Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 7th December 2014

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

zweiter-advent“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7 NKJV) and St. Paul writes to St. Timothy: “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV)

Blessed are those, who have parents and grandparents, mothers and fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and aunts, elders and teachers who can tell and show the younger generations of growing up boys and girls, what God has done, said and shared in Ages past. Blessed are those, who don’t have to find out all for themselves, but have to flounder in the dark trying to find the light, meandering aimlessly through life in the hope of striking in lucky one day, finding the deeper meaning of things and eventually even the highest good. It’s not just about good old values, home-made recipes for cooking and animal husbandry, working in the garden and in the ways of this world – but rather about the true faith and confession, which has been handed down through the venerable cloud of witnesses from the very beginning – sometimes fading into the shadows, but never breaking up – rather sharing that genuine faith in all the triune God has done in his wonderful works of creation, salvation and sanctification.

Blessed are those, who don’t only hear tidbits hear and there, but from a very tender young age hear about the miracles and wonders of our God – in the stories from the beginning starting off with Adam and Eve, Noah and his family, about the arch fathers and patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses and Josua, Kaleb and many more. Hearing and learning about the mothers of faith starting of from Eve, Sara, Rebecca, Esther, Rahel and oh so many more. Who are taught the main articles of faith in a way that makes sense and sustains the faith. Knowing the will of God in the commandments, appreciating the gifts of God in all spheres of lives, creating, sustaining, saving, forgiving, healing and perfecting. Learning to pray, to sing, to worship, to relate to the living God through the Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church and never tiring of praying the Lord’s prayer itself. Living daily in the gracious gift of Holy Baptism, crawling back and being pulled back daily into these saving and cleansing waters of the Holy Spirit. Being sustained and motivated and kept in the true faith and in Jesus Christ through his very body and blood given to us in the Lord’s supper. Blessed are they, who are not left to their own devices and are left to believe that it all depends on their own doing to make a success in life – as if there is no God and as if it is not he, who controls and manages and determines all everywhere and every day and every night.

Let us older ones not forget to share this blessed knowledge of God’s most precious revelation in his Holy Word of the Old and New Testaments, the genuine faith and blessed confession of the Church with our children, sons and daughters, nephews and nieces, grandsons and granddaughters. Praying not only for faithful parents and godparents, but also for faithful teachers, pastors and elders, who will share this our divine calling and obligation with us and hand on the rule and deposit of faith faithfully, truthfully on to those, who will come after us and live the godly life in the years and ages to come – until he comes to fulfil all on the final day of judgement.

Let us also not forget those unreached people, who have nobody to tell them about the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the heavenly Father living and ruling over all together with the Holy Spirit – in the Arabic and muslim lands, in the pluralistic melting pot of all religions, ideologies and philosophies, which is the subcontinent India, nor the land of most people China and the land of the rising sun Japan. That is a huge missionary task for the Christian Church. Let us pray for dedicated and faithful missionaries to these countless people, who grow up and old without hearing about the triune God and all that he has done for us and our salvation. Let us support the work of the Christian and Church missions to these distant lands and people – and not neglect this high and precious calling to make disciples of all nations, teaching them all, that the Lord Jesus Christ has taught and entrusted to us. Let us pray for the distribution of good confessional literature and writings, Luther’s catechisms and true expositions of the genuine faith – hymnals and liturgies of the Church. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy on all and everyone. Let us remember faithfully the countless orphans and children at war and in persecution, fleeing, migrating and trying to find a safe abode – in Africa, in the Ukraine, in Middle America and on the border of Mexico. The street kids, the homeless children, the victims of child trafficking, prostitution, drug abuse and slavery?  Who will teach them all that He has done for them in Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour? Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy + Come Lord Jesus and fulfil your promises and make an end to all the suffering and hardship, bringing your people home and saving all that are in calamity and distress. You are almighty and gracious and good. Help and save us and the countless lost people in your mercy +

Advent is about remembering, recalling the divine promises of old. A time to share the genuine faith in the coming Lord and of great expectations of his glorious return. That’s what we celebrated in this wonderful time of Advent – with our forebears and our descendants – and the entire Christian Church. We all pray: Come Lord Jesus, come soon! Maranatha! Amen.

We pray: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hail! Hosanna! David’s Son! Jesus, hear our supplication! Let your kingdom, scepter, crown Bring us blessing and salvation That forever we may sing: Hail! Hosanna to our king!

