you to speak to the pastor. We hope to share God’s Word with you again.
LUTHER NOTES FOR MOTHERS’ DAY—A very fine example of the power of prayer is provided by Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. She asked for nothing in her prayer for her son except that he might be liberated from the [heretical group called] Manichaeans and be baptized… But the more she prayed, the more stiff-necked and stubborn the son became and her prayer seemed to her to have become a sin. But when the time for hearing her solicitous prayer had come (for God usually defers His help), Augustine is not only converted and baptized but devotes himself entirely to the study of theology and turns out to be such a teacher that he shines in the Church to this day, teaching and instructing the Church. Monica had never asked for this. It would have been enough for her if her son had been freed from error and had turned Christian… But God wants to give us greater blessings than we can ask for, as long as we do not weaken in our prayer. LUTHER NOTES ON THE OLD TESTAMENT READING: Those who look to their God in the midst of weakness and impotence and in faith wait against all their enemies will be adorned with a heavenly victory against the resources of the world…. Thus, then, is depicted the consolation of all who are afflicted because of the word and work of God, of all who lie prostrate under their enemies and are apparently without hope. These I say, in the midst of the darkness of the word lay hold of Christ, who is wealthy, strong and vigorous. It is for us to seem faint and inadequate and as nothing in the eyes of the world.
PRAYER: Lord God, heavenly Father, as a Father You have good in mind for us. On earth You desire to have us, Your children, under the rod so that we will be like Your only-begotten Son, both in suffering but also afterwards in glory. We pray that You would comfort us in cross and trial with Your Holy Spirit so that we do not despair but hold firmly to this comfort—that according to Your Son’s promise, suffering will only be for a short while and eternal joy will follow afterwards—so that by this promise we may, in patience, overcome all evil and be saved by Jesus Christ. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 40. 25-31 Who is it that by the stars so clearly demonstrates His almighty power, His wisdom, and His faithfulness as a Shepherd? Why then do My beloved people complain that I have neglected them? Am I not the eternal mighty God, the eternally powerful and the unsearchably wise God? I daily renew the strength of all that is weary and without strength. Even though the powerful lose their strength and break down, those who rest in Me daily get new strength and end their life’s journey in victory. [A. Pieper] EPISTLE: 1 Peter 2.11-20 By their conduct on earth, Christians have a high, holy duty toward the children and citizens of this world among whom they live as guests. Extraordinary or mighty attempts at conversion are not necessary. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, the Christians simply confess their God and Christ, keep themselves unstained by the world and faithfully and conscientiously carry out their earthly calling. For His part, God will make their verbal preaching and their preaching by deed mighty and alive—at one time in the heart of this unbelieving companion in life and the next time in the heart of another. In this way many souls will be ripped away from the earthly and won for heaven. When the elect sojourners go on God’s paths, they will always attract some earthly citizens to themselves and lead them to heaven with themselves. [Stoeckhardt] GOSPEL: John 16. 16-23 We have now often heard what it means “to go to the Father”; which indeed is not a common expression, such as men usually employ and as they generally understand it, but it is the language of the Lord Christ and His Christians. That Christ went forth from, or was sent by, the Father means nothing else than that He, the true Son of God from eternity, became a true man, and revealed Himself on earth in human nature, essence, and form, permitted Himself to be seen, heard, and felt, ate, drank, slept, worked, suffered, and died, like any other person. Again, that He goes to the Father, that means that He will be glorified by His resurrection from the dead, that He sits at the right hand of God and reigns with Him in eternity, as eternal, almighty God. For by His coming down or going from the Father He revealed and proved Himself a true, natural man; but by HBis return to the Father He declares Himself to be true, eternal God, out of God the Father, and thus remains in one person both God and man, and should be thus known and believed. [Luther]
