Some days just start off better than others – and what a great start to this 5th Sunday after Easter (Rogate) it has been. Good news from the top Lutheran Seminary in the World (CS St.Louis) and they´re just going to get better: “Nothing is going to stop them (!) now…” (Queen) and they´re probably quite comfortable singing the ongoing chorus: “Try to catch me – if you can!” (Steven Spielberg). Well, that news has made my day and I´m not even at the best part yet, because it´s Sunday and we are ready for church and just full of great expectations to hear, see and taste the friendliness of our God.
The candles are burning, the table is set, and the biblical lessons are just such a treat – full of the triune God´s goodness and grace from beginning to end – Psalm 95; Ex32,7-14; 1Ti2,1-6 and Lk11,5-13. We´re going to concentrate on the “Our Father”, but look specifically at Moses pleading vicariously for his/God´s people and get comfort from Jesus´prayer on the cross: “Forgive them for they know not, what they do!” We will be looking at the long list, which we Christians have praying for this world and all its people (1.Ti2,1-6) while remembering, that God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. Finally, Jesus´ parable of the inopportune friend knocking after midnight. That´s a whole bag full of goodness and truth – and then I´ve not even touched on the hymns yet.
There too we´ve got one pearl strung up one after the other on this beautiful lineup of old Psalms, Christian hymns and Lutheran specialties.
The theme is set with Paul Eber´s moving plea:
1 When in the hour of deepest need
We know not where to look for aid;
When days and nights of anxious thought
No help or counsel yet have brought.
2 Then is our comfort this alone
That we may meet before Your throne;
To You, O faithful God, we cry
For rescue from our misery.
3 For You have promised, Lord, to heed
Your children’s cries in time of need
Through Him whose name alone is great,
Our Savior and our advocate.
4 And so we come, O God, today
And all our woes before You lay;
For sorely tried, cast down, we stand,
Perplexed by fears on ev’ry hand.
5 O from our sins, Lord, turn Your face;
Absolve us through Your boundless grace.
Be with us in our anguish still;
Free us at last from ev’ry ill.
6 So we with all our hearts each day
To You our glad thanksgiving pay,
Then walk obedient to Your Word,
And now and ever praise You, Lord.
That´s the song the German peasants sing on the evening before Dr. Martin Luther makes his confessional stand at the Diet of Worms (1521) – at least according to the great film with Joseph Fiennes and the brilliant Sir Peter Ustinov. You can´t watch that scene without being deeply moved by this critical turning point in history. Yes, and we´ll be singing this today full of confidence, trust and joy, because we have the promise of our God: “God deserves praise, forhe did not reject my prayer or abandon his love for me.” (Psalm 66:20 NET) I pray, that Your Sunday will be a very blessed one too. May the triune God and Father, Savior and Comforter of all mankind bless and keep You in the true and saving faith – through Jesus Christ our Lord and God. Amen.
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