Lutheran Hymnal 55,4 by Johann G. Olearius 1664

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 6th December 2014

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

ClarksvilleRose“Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed.” (Psalm 74,2 KJV) Jesus Christ says: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it – my Church.” (Matthew 16:18) 

The Church is Christ’s + Thank God for that + It is his. He called it into being through his mighty, creative and efficacious word. He has purchased it of old. It is his inheritance. He has redeemed it. That is why he calls the shots in it. Without him the Church is not Church. His word, mandates, institutions, orders and callings make, characterise and establish the Church. Take those out, alter and forget them – and you are left not with the Church, but with some scaffolding or useless debris.

It is the promise of Jesus Christ, that his Church will prevail, that nobody and nothing will overcome him nor his divine institution, but that he will be with his faithful people always and that his holy word and testaments will not disappear from their midst. Where 2 or 3 are gathered in his name, there he is with them with his grace and mercy. Many things opposed the Church from its very beginning and yet despite its difficult startup, which probably would have never passed any viability tests or sustainability checks it has persisted throughout the Ages and gone from strength to strength and to the very outposts of humanity be that in Alaska or the Australian outback, the Mongolian highlands or Sudanese savannah or Amazonian backwaters. By his means of grace the triune God sustains true faith and the joyful confession of his saving gospel + And nobody and nothing will sever the members from their head – their Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we get the feeling that all hell is loose and all and everything is going wrong. Something not quite like the big final onslaught depicted by Peter Jackson’s five armies, but you get the idea. In situations like this – when the Emperor declares the prophet of truth an outlaw, when even so called international synods reject the gospel truth and prominent church leaders propagate and uphold blatant contradictions of our Lord’s testaments and institutions – then it is good to remember this promise of the Lord that his church will remain for ever and that the portals of hell will not overcome it – nor its true confession, nor its faithful pastors and members. Rather it will remain forever +

Most of the time the danger or perceived calamity is not as dramatic. Mostly sly challenges to the truth in the church and profound changes come about quietly and rather harmoniously even. It’s only some lonely voices of warners like that of Bonhoeffer, Nygren, Sasse, Hopf and the like, who were not caught unawares like the rest of those sleeping peacefully in the sleeping coaches of the Lutheran Church progressing (!) into the new structures of unionistic compromise and syncretism.

We should remember that we cannot save and keep the Church for what it is. We can’t do it, just as our fathers could not do it nor will our children be able to do it either. Rather it is the Lord, who does this his most precious and holy work where and when he will amongst those, who hear the gospel + He is alive and well and he is doing his work without fail and most perfectly and effectively. We just pray that he does his work amongst us too + that his word will find faith and hopeful obedience amongst us too + Where the summer rains of his grace, mercy and peace fall, there you have flourishing communities of those gathered around his divine gifts – word and sacrament. There you hear his praises sung, worshipped and proclaimed loud and clear. There all hope is resting on his promises and all ears are attentive to hear from him the consoling absolution and declarations of peace and goodwill amongst all men.

He can raise for himself those, that he wants to do his work. He can equip and empower them with his means on high, that they will be courageous confessors of his unwavering truth even in struggles and difficult situations and times. That is why we as members of his Church are confident, composed and even quite joyful for we know his Church to be in good hands and on his good course. He will lead and guide it even through dark valleys of calamity and death – his rod and staff comfort us +

We pray: Holy and most merciful Father, blessed God, who hast called me, thine unworthy servant to feed thy flock, on the eve of the day, when thou shalt permit me to proclaim thy Word, I bow before thee in reverence and humility and offer this my prayer: Pour down thy Holy Spirit upon thy whole church and subject my congregation and those of my brethren to the power of thy mighty Word.

Grant unto me, and to all who are called to minister in thy church, grace and wisdom, that our preaching, being drawn from thy fountain, may refresh the souls that thirst for thy Word. Govern and guide us by thy Holy Spirit, that being furnished with thy power, we may serve thee with all boldness and faithfulness, and through our ministry true faith may be stirred and strengthened and the love of Christ grow and increase amongst us. 

Be present, O Lord, according to thy gracious Word, with those who shall assemble themselves in thy name. Grant them teachable minds, receptive to thy Word and quick to understand it, and enable them to embrace it in singleness of heart. Open blind eyes, arouse the slothful, establish the waverers, and let the witness of life gain power over all that is dead in our midst; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Dobberstein 56)

Come, O precious Ransom, come,
Only hope for sinful mortals!
Come, O Savior of the world;
Open are to you all portals.
Come, your beauty let us view;
Anxiously we wait for you.