LUTHER NOTES FOR MOTHERS’ DAY: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother. To this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special distinction above all estates that are beneath it that He not simply commands us to love our parents, but to honor them. For with respect to brothers, sisters, and our neighbors in general He commands nothing higher than that we love them, so that He separates and distinguishes father and mother above all other persons upon earth, and places them at His side. For it is a far higher thing to honor than to love one, inasmuch as it comprehends not only love, but also modesty, humility, and deference as to a majesty there hidden, and requires not only that they be addressed kindly and with reverence, but, most of all that both in heart and with the body we so act as to show that we esteem them very highly, and that, next to God, we regard them as the very highest. For one whom we are to honor from the heart we must truly regard as high and great. We must, therefore impress it upon the young that they should regard their parents as in God’s stead, and remember that however lowly, poor, frail, and peculiar they may be, nevertheless they are father and mother given them by God. They are not to be deprived of their honor because of their conduct or their failings. Therefore we are not to regard their persons, how they may be, but the will of God who has thus created and ordained. In other respects we are, indeed, all alike in the eyes of God; but among us there must necessarily be such inequality and ordered difference, and therefore God commands it to be observed, that you obey me as your father, and that I have the supremacy. Learn, therefore, first, what is the honor towards parents required by this commandment to wit, that they be held in distinction and esteem above all things, as the most precious treasure on earth. Furthermore, that also in our words we observe modesty toward them, do not accost them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly, but yield to them and be silent even though they go too far. Thirdly, that we show them such honor also by works, that is, with our body and possessions, that we serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor, and all that not only gladly, but with humility and reverence, as doing it before God. For he who knows how to regard them in his heart will not allow them to suffer want or hunger, but will place them above him and at his side, and will share with them whatever he has and possesses. —Luther's Larger Catechism
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40.28) THE OFFICE OF MATINS—hymnal page 32 Pre-service Prayers (Hymnal pp. 4; 102-109; 118; 170) Hymn #202 Welcome, Happy Morning! At the final stanza, the congregation turns facing the processional cross
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: In the Name of the Father and of the () Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to set forth His praise, to hear His holy Word, and to ask for ourselves and on behalf of others those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. So that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship Him, let us, with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by His infinite goodness and mercy. Most merciful God, C: we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the () Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. Opening Versicles— Invitatory: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. / Venite Hymn #196 I Am Content! My Jesus Liveth Still
Hymnal pg. 32 pg. 33-34
Psalm—Psalm 100 P: Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; C: Come before His presence with singing. P: Know that the LORD, He is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; C: We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. P: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. C: Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. P: For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, C: And His truth endures to all generations. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. First Lesson— Isaiah 40. 25-31 25 To whom then will you compare Me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because He is strong in power not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall exchange their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Response— pg. 34 Second Lesson— John 16. 16-23 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"18 They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'?20 Most
assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Response— pg. 34 Sermon—Isaiah 40. 25-31 God’s Word, Not Our Feelings, Is The Reality 1. What our feelings tell us 2. God’s word tells us the truth [Silence for meditation] Offering The Canticle—Te Deum Laudamus
pg. 35-37
THE PRAYERS Kyrie pg. 39 Lord’s Prayer pg. 39 Salutation/ Collects pg. 40 P: Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth intending to return them into the way of righteousness. Grant that all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to it; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. C: Amen. FOR OUR SICK: O Lord of heavenly might, You rule over the bodies and souls of all, and in Your Son, our Savior Jesus, You healed all manner of infirmities and cured all manner of diseases. Mercifully help, in body and soul, Your servants who are ill, especially those of our congregation and those dear to us. If it is Your will, free them from their sickness, or grant them the grace to take joyfully their present sufferings in full assurance of the glory that will be revealed to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS: Almighty eternal God, You do not even drive the unbelieving Jews away from Your mercy. Hear our prayer that we offer for this blinded people: take away the veil from their hearts so that they may
