Hebrews 9,11-15. Judica

Hebrews 9,11-15  2023

Judica  29 

Gregory I the Great, Bishop of Rome (590-604) ✠ 604

26. März 2023

1. ℣ Judge me, O God: 

℟ And plead my cause against an ungodly nation (Psalm 43,1). 

O Christ Jesus, our Deliverer from our enemies; teach us to trust in You, so that we hope in You who rescues us from the man of violence.  Amen. (Psalm 18,48 Gradual). 

2. »But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have arrived, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, then how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.« 

3. One of the key tenets of the Sinai Covenant is that a sacrifice must be made for the forgiveness of sins; the blood of an animal must be shed (Leviticus 17,11), for without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness (Hebrews 9,22). Thus once a year on Yom Kippur the high priest entered the most holy place of the temple and poured the sacrificed goat’s blood upon the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 16,29-34; 23,26-32). This atonement happened once a year [on the 10. day of the 7. month: 9.24/25 2023] (Leviticus 23,27). Yom Kippur teaches that sin is judged one way or another : either sin is atoned for, or it remains. Sin that remains leads to punishing judgment. Sin that is atoned for leads to forgiving judgment, i.e. vindication. 

4. Repentance and confession of sins are venerable Church disciplines that Christians ought to regularly practice. The Apostle John exhorts us: »If we say we have no sin, then we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, then God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness« (1. John 1,8-9). The apostle is applying Scriptural wisdom as he sets forth these 2 verses as good, Christian discipline: »I acknowledged my sin, and hid not mine iniquity: I said, I will confess mine iniquity to Yahweh against myself; and you forgave the ungodliness of my heart.« (Psalm 32,5 lxx); »He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames himself shall be loved« (Proverbs 28,13 lxx). 

5. Holy Scripture judges us and our sins by revealing sin and urging us to acknowledge and repent of that sin. Holy Scripture vindicates us by promising God’s absolution. The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed: »Draw near, let us reason together, says Yahweh: and though your sins be as purple, I will make them white as snow; and though they be as scarlet, I will make them white as wool.« (Isaiah 1,18). 

6. The shedding of innocent blood forgives sin and justifies the sinner. Jesus became that innocent sacrifice. »He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, then how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.« »He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him« (Hebrews 9,26b-28).

7. The cross is God the Father’s judgement upon Jesus. Christ bore our sin and the payment for sin, died in our place, merited forgiveness and redeemed us. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1,29). We have been judged in Jesus. »We are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His Divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus« (Romans 3,24-26). 

8. The Epistle to the Hebrews concludes with this exhortation: »Through Jesus then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God« (Hebrews 13,15-16). 

9. »Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever« (Hebrews 13,15-16). 

10. thus God has deemed it be, 

So to us all, He does decree.

Within the no is found the yes,

In defeat, victory abounds,

In failure, blessing is found,

His veiled love will impress. (Das Kreuz ist aufgerichtet elkg 426,4 2021 Kurt Ihlenfeldt 1967). 

This is most certainly true. 

13. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

14. Let us pray. O God, whose beloved Son, choosing the paths of earth, went not up to joy but first He suffered pain, nor to His glory before embracing a cross, plant His cross in our hearts that in its power and love we may come to the joyful end of our faith and a heavenly crown.  Amen. (Judica, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office.)

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House. 

Brenton, Lancelot C. L. Septuagint in American English 2012 (with Apocrypha). Public Domain. 

Isaiah 54,7-10. Laetare

Isaiah 54,7-10 1923

Laetare 28 

Joseph, Guardian of Jesus

19. März 2023

1. ℣ Rejoice, ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her:

℟ All ye that love her (Isaiah 66,16). 

O Lord Jesus Christ, whose delight is the house of Yahweh; bring peace both to Your Church and to our world, so that we may live and work in the security that we may worship You without fear or coercion.  Amen. (Psalm 122,1.7 Gradual)

2. »„For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid My face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,“ says Yahweh, your Redeemer. „This is like the days of Noah to Me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My merciful steadfast love will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed,“ says Yahweh, who has compassion on you.« 

 3. Prior to Isaiah 54, the Prophet speaks of the impending destruction of the temple, Jerusalem and captivity in Babylon. Judah will experience political turmoil and upheaval by the hand of Yahweh through His Servant King. Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27,6). Yahweh humbled sinful Judah. 