Enter now my waiting heart,
Glorious King and Lord most holy.
Dwell in me and never leave,
Thought I am but poor and lowly.
What vast riches will be mine
When you are my guest divine!

My hosannas and my palms
Graciously receive, I pray you;
Evermore, as best I can,
Homage I will gladly pay you,
And in faith I will embrace
Life eternal by your grace.

Hail! Hosanna! David’s Son!
Jesus, hear our supplication!
Let your kingdom, scepter, crown
Bring us blessing and salvation
That forever we may sing:
Hail! Hosanna to our king!

Hymn # 34 from Lutheran Worship by: Johann G. Olearius

Tune: Meinen Jesum Lass Ich Nicht

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 5th December 2014

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

emmausThen Joseph sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” (Genesis 45,24 NIV) and St. Paul writes: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4,3 NIV) 

The Lutheran Church in Southern Africa is preparing its national synod to be held next week. All pastors of the church – young and old, retired or not are expected to be there plus delegates from every congregation and parish throughout the five dioceses right from Tutu up north in Botswana to Mafu down south in KZN, from Nhlangano in Swaziland to Ramathlabama in the NW. Four four days this synod is to convene. The greek “synodos” means the “same way” and has been used in the Church for its illustrious gatherings and confessional highlights like the Nicene synod in the past. Even in the Lutheran Church this name has not only been used to describe ecclesial conventions (Latin: “come together”), but also to titulate itself – illustrating the basic characteristic of the communion of saints sharing the same gifts of God in the same faith and hope. We are called to the one way to the Father – namely the one taught and shown to us by his only begotten Son Jesus Christ and to which we have been called, gathered, enlightened and kept daily by the working of the Holy Spirit through his holy means of grace – his truthful word in law and gospel and the precious sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s supper. It is not of such great consequence what language, tribe or nation we belong to – there are Indians, Swazis, Batswana, South Africans, Germans and Americans expected at this synod of whom most don’t have English as their mother-tongue – yet we are all Lutherans and that confession unites us together on the same way as we go in the same direction and future although we come from very diverse backgrounds.

Being part of one synod is not just plain sailing. It’s often a outright struggle to be sure, because again and again obstructions occur, deviations, detours and junctions come up. Lot’s of fuel for possible conflict and sometimes that’s what happens as people struggle to move forward faithfully on the path to which they have been called. Tribalism, political or ideological divisions tend to pop up now and again. That is not always detrimental or catastrophic, because such crisis can be overcome by the grace of God and lead the church to renewed cooperation, better understanding and deeper resolve in the confessional essentials of the Church and a return and firm setup in the truthful foundations on which we stand and cannot otherwise without loosing the Christian identity and base on which Christ himself has founded his Church. That is why such synods are always also a crisis in the life of a church. A good confession can be made. The opportunity is there and may the living God grant, that this is what is going to happen to his glorification and to the edification of the Church. However a Church gathering making dogmatic decisions binding for the churches way forward in its programatic teaching and congregational practice always also bears the option of denial, corruption, failure and departure of the divine truth and Christ’s institutions with it. This happened with the heretic Arius and huge areas in N.Africa, Asia and Europe were invested with this dreadful apostasy and denial of the truth. It happens again and again when churches deny basic truths of the Christian Church and pass politically correct issues thus loosing credibility by the weakening of Christ’s efficacious truth and wholesome teaching. Now at our coming Synod we don’t have anybody denying the ecumenical faith from of old. Everybody is going to abide by the Lutheran confessions and even in our personal relationships and public communications we’ll abide by the basic norms and values that connect us.