recognize the Light of Your truth, Christ, and so be rescued from their darkness; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen. FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: Almighty God, in Your Word You called us to remember those suffering and in prison because of their faith in You. Send the Holy Spirit to comfort them and direct Your holy angels to watch over them. Give them strength to face their sufferings, and joy in the knowledge that You will never leave nor forsake them. Grant them, and us, the grace to forgive their persecutors as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him; in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. FOR THE UNBORN: Heavenly Father, You knit all human life together in the womb. Help us to cherish the unborn child as Your handiwork. Instill in us a selfless compassion to speak on their behalf when their lives are endangered. Shelter those children with Your love, Your care, Your compassion. May all people join us in celebrating life as Your gift and a blessing from Your hand. We ask in Jesus’ name, Who came as a child in His mother’s womb to be our Savior. Amen. FOR MARRIAGE: O Lord God, You created man and woman and have ordained them for the bond of marriage, making them fruitful and picturing in that the sacramental union of Your dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Church, His Bride. We beg Your infinite goodness and mercy that You will not let this, Your creation, ordinance and blessing to be disturbed or destroyed, but that You will graciously preserve it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen FOR TELLING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS: Lord Jesus Christ, You have made known to us the truth of Your salvation and by it have set us free from sin and death. Lead us to continue in Your Word and so truly be Your disciples, that as we tell the Good News about You to those around us, they may be set free also to glorify You; in Your name we pray. Amen.
Collect for Grace Benedicamus and Benediction Hymn #203 Morning Breaks upon the Tomb
pg. 40 pg. 40
The congregation faces the processional cross as it leaves
Silent Prayer TELL THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT FAITH Today—Happy Mothers’ Day Tuesday—Bible Study (Malachi) 6 pm Thursday—Bible Study (Malachi) 9.30 am Sunday—LWML Meeting after service REMEMBER IN PRAYER: Virginia Butler, Dan Fraser, Jonna Holden, Karen Weiner; Donald Zaun. Christ does not say, Learn from Me to create the world, to do miracles, to raise the dead, but this: I am gentle and lowly [Mt. 11.26]. (St. Augustine)
WELCOME TO FAITH! GOD’S HOUSE, YOUR HOME. Here is a word for you! —God’s Word. Here is a Savior for you! –God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Here is life for you! —God’s gift of life by grace through faith in Jesus. Guests, please do us the honor of signing the guest book in the entryway of the church. If you have any questions about Faith Lutheran Church and the doctrine we believe and confess or have no church home of your own, we invite you to speak to the pastor. We hope to share God’s Word with you again.
LUTHER NOTES FOR MOTHERS’ DAY—A very fine example of the power of prayer is provided by Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. She asked for nothing in her prayer for her son except that he might be liberated from the [heretical group called] Manichaeans and be baptized… But the more she prayed, the more stiff-necked and stubborn the son became and her prayer seemed to her to have become a sin. But when the time for hearing her solicitous prayer had come (for God usually defers His help), Augustine is not only converted and baptized but devotes himself entirely to the study of theology and turns out to be such a teacher that he shines in the Church to this day, teaching and instructing the Church. Monica had never asked for this. It would have been enough for her if her son had been freed from error and had turned Christian… But God wants to give us greater blessings than we can ask for, as long as we do not weaken in our prayer. LUTHER NOTES ON THE OLD TESTAMENT READING: Those who look to their God in the midst of weakness and impotence and in faith wait against all their enemies will be adorned with a heavenly victory against the resources of the world…. Thus, then, is depicted the consolation of all who are afflicted because of the word and work of God, of all who lie prostrate under their enemies and are apparently without hope. These I say, in the midst of the darkness of the word lay hold of Christ, who is wealthy, strong and vigorous. It is for us to seem faint and inadequate and as nothing in the eyes of the world.
