09 Pentecost 11th Sunday

FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS: This bread is our Lord Jesus Christ who feeds and comforts the soul. Therefore, O heavenly Father, grant us grace that the life, words, works, and sufferings of Christ may be preached, made known, and preserved for us and all the world. Help us keep his words and works in all walks of life as a powerful example and inducement to every virtue. Enable us in our sufferings and tribulations to be strengthened and comforted by his sufferings and cross. Help us to conquer our death by a firm faith in his victory over death and boldly follow our beloved Leader into the life beyond. Amen.

ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM: The Lord’s Prayer: The Fourth Petition Give us today our daily bread. What is this? In fact, God gives daily bread without our prayer, even to all evil people, but we ask is this prayer that God cause us to recognize what our daily bread is and to receive it with thanksgiving. What then does “daily bread” mean? Everything our bodies need such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, fields, livestock, money, property, an upright spouse, upright children, upright workers, upright and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, decency, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given great and precious promises to those who believe. Grant us the perfect faith which overcomes all doubts, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOSPEL: John 6:51-58 (Jesus said :) “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever east of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you can eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ? Sunday: Ephesians v. 15-21 . . . that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans xv. 6

All that we can give to God is praise and thanksgiving. This is the only true service, as He Himself says... But how could we give God praise and adoration, the only true service, if we do not love Him and accept His gifts? But how can we love Him unless we know Him and His gifts? But how can we know Him and His gifts if no man preaches about them and the Gospel is left lying under the bushel? For where there is no Gospel God cannot be known; hence there can be no praise or love of God. Thus there can be no worship. St. Paul admonishes us that we shall with one mind and one mouth glorify God. That happens when we are of one mind and know that we are all equal, having received the same gift in Christ, so that no man exalts himself above another, and none claims any special gift. Sermon on the second Sunday in Advent, 1522.

W.A.10. I (ii). 80f.

Taken from the book: Day by Day We Magnify Thee by Martin Luther Page 374