Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? (2Co 3:7-8 NIV)

The ministry of the New Testament as service of life stands in contrast to the ministry of the Old Testament that brought death. The plain and simple pastor at the Altar has something to offer that you can’t find anywhere else. Would you like to know, why he administers this office and service? Would you like to hear, how he, who is possibly quite feeble, even ill, close to death himself – can still offer Spirit and Life itself? The Holy Scriptures calls our sinful nature: “fleshly”, “dead”, “sinful”, “lost” and “condemned” How blessed is the ministry of the New Testament if we keep that in mind. The law doesn’t make us into new people. It can’t. It calls us to do good works – continuously. It reveals our inability to live up to God’s high standards of the perfect divine law. It reveals our guilt, our shame and the coming judgment and condemnation awaiting those, who sin against this law and divine will. The more and harder the ministry of letters and the law is pressed the more desperate or conceited be get. Those are the two natural reactions to the good and holy law of God. The experience of God’s wrath and judgment and condemnation weigh heavy on our soul and heart. For this there is only one remedy and that is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the gracious service of the gospel, the most holy and blessed means of grace – the Gospel of forgiveness, holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The man bearing this holy office of the ministry does not have the Holy Spirit to dispense as his own, but rather the holy Word of Christ’s death and victorious resurrection through which the Holy Spirit is effective and the Lord’s Sacraments – they are able, they can and they do – thanks be to God!

Almighty and eternal God! Hear my supplication for the holy orders and vocations in your holy Church. Maintain her bishops and pastors by your mercy that they preach your holy Word purely and faithfully and administer your holy Sacraments according to your institution. Grant that their lives and conduct would be sanctified in you and serve your people as good and blessed example and for encouragement. Let our prayers for our pastors and teachers come before your throne as a pleasing offering and serve to praise your holy name. Grant that we would strengthen us in our desire to go home and be with you, that we accompany each other on the way as faithful brethren and by your help and guidance reach your destination in heaven. We ask this in the name of our Lord and savior, your Son Jesus Christ.   Amen.

Faith and truth and life bestowing, Open now the Scriptures, Lord, Seed to life eternal sowing, Scattered on the wind abroad. Let not hearts, Your Word receiving, Like a barren field be found, Choked with thorns and unbelieving, Shallow earth or stony ground.

May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing Bring to life the hidden grain, daily in our hearts increasing, Bearing fruit that shall remain. So in Scripture, song, and story, Savior, may Your voice be heard. Till our eyes behold Your glory Give us ears to hear Your Word. (Timothy Dudley-Smith, 1926)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the twelfth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 301 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.