PRAYER: Lord God, heavenly Father, as a Father You have good in mind for us. On earth You desire to have us, Your children, under the rod so that we will be like Your only-begotten Son, both in suffering but also afterwards in glory. We pray that You would comfort us in cross and trial with Your Holy Spirit so that we do not despair but hold firmly to this comfort—that according to Your Son’s promise, suffering will only be for a short while and eternal joy will follow afterwards—so that by this promise we may, in patience, overcome all evil and be saved by Jesus Christ. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 40. 25-31 Who is it that by the stars so clearly demonstrates His almighty power, His wisdom, and His faithfulness as a Shepherd? Why then do My beloved people complain that I have neglected them? Am I not the eternal mighty God, the eternally powerful and the unsearchably wise God? I daily renew the strength of all that is weary and without strength. Even though the powerful lose their strength and break down, those who rest in Me daily get new strength and end their life’s journey in victory. [A. Pieper] EPISTLE: 1 Peter 2.11-20 By their conduct on earth, Christians have a high, holy duty toward the children and citizens of this world among whom they live as guests. Extraordinary or mighty attempts at conversion are not necessary. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, the Christians simply confess their God and Christ, keep themselves unstained by the world and faithfully and conscientiously carry out their earthly calling. For His part, God will make their verbal preaching and their preaching by deed mighty and alive—at one time in the heart of this unbelieving companion in life and the next time in the heart of another. In this way many souls will be ripped away from the earthly and won for heaven. When the elect sojourners go on God’s paths, they will always attract some earthly citizens to themselves and lead them to heaven with themselves. [Stoeckhardt] GOSPEL: John 16. 16-23 We have now often heard what it means “to go to the Father”; which indeed is not a common expression, such as men usually employ and as they generally understand it, but it is the language of the Lord Christ and His Christians. That Christ went forth from, or was sent by, the Father means nothing else than that He, the true Son of God from eternity, became a true man, and revealed Himself on earth in human nature, essence, and form, permitted Himself to be seen, heard, and felt, ate, drank, slept, worked, suffered, and died, like any other person. Again, that He goes to the Father, that means that He will be glorified by His resurrection from the dead, that He sits at the right hand of God and reigns with Him in eternity, as eternal, almighty God. For by His coming down or going from the Father He revealed and proved Himself a true, natural man; but by HBis return to the Father He declares Himself to be true, eternal God, out of God the Father, and thus remains in one person both God and man, and should be thus known and believed. [Luther]
LUTHER NOTES FOR MOTHERS’ DAY: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother. To this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special distinction above all estates that are beneath it that He not simply commands us to love our parents, but to honor them. For with respect to brothers, sisters, and our neighbors in general He commands nothing higher than that we love them, so that He separates and distinguishes father and mother above all other persons upon earth, and places them at His side. For it is a far higher thing to honor than to love one, inasmuch as it comprehends not only love, but also modesty, humility, and deference as to a majesty there hidden, and requires not only that they be addressed kindly and with reverence, but, most of all that both in heart and with the body we so act as to show that we esteem them very highly, and that, next to God, we regard them as the very highest. For one whom we are to honor from the heart we must truly regard as high and great. We must, therefore impress it upon the young that they should regard their parents as in God’s stead, and remember that however lowly, poor, frail, and peculiar they may be, nevertheless they are father and mother given them by God. They are not to be deprived of their honor because of their conduct or their failings. Therefore we are not to regard their persons, how they may be, but the will of God who has thus created and ordained. In other respects we are, indeed, all alike in the eyes of God; but among us there must necessarily be such inequality and ordered difference, and therefore God commands it to be observed, that you obey me as your father, and that I have the supremacy. Learn, therefore, first, what is the honor towards parents required by this commandment to wit, that they be held in distinction and esteem above all things, as the most precious treasure on earth. Furthermore, that also in our words we observe modesty toward them, do not accost them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly, but yield to them and be silent even though they go too far. Thirdly, that we show them such honor also by works, that is, with our body and possessions, that we serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor, and all that not only gladly, but with humility and reverence, as doing it before God. For he who knows how to regard them in his heart will not allow them to suffer want or hunger, but will place them above him and at his side, and will share with them whatever he has and possesses. —Luther's Larger Catechism
