“Exaudi Domine vocem meam…” (Lord, hear my voice…) 7th Sunday in Easter

Our Lord and God Jesus Christ said: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” Watchword from John 12:32

Introit from Psalm 27: Hearken, O Lord, unto my voice which has called out to you, alleluia; my heart declared to you: “Your countenance have I sought; I shall ever seek your countenance, O Lord; do not turn your face from me, alleluia, alleluia.” The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hallelujah.

God’s Holy Word from the holy prophet Jeremiah in the thirty-first chapter: “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.  32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.  33 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Verses 31-34)

The Epistle from the apostle St. Paul to the Ephesians the fourth chapter:  “Be patient, bearing with one another in love.  3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  4 There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called–  5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”  9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?  10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)  11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Verses 2b-16)

The Holy Gospel according to the apostle and evangelist St. John the fifteenth and sixteenth chapters: Our Lord and saviour IX promised: But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.  But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. (verses 15,26-16,4)

The sermon for this Sunday is based on the holy Gospel of the apostle and evangelist St. John the seventh chapter: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. (37-39)

The liturgical colour is white.

Together with the Christian Church we pray this collect for this Sunday: O God, King of Glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father, for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Hymn for this Sunday: “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!” by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1. Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!
   Be all Thy graces now out poured
   On each believer’s mind and heart;
   Thy fervent love to them impart.
   Lord, by the brightness of Thy light,
   Thou in the faith dost men unite
   Of every land and every tongue;
   This to Thy praise, O Lord, our God, be sung.
   Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
2. Thou holy Light, Guide Divine,
   Oh, cause the Word of Life to shine!
   Teach us to know our God aright
   And call Him Father with delight.
   From every error keep us free;
   Let none but Christ our Master be
   That we in living faith abide,
   In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
   Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
3. Thou holy Fire, Comfort true,
   Grant us the will Thy work to do
   And in Thy service to abide;
   Let trials turn us not aside.
   Lord, by Thy power prepare each heart
   And to our weakness strength impart
   That bravely here we may contend,
   Through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend.
   Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hymn 224  The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Acts 2: 4
Author: Martin Luther  titled: “Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott”
If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will faithfully according to his most precious revelation of his will and promises in both the Old and New Testament! However, if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)