Last month we went on a treasure hunt through Wittenberg. The real thing still is the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This the most precious treasure of the church. (Thesis 62 of Dr. Martin Luther´s 95)

This time around we are looking at the watchword for this 2025^th year of our Lord. These watchwords are chosen three years in advance. The idea is, that this Word of God accompanies the adherent throughout the year. It continues to grow and increase its benefit in the meditative believer, who is led more and more into the width and breadth of this verse of holy Scripture.

Week for week the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod encourages its followers to memorise a certain bible verse. 

During the years preceding confirmation, confirmands are expected to learn key passages like Psalms and quotations of our good Lord plus the six chief parts of Luther´s Catechism. That includes the ten commandments, the apostolic creed, the Our Father and four basic texts for each sacrament respectively plus the rudimentary outline of confession and absolution. Faithful servants in the church practice this daily exercise as St. Paul encourages his student and bishop St. Timothy:

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.

1.Timothy 4,8ff

This follows the ancient pattern of repetitive learning, which the triune God entrusted to the faithful prophet Moses:

Now these are the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord your God instructed me to teach you so that you may carry them out in the land where you are headed and that you may so revere the Lord your God that you will keep all his statutes and commandments^[c] that I am giving you—you, your children, and your grandchildren—all your lives, to prolong your days. Pay attention, Israel, and be careful to do this so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in number—as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to you, you will have a land flowing with milk and honey.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.

These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols  on your forehead. Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.

Deuteronomium 6

Dietrich Bonhoeffer together with his Finkenwalder students practiced a daily meditation of God´s Holy Word following the order of the Herrenhuter (Moravians) including a random reading together with a chosen couplet from the New Testament. which is still published in the “Kirchlicher Amtskalender”. They stuck to definite hours to support each other in this fellowship and brotherhood. Just another gospel way against sin and evil – for God is rich in his mercies:

per mutuum colloquium et consolationem fratrum, according to Matthew 18: “Ubi duo fuerint congregati” etc.

Smalcaldic Articles “Vom Evangelio” BSLS 449,12ff.

Our German Bible translation has for some time printed outstanding verses in bold letters to mark the verses. It is all part of following our good Lord´s admonition to teach them faithfully all he entrusted us by his holy apostles and prophets as we read in Psalm 1, 19 and 119, but also in the sermon of the mount (Mt.5-7). It´s also part of the meet, right and salutary practice “examine all… hold on to what is good” (1.Thess.5,21)

This empowers every faithful slave, servant and steward of God, whom the good master puts in charge of his household to give to the others their fair portion at the proper time. It is practically storing up vitalities for time of need: “Set IX apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.” (1.Pt.3,15)

This kind of faithful testimony is one of the main good works according to Apology – a sign of a living faith and fruit of godly trust in IX´s gospel – his perfectly sufficient and all atoning sacrifice & propitiation – once for all. Halleluja +

Well, thank God for that. Sadly – and we confess it regularly – we remain but poor, miserable sinners und never up to the task + Kyrie eleison + That is why our late Bishop frequently quoted our beloved and most holy Lord and only master and God of all:

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’

Luke 17,10

It reflects the final testament of Dr. Martin Luther penned down in the night he died:

Virgil’s shepherd poems cannot be understood, except by one who has been a shepherd for five years.

Cicero’s letters cannot be understood, except by one who has participated and lived within a large community for 25 years.

The Holy Scriptures do not have a satisfactory taste for me or anyone else, unless he has spent 100 years ruling a community as the prophets Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Christ and the Apostles. Don’t tempt the divine Odysee, rather worship her signs.

Wir sind Bettler. Hoc verum est! 

cf. WA 48, S. 421