However we should remember that we today are called into a status confessionis (need to confess!) by the many current issues, which confront us and the church. Terrible attacks on the church are being made by false prophets and misleading spirits, who turn the people away from God’s institutions and clear manifestations of his holy will to policies, philosophies and ideologies of men. Therefore we can’t call for “Peace”, when there is obviously not peace, but things and ideas worse than bloodshed, injustice, unrighteousness and corruption, because they mislead us to forget God and his holy word with falsehood, idolatry, heresy and other dreadful stuff corrupting the divine truth and putting God’s light and words into the shadow. That means it is not just enough to confess the traditional truth in the words of the one holy Christian Church, but it is also necessary and required of us by the living God to deny and distance ourselves from the errors, lies, half-truths and false teachings, which rise up so readily in our communities here and throughout the world and not only to exert pressure on the church and its faithful believers, but also to actively corrupt, tempt and mislead our people and us into disbelief, error and other shameful sin and vice. This needs to be clearly seen and readily rejected. That is why this time is a serious time to be watchful and prayerful, we all need to join earnestly in intercession and prayer, so that all that we say and do will be faithful and edifying – and that we will not deny our Lord nor any of his teachings and not leave any of his most holy institutions, mandates and ways of faithful living in this world as his creations and sheep of his fold. We don’t want to do anything without his blessing, goodwill and promise – nothing against his command or institution – but rather follow the guiding of his Holy Spirit as it is laid out in Holy Scriptures of the old and new Testaments. Kyrie eleison + Christe eleison + Kyrie eleison. 

That too is not all. The Church can’t be satisfied with just confessing the old truths and rejecting the ever new temptations and illusions by the evil begetter of all lies, Satan and his dreadful ilk and bunch of smelly orcs, which have such close allies even in our very own sinful and traitorous selves. No, we in the Church must also continue to profess, teach and preach the blessed saving gospel to the many, many people in this world, who don’t want to hear it anymore or have not heard it yet. We should not just face our more or less glorious past, not just get bogged down in rejecting the falsehood of evil, but continue to proclaim, praise and profess the glorious truths of God’s holy commandments, confessing all he has done in creation, salvation and sanctification, praying to him without ceasing just as his son has taught us in the Our Father and as the Church has been praying with the Psalms from of old, calling upon him in all need of all people and ourselves, expecting help and salvation from him alone and relying solely on his baptismal grace for the forgiveness of all our sin and overcoming of all evil finally at the hour of our death, when we proceed by the power of his supper, fed by his body and blood to overcome sin, death and devil and arrive at the eternal feast that he has prepared for his people in blessed eternity.

The call to us all, who walk in the Christian Church and Lutheran synod, is to abide in Christ, follow his commands and obey his guiding Holy Spirit, the comforter, who teaches and keeps us in God’s ways and words. Therefore not teaching different doctrines, nor quarrelling about silly myths and endless genealogies,  speculations and conspiracy theories, vain discussions and empty promises, but rather learning and teaching the good word, the wholesome doctrine and the words of faith, training in godliness. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4,3 NIV) Not a false and evil pact with the devil even if he comes in the shining attire of an angel, but rather in the unity of God’s truth and his strong bond of peace, which passes all understanding and keeps us even in the biggest turmoil and strive. That’s what we should strive, pray and work for in the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace at the coming synod. May God grant it in his abounding love and mercy. Amen. 

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. Go in + peace. (1.Thessalonians 5:23-24) Amen. 

God’s word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endevour. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while words endure, We keep its teachings pure Throughout all generations.

Nikolai Fredrik Severin Grundtvig, 1783-1872 

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My favourites from the web this week …

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber
uKhahlamba
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Lutheran order of the divine service in isiZulu and seTswana.

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Van-Gogh-Starry-Night-Google-Art-Project-Wikimedia-public-domainThe Lutheran Order of Service for the 2nd Sunday in Advent is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word from the Revelation to St. John chapter 3 verses 7-13 written by Pastor F. Mtshali (LC Fernie, MP) in isiZulu (wz1502141207 Adv 2) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1502141202 Adf 2) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for this 2nd Sunday in Advent are:

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 63:15-16 (17-19a) 19b; 64:1-3
  • The Epistle: St. James 5:7-8
  • The Gospel: St. Luke 21:25-33
  • Psalm: 80:2-3.19-20

The liturgical colour is purple.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this 2nd Sunday in Advent: Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Lk.21,28 KJV)

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, insight and wisdom, mercy, compassion, knowledge and clarity of both thought and speech – 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 for God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.

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Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 4th December 2014

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Jean-Francois-Millet-Harvesters-Resting-Ruth-and-Boaz-And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” And they answered him, “TheLord bless thee.“ (Ruth 2,4 KJV) and St. John writes: “Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” (3 John verse 15)

Sounds like from a film long ago. Employer and worker – Lord and serfs – master and slaves – farmer and migrant workers  – all one big happy family, peace wherever you look, goodwill amongst men and harmony, understanding and voluntary cooperation characterise the atmosphere. Seems like a very old film – long gone. Or doesn’t it?

