09 Pentecost 3rd Sunday

FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS: O Father, grant us also that we may be your heavenly children. Teach us to be mindful only of our souls and our heavenly heritage, so that our earthly country and inheritance may not deceive, nor limit, nor hinder us. Neither make us mere children of this world, so we may in reality call you our heavenly Father and may truly be your heavenly children. Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM: The Lord’s Prayer: Introduction Our Father in heaven. What is this? With these words God wants to attract us, so that we believe he is truly our Father and we are truly his children, in order that we may ask him boldly and with complete confidence, just as loving children ask their loving father.

O God, the strength of those who hope in you. Be present and hear our prayers; and, because in weakness of our moral nature we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, so that in keeping your commandments we may please you in will and deed, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

GOSPEL: Mark 4: 35-41 When evening had come, [Jesus said to the disciples], “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arouse, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 6: 1- 13 As we work together with him, we urge you also not accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you. and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet as well known; as dying, and see – we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as

sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13 In return –I speak as to children – open wide your hearts also.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Give no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed. 2 Corinthians vi. 3.

A Christian should be careful to give no offence to any man so that the Name of God shall not be blasphemed. It is a great thing to be a Christian—that is a new man created after God, and a true image of God in whom God Himself is clearly seen. Therefore, whatever a Christian does, be it good or evil (under the name of a Christian), will be counted to the honor or dishonor of the Name of God. Therefore, if you follow your lusts and obey the old Adam within you, you do nothing but give occasion to the blasphemer and cause the Name of God to be blasphemed because of you. In this respect a Christian should take the greatest care, even if he cares for nothing else, to protect and honor the Name of his dear God and Savior Jesus Christ. Sermon on the nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1544.

W.A. 22. 321.

Taken from the book: Day by Day We Magnify Thee by Martin Luther Page 21