<![CDATA[Oh, do listen up!]]>Looking forward to this Sunday. It is “Sexagesimae” – the second Sunday before Lent):

Oh, that today You would listen as He speaks! Do not harden Your hearts.

Hebrews 3,15
An Armenian Bible, 17th century, illuminated by Malnazar

This blessed Sunday we are focused on the triune God´s holy word. The Psalm 1,19 and 119 teach us in that regard. With the Introit all believers confess:

Psalm 119,89-92.103-105.116
Isaiah scroll
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her!
Esra vor einem Schrank mit biblischen Büchern (Codex Amiatinus)

And the good Lord lets us hear His words through the holy prophet Isaiah, which we have in well preserved text scrolls dating back nearly 3 millenia…

Isaiah 55,8-12

The designated sermon text is from the letter to the Hebrews. There we get a strong and powerful picture of this very holy Word of God:

Hebrews 4,12-13
Darstellung des Gleichnisses aus dem Hortus Deliciarum der Herrad von Landsberg (12. Jahrhundert)

Our good Lord and Savior Jesus Christ elaborates the efficacy of His most holy Gospel:

St. Luke 8,4-8
Saint Paul writing His Epistles, c. 1619 painting by Valentin de Boulogne
St. Jerome in His Study, by Marinus van Reymerswaele, 1541.
Edward Matthew Ward: Luther’s first study of the Bible

Blessed translators through the ages!

The Nouvi Zákon – the Lutheran New Testament in prekmurian language, by István Küzmics in 1771
Gustav Vasa Bible 1541
Elector´s Bible 1641
Blatt 16v, enthaltend Mk 3,26–32 EU, aus dem Codex Argenteus, einer Abschrift der Wulfilabibel
Die erste vollständige Bibelübersetzung von Martin Luther 1534, Druck Hans Lufft in Wittenberg, Titelholzschnitt von Meister MS.
Münster Bibelmuseum

We listen up and sing with this blessed churchman´s hymn:

Thy strong word did cleave the darkness;
At thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank thee
While thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!

Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness,
Dark as night and deep as death,
Broke the light of thy salvation,
Breathed thine own life-giving breath.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!

Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous;
Bright with thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory,
And our lives our hope confess.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!

From the cross thy wisdom shining
Breaketh forth in conqu’ring might;
From the cross forever beameth
All thy bright redeeming light.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!

Give us lips to sing thy glory,
Tongues thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats to shout the hope that fills us,
Mouths to speak thy holy name.
Alleluia! Alleluia! May the light which thou dost send
Fill our songs with alleluias, Alleluias without end!

God the Father, light-creator,
To thee laud and honor be.
To thee, Light from Light begotten,
Praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, light-revealer, Glory, glory be to thee.
Mortals, angels, now and ever Praise the holy Trinity!

Martin H. Franzmann 1907-1976
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