Well, obviously there were times like this – in good old Israel, even amongst traditional Christian folk, who would all learn and know and live their lessons of their calling in daily life and it would fare well with the household, the community and society at large. Times, when all living together would not curse each other, wishing for the worst to happen to their neighbours – even to the point of damnation, but rather wishing them well, blessing them with good and especially with the gracious, merciful and loving presence of the Lord God himself. Those were times, when people believed that having the Lord in your life and around you all day and night, was the most crucial, vital and decisive matter of all – more important than trying to control and have heaven and earth even.

Obviously St. James – who also lived long ago and in ages long past – knew, that such good wishes could just be empty words. Blessing your neighbour with nice sounding phrases while really not caring for him very much, was a danger lurking in every person and member of the Christian congregation. Rather words and deeds should be of the same kind. Blessings should go hand in hand with good works. Wishing someone well, would entail seeing to it that he does not go away hungry, without shelter and hopeless either.

Just think what it would mean for our community lives, our corporate world and sharing of this limited space on this planet if all people would live like that – caring for each other, wishing each other well (not digging traps for others and hoping all along that the other will fall into it and come to harm), knowing each other by name and making the effort to foster peace, goodwill and harmony even beyond the narrow confines of our families and local clubs and associations? Probably St.Joseph and the most blessed virgin St. Mary would not have stayed without suitable accommodation. Jesus Christ, our Lord, would not have to have slept in a manger, would not have had to flee to Egypt, would not have had to say: “Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of man does not have a place to rest his head.” The hot-headed strikes at Lufthansa would be rather different. Ferguson would not be burning and our local politicians would care more for the well-being of the nation at large than just the most profitable lining for their own wallets, homesteads and enterprises.

“Let’s be friends!” What a good idea and most helpful way forward. Understanding each other as friends, wishing each other well, finding good words and helpful deeds to support, encourage and uplift each other – just as the apostle writes: “Each one look our more for the betterment of the other than just for ones own good”. Peace be with you + the Lord be with you also with his peace, mercy and goodness + The Lord bless and keep you + The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you + Lord lift up his countenance upon you favourably and grant you peace + Amen + Amen + Amen +

We pray: O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving kindness sent Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ into the flesh, we thank You that for his sake You have given us pardon and peace, and we ask You not to forsake Your children, but always rule in our hearts and minds, in our houses, communities and all the lands and nations by Your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled constantly to serve You in true and faithful worship and in good works amongst our people, the society at large and especially amongst those who need them most; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

May God bestow on us His grace and favour
To please Him with our behaviour
And live as brethren here in love and union
Nor repent this blest Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heavenly-minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity:
O Lord, have mercy!

Hymn #313 in  The Lutheran Hymnal
Author: Martin Luther, 1524

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 3rd December 2014

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Simone_Martini_and_Lippo_Memmi_-_The_Annunciation_and_Two_Saints_-_WGA15010The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7 KJV) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47)

St. Mary must have really gone through some deep waters. Although the evangelist Luke does not dwell on that excessively, we can imagine that without too much effort. Yet that would be speculation and adding twos and twos together from what we know in similar situations or at least seem to know. What is written in God’s holy gospel of St. Luke however, is that the holy virgin Mary was betrothed to Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth, that they were both descendants of King David and in the bloodline of Jesse – that royal lineage from which the Messiah was to be born. Royalty for sure, but over the generations somewhat impoverished and not at all high and mighty by any standard.

Now before St. Joseph actually brought her home and married her, his young bride was visited by the archangel Gabriel. He had a most wonderful message for this young lady from Nazareth. A message that was God’s answer to all his promises from of old. A gospel that was awaited most anxiously by all the faithful in Israel. Good tidings that would change everything.

What an imposing figure that angel must have been! The messenger from the living God. Authoritative, with divine glamour still reflecting off his persona just as Moses face had been shining so brightly after his meeting with God – how much more would this angel be gloriously illumined as he was constantly in the presence of the almighty King of kings in the heavenly realms? And he appears with godly revelation in the humble abode of those Nazarene commoners giving it the divine glamour befitting such a momentous occasion.

