<![CDATA[Looking forward to Sunday …]]>

Coming up is the 3rd Sunday during lent: “Okuli mei semper ad Dominum” (Ps.25:15-16)

Watchword for Oculi 26^th February 2016 from the St.Luke: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:62]

1 Kings 19:1-13 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.“ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?“ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.“ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Ephesians 5:1-8 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person– such a man is an idolater– has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Luke 9:57-62 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.“ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

Hymn of the week from The Lutheran Hymnal 152: When o’er my sins I sorrow…

When o’er my sins I sorrow,
O my Lord Jesus Christ,
Be hence my comfort borrowed:
Thy death hath paid the price;
Yea, Lord, Thy precious blood was spilt
For me, O most unworthy,
To take away my guilt.
Oh, what a marv’lous off’ring!
Behold, the Master spares
His servants, and their suff’ring
And grief for them He bears.
God stoopeth from His throne on high;
For me, His guilty creature,
He deigns as man to die.
My manifold transgression
Henceforth can harm me none
Since Jesus’ bloody Passion
For me God’s grace hath won.
His precious blood my debts hath paid;
Of hell and all its torments
I am no more afraid.
Therefore I will forever
Give glory unto Thee,
O Jesus, loving Savior,
For what Thou didst for me
I’ll spend my breath in songs of thanks
For Thy sad cry, Thy suff’rings,
Thy wrongs, Thy guiltless death.
Lord, let Thy woes, Thy patience,
My heart with strength inspire
To vanquish all temptations
And spurn all base desire.
This thought I fain would cherish most:
What pain my soul’s redemption
Hath Thee, O Savior, cost.
My cross and mine afflictions,
E’en scorn and shameful rod,
Help me to bear with patience;
Grant, O my Lord and God,
That I this sinful world forsake
And follow Thine example,
Which Thou dost bid me take.
And let me do to others
As Thou hast done to me:
Love all men as my brothers
And serve them willingly,
With ready heart, nor seek my own,
But as Thou, Lord, hast helped us,
From purest love alone.
And let Thy cross upbear me
With strength, when I depart;
Tell me that nought can tear me
From my Redeemer’s heart,
But since my trust is in Thy grace
Thou wilt accept me yonder,
Where I shall see Thy face!

Wenn meine Sünd mich kränken Justus Gesenius, 1646 Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt. Source: Sts. 1–4, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 152 Sts. 5, 7, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1927, No. 197 St. 6, tr. Christopher J. Neuendorf, 2015St. 8, Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 48