4. Isaiah accuses Judah of a number of serious offenses: idolatry, injustice and oppression, pride and arrogance, hypocrisy, unfaithfulness and disobedience. Yahweh disciplines those He loves and chastises every son whom He receives (Proverbs 3,12; Deuteronomy 8,5); He sent 19 prophets over 400 years to call the people to repentance and worship only Yahweh. Prophet after Prophet was rejected, so Yahweh disciplined Judah with the 70 year Babylonian Exile. Through it all — before, during and after the Exile — Yahweh spoke to Israel by His Prophets.  

5. The message of Isaiah is as relevant for us today as it was when Isaiah first proclaimed it 2700 years ago. Idolatry, injustice, pride, hypocrisy and disobedience still plague mankind in the 21. century; Christ’s Church is not immune from these sins. The Church first applies the prophetic Word to herself, repents, returns to the path where she has erred and then call upon every person and nation to heed God’s Word, repent and be absolved. Isaiah consistently and constantly calls upon us to confess our sin and to then amend our sinful ways. Forsake your idols, let truth and justice prevail, humble your narcissism, heed and keep the Word of Yahweh. Some churches, like the Lutheran Church, point us to this attitude of confession each Sunday. Others set aside a time of corporate repentance. Many churches greatly emphasize repentance and right living throughout the 40 days of Lent. Hear these words of Isaiah: »Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Come now, let us reason together, says Yahweh: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool« (Isaiah 1,16-18). 

6. Laetare falls at the middle of Lent; today marks the transition from Lent 22 to Lent 23. This Sunday focuses our eyes and hearts on rejoicing. God never leaves nor forsakes His people, not even in difficult times. God promises restoration and redemption. God is eager to forgive and reconcile. God is faithful: His merciful steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136,1a).  

7. In one of His first sermons as He began His public ministry, Jesus preached on the Prophet Isaiah: »The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. And He began to say to them: „Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.“« (Isaiah 61,1-2a; Luke 4,18-19.21). 

8. Laetare! Jesus fulfills the Prophets. 

℣ »I am the Bread of life, whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst« (John 6,35). 

℟ »Lord, You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God!« (John 6,68-69). 

God has compassion on us, and His compassion is shown to us in Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again for us. Rejoice in Yahweh, and take joy in the God of our salvation (Hebrews 3,18). Rejoice, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing for Yahweh has comforted His people (Isaiah 49,13). Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4,4), for Christ Jesus is our Savior. 

9. Jesus, my joyous treasure,

My heart’s pleasure

Jesus, my crown of grace

O how long, my anguish

Is the heart anxious

And longs for Thy face

God’s Lamb, Thy Church’s Groom,

Besides Thee, nothing on earth

Nothing else shall give me mirth (Jesu, meine Freude elkg 543,1 2021 Johann Franck 1653)

This is most certainly true. 

11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

12. Let us pray. O God, the Living God, who hast put Thine own eternity in our hearts and hast made us to hunger and thirst after Thee, satisfy, we pray Thee, the instincts which Thou hast implanted in us that we may find Thee in life, and life in Thee.  Amen. (Laetare, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover.   

Luke 9,57-62. Oculi

Luke 9,57-62  1823

Oculi  27 

Gregory I the Great, Bishop of Rome (590-604) ✠ 604

12. März 2023

1. ℣ Mine eyes are ever toward Yahweh: 

℟ For He shall pluck my feet out of the net (Psalm 25,15). 

O Christ Jesus, Thou who prevails the Will of God; let Your justice be declared unto us, so that we may stand before You righteous.  Amen. (Psalm 91,11-12 Gradual). 

2. »As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus: „I will follow you wherever you go.“ And Jesus said to him: „Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.“ To another He said: „Follow Me.“ But he said: „Lord, let me first go and bury my father.“ And Jesus said to him: „Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the reign of God.“ Yet another said: „I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home“ Jesus said to him: „No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the reign of God.“« 

3. Luke 9,51 is the great apex in the Gospel according to St. Luke; it reads: »When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem.« Before this verse, Luke notes that Jesus had been teaching, preaching and doing miracles as a proclamation that He is the Son of Man sent by God the Father to redeem the world. This redemption was to occur in Jerusalem, therefore Jesus goes there to fulfill His Father’s  Heilsgeschichte (salvation history). 

4. There is a cost to being the Son of Man: Jesus would be betrayed, suffer and be killed. Jesus knows this cost and He pays it in full for this is how He would save the world. Jesus will later tell His disciples during Holy Week: »A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecute Me, then they will also persecute you« (John 15,20). To be a disciple of Jesus is to expect suffering and persecution. Thus in today’s sermon text, Jesus states the high cost of discipleship and the need for commitment and focus in following Him. 

