Pentecost 5th Sunday

FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS: In order that your kingdom may come and increase, bring all blinded sinners and those held captive by the devil to the knowledge of true faith in Jesus Christ. Make the number of souls in Christendom great. Amen.

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM: The Third Petition of The Lord’s Prayer: Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. What is this? In fact, God’s good and gracious will comes about without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also come about in and among us. How does this come about? Whenever God breaks and hinders every evil scheme and will of the devil, the world, and our flesh that would not allow us to hallow God’s name and would prevent the coming of his kingdom. And God’s will comes about whenever God strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word and in faith until the end of our lives. This is God’s gracious and good will. God of glory, Father of love, peace comes from you alone. Send us as peacemakers and witnesses to your kingdom, and fill our hearts with joy in your promises of salvation, through you Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOSPEL: Mark 6:1-13 (Jesus) came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went among the villagers teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ? I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and of supplication. Zechariah xii. 10 The Spirit should create these two things in all Christians: first, that their hearts are sure and certain that God is gracious unto them; then, that they can help others too with their prayers. The first means that they are reconciled to God and have everything they need. When they have that, they should become as gods and saviours of the world, through their prayers. For when a Christian begins to know Christ as his Lord and Saviour, through whom he is redeemed from death and brought into His Kingdom and inheritance, his heart is aglow with a flaming love of God and he would gladly help everyone to the same experience, for he has no greater joy than that he possesses this treasure, that he knows Christ. Therefore he goes out and teaches and exhorts other people, praising and testifying to it before all men, praying and yearning that they too might attain to such grace. That is a restless spirit enjoying the highest rest, in the grace and peace of God, for it cannot be silent or idle, but is always striving with all its power to spread the honour and glory of God among the people, that others too may receive this Spirit of grace and may then help with the work of prayer. Exposition of John xiv.

W.A.45. 540.

Taken from the book: Day by Day We Magnify Thee by Martin Luther Page 213