5. Following Jesus may require a level of sacrifice and commitment that not everyone is willing to make. There is no promise of temporal comforts, such as a roof over one’s head or fancy clothes. One may have to forgo home, possessions and the like to follow Jesus. Persecution and martyrdom may result. All of the apostles were persecuted; 12/13 apostles were martyred. Throughout 3 centuries Christians endured Imperial Roman persecutions: some were short-lived, but others lasted years; and the final one endured for a decade under Emperor Diocletian.

6. Following Jesus may require evangelism over temporal or family obligations. Duty to Christ takes priority over other duties. Christians must realize this and be prepared to put Jesus first. This prioritization is not always easy.  

7. Following Jesus requires focus, dedication and discipline. Distractions will arise, and we must be able to maintain self-control. The Devil tempted Jesus 3 times to lose focus from His ministry; the Devil will tempt us with the same for he desires to thwart the advancement of the reign of God. 

8. Five chapters later Jesus tells the crowds: »Whoever does not bear his own cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple« (Luke 14,27). Jesus exhorts us to count the cost of being His disciple. At Luke 9 Jesus’ ministry is weeks away from the events of Holy Week. The time is short; there is much to do but little time to accomplish it. Jesus is going to His cross and He exhorts His disciples to take up their own cross and follow Him. There is an urgency now where 3 years prior there wasn’t. In the time remaining, Jesus taught many things to prepare His disciples. In Lententide we delve into these teachings more rigorously to conform our discipleship to His. 

9. Jesus travels to Jerusalem to suffer and die as the redemption price for us and our sin. Our Lententide journey follows Jesus to His cross. Jesus is the Faithful Disciple who counted the cost and paid its price. Let us likewise count the cost of discipleship and follow Jesus, for He has the words of eternal life (John 6,68). We receive this gospel through hearing the preached Word, by having it poured upon us Holy Baptism, placed into our hands and mouth through the Lord’s Supper and spoken in the words of Absolution. Christian discipline is faith in Christ, and faith receives the forgiveness given in the Word and Sacraments as a gracious, free gift. 

10. Our eyes are ever on Jesus. The pages of Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation testify of Him. Jesus redeems the life of His disciples; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned (Psalm 34,22). The cross we bear and the path we walk was first born and trod by Jesus. He led, and we follow. We do not take the path of discipleship alone: we walk it together as a Church. Jesus is with us the entire way. 

11. Jesus, leads the way 

On the path of life we stay;

And we will not tarry,

To follow You faithfully,

Lead us by the hand

Until we reach the homeland. (Jesu, geh voran elkg 656,1 2021 Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf  1719/1721, Christian Gregor 1778). 

This is most certainly true. 

13. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

14. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, we beseech Thee by the loneliness of Thy suffering on the cross, be nigh unto all them that are desolate in pain or sorrow today; and let the beauty of Thy presence transform their loneliness into comfort.  Amen. (Oculi, Vespers Collect 1. The Daily Office.)

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House. 

Matthew 15,21-28. Reminiscere

Matthew 15,21-28 1723 

Reminiscere 26

Eusebius of Cremona, Abbot at Bethlehem, 5^th c.

5. März 2023

1. ℣ Remember, O Yahweh, Thy tender mercies and Thy merciful steadfast love:

℟ For they have been ever of old (Psalm 25,6). 

O Yahweh, Thou Comfort of the distressed; consider our afflictions and forgive all our sins, so that we may live each day in peace and security.  Amen. (Psalm 77,14-15 Gradual)

2. »And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying: „Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.“ But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples went and begged Him, saying: „Send her away, for she is crying out after us.“ He answered: „I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.“ But she approached and worshipped Him, saying: „Lord, help me.“ And He answered: „It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.“ She said: „Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.“  Then Jesus answered her: „O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.“ And her daughter was healed instantly.« 

 3. Today’s Gospel pericope tells us that Jesus travelled to the district of Tyre and Sidon. These 2 cities were northwest of Galilee and situated in the province of Syria. The Romans had exercised rulership of Syria since 64 bc, nearly 100 years prior to the events in Matthew 15. Tyre was a Gentile city. Why Jesus goes there is not mentioned by Matthew, but 2 possible reasons are: 1. Jesus leaves Galilee to seek solitude and rest from His.  ministry to the Jewish crowds; 2. Jesus may have wanted to preach to a Gentile audience and thus expand His ministry to all the nations. There is some merit to this 2. possibility based on vs. 17-20, where Jesus teaches the Pharisees and His disciples that external things, like eating without washing your hands, do not make you unclean, but internal things make one unclean, such as proceeds forth from one’s heart and mouth. The Pharisees would argue a Jew going to Tyre has made one unclean for fraternizing with Gentiles. To prove His point, Jesus goes to Gentile territory and preaches to the Gentiles. 

4. A prominent misconception among Jesus’ Jewish peers is that the Messiah is only for them. The Prophet Isaiah, however, said otherwise: »Thus says God, Yahweh: „I am Yahweh; I have called You in righteousness; I will give You as a covenant for the people, a light for the Gentiles“« (Isaiah 42,6). And again: »Yahweh says: „I will make You as a light for the Gentiles, so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth“« (Isaiah 49,6). 

5. The Canaanite woman who seeks Jesus is a quintessential representative of the Gentiles. Conventional wisdom among the Jews of that time was this woman was an idolator, apart from God’s grace and the fact that her daughter was demon-possessed is the result of worshipping false gods; her daughter’s suffering therefore was her fault. It was an harsh assessment, but it was the general opinion of Jesus’ generation. It was the overall assessment of Job’s 3 friends that he must have done something to deserve his suffering. This is often the default thinking among people today, even among Christians. Jesus Himself addressed this opinion several times in the Gospels, particularly: »There were some present at that very time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered them: „Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.“« (Luke 13,1-3). 

6. To our 21. century Western ears, Jesus’ initial dialogue with the Canaanite woman may seem shocking. He sets forth the order of things: He is the Messiah, and He ministers to the Jews. Her response is profound: she approached Jesus and worshipped Him. The English translations prefer to translate that phrase as she knelt before Him, but a good case can be made to translate it as worship. The Greek verb used occurs 12 times in Matthew (2 times in Mark and 3 times in Luke). The English goes with worship when the Magi see Jesus and when the disciples see Jesus walk on the water (Matthew 2,2.11; 14,33). Also, twice after His Resurrection, Jesus’ disciples worship Him (Matthew 28,9.17). It is highly inferred by the context that the Magi have faith in Jesus, and it is explicitly stated that the disciples have faith in Jesus throughout the Gospels. Jesus declares that this Canaanite woman has faith in Him. Faith in Jesus leads to worship of Jesus. It is probable that this Canaanite woman who exhibits faith in Jesus falls before Him and worships Him; she is perhaps the first Gentile to do so in the Gospels! 

7. This woman’s faith in, and worship of, Jesus elicits this response: »O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.« Compare this to what Jesus says to His disciples a chapter earlier when Peter began to sink under the waves: »O you of little faith, why did you doubt?« (Matthew 14,31). A Gentile woman has greater faith than the Apostle Peter! O that the Holy Spirit would bless us with such great faith as that shown by this Canaanite woman, for suffering and tribulation often sap our faith, lead us to doubt and reveal how little our faith truly is. In this we are similar to Peter in chapter 14. 

8. We are prone to doubt and have little faith; thus, Lententide is a season for us to acknowledge our little faith, read more Scripture, pray more and petition the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith in Jesus. Lententide reminds us to humble ourselves and seek Jesus’ mercy. The Prophet Micah writes: »O man, love mercy and walk humbly with your God« (Micah 6,8). The Prophet Isaiah writes: »God shows merciful steadfast love on you« (Isaiah 30,18). 

9. If you are weighed down with despair, trials, tribulations or ailments, then seek Jesus and His merciful steadfast love for He is ready to forgive, is gracious and merciful, is slow to anger and is abounding in loving-kindness (Nehemiah 9,17). Jesus is merciful toward your iniquities and will remember your sins no more (Jeremiah 31,34; Hebrews 8,12). The Canaanite woman knew that the bread of the Messiah is so abundant and so overflowing that parts of it fall from the table onto the floor (Gibbs 787), and these crumbs are enough for her and her daughter (Gibbs 787). Whether Jesus gives you much or little in answer to your prayers, know that what He gives will suffice and strengthen you in both temporal and spiritual needs. The Apostle Paul exhorts us: »we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us« (Romans 5,3-5). 

10. O beautiful Tree of life of paradise, 

Gracious Jesus, Lamb of God on earth.

You are for our life the true Savior, 

our Redeemer. (Du schöner Lebensbaum elkg 429,1 2021 Dieter Trautwein, Vilmos Gyöngyösi 1974 nach dem ungar.)

This is most certainly true. 

11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

12. Let us pray. O God, who gavest Thy beloved Son, the holy One and just, the meek and lowly in heart, to be the pattern of our living, help us, who must be measured by His measure and compared with His beauty, both to long and to strive after His likeness that all men may know that we have been with Jesus; to the glory of Thy Name.  Amen. (Reminiscere, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover.  

Gibbs, Jeffrey A. Matthew 11:2 – 20:34. Copyright © 2010 Concordia Publishing House.