St. Mary – that virgin bride of St. Joseph – was initially troubled by his weighty greetings: Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Lk.2,28) She was not used to such salutation and probably thought the angel was making fun of her, taking a cheap shot at her and plainly not being serious. Yet, the high and mighty angel Gabriel did his best to dispel her troubles and concerns: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. That alone mattered in the end and I believe that sentence carried a lot of weight and brought a lot of comfort to the becoming mother of God St. Mary: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. Mary was not to be slighted, not harmed and not put into a negative predicament. Rather God’s favour rested on her. She had nothing to fear. This off course was strong comfort steeling and bracing her for the big news, which was about to be revealed to her, because the angel did not stop with that healing balm for the little Mary, rather he went on to tell her the good tiding, which was about to come to pass: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. That was a mouthful – even for the archangel of the Lord. Enough to bowl everybody over – especially the one, who was at the receiving end of it. This was the divine response to address our most serious and deep seated calamity from of old, it would bring about help, peace and salvation for us and all mankind – through this godly son Jesus Christ, our great Lord and the highest King over all – and Mary was supposed to be the blessed fount, the true crucible, the treasure trove and human receptacle.

The evangelist Luke does not elaborate much with fancy details, but rather keeps this biggest and most beautiful and precious exclamation simple and straightforward so that the lovely mother-of-God-to-be would not be bowled over, but hear it and remember it and carry it in her heart, what God had in store for her and all of humanity. Nobody could have dreamt this up. This was essentially God’s key for the greatest game changer of all. Jesus was coming to catch and bind the devil, harrow hell and overcome all evil for us and our salvation. This little baby still going to be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, was going to do, finish and perfect what all the king’s wise and strong men never could accomplish in all those centuries despite all their heroic efforts and attempts – put our lives back together again to be holy, at peace with God and one another and thus be god-pleasing once again.  Yet Jesus was coming to do just that + and St. Mary, was to be his mother. She was to bear him for nine months under her heart. She was to care and nurture him like mothers do with help- and hapless babies, so that he would grow up to be God-fearing and familiar with the good faithful ways of ancient Israel, learning to walk in the very light of God and living obediently in his ways all the days of short life – from the very beginning in Bethlehem to the end in Jerusalem, where all prophets end up.

The angel addressed some concerns businesslike – making it clear that neither St. Joseph nor any other man would be the father, but rather God himself. This was God’s way and his ways are always best not only for St.Mary, but also for the rest of us. To underline this coming fact the archangel Gabriel tells the blessed Mary that her cousin up in the mountains of Judea was also pregnant although she was old and past childbearing: For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

And the little Mary answers in a most perfect and faithful way: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. She does not argue. She does not object against these amazing and profound ways of the Lord. Rather she accepts her role of being a handmaiden of the Lord, at his disposal and at his convenience. It was not going to make her life easier, more comfortable, more profitable or luxurious. No, she was to be a mother of a little boy – and this would demand all that it did for mothers from the early time of Eve, who first had to bear children with pain and great tribulation. St. Mary was not to be different. She would have to face hardship, distress, homelessness, rejection, persecution, exile even in the earliest of her babies days. The dark forces were out to kill her and the little baby – the evil dragon was waiting to bring peril, war and bloodshed and everlasting darkness on earth by disposing of this godly baby to save the world. That’s not the kind of life we’d expect for a heavenly Queen and exulted mother of God, but St. Mary was obedient under the weighty, but caring and sustaining hand of the Lord. She would not rebel. She would not reject his ways. She would not argue – just yet – even if at the wedding at Cana and when Jesus was preaching later on, she would come up with ideas of her own – after all she was not perfect, she is not co-redemtrix, but rather she too is saved by the mercy and forgiveness of her son our Lord, who finally bears the cross alone even while the sword pierces his mothers heart. Yet she says: Be it unto me according to thy word! 

Now exulted and on high St. Mary has already seen, what she on earth just believed. We are not there yet, but we cling to these wonderful words from of old and bear them in our heart, meditating on them, recalling them especially when dark and heavy our days, drawing comfort from them, because the Lord is faithful and does not neglect those he calls and prepares for his mission. He does, what he says and he let’s us join in and sing in anticipation of his glorious fulfilment and final happy end for us and all his faithful people: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7 KJV) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47) Amen.

Dear Lord our heavenly Father: Your ways are wonderful and full of wisdom and truth and goodness too. You lead your holy ones steadily on the way that leads to the final destination – the heavenly realms and your lovely presence. I thank you for your election and calling of St.Mary, the blessed mother of your Son Jesus Christ. You kept and provided for her in the dark hours of her life and made her see, how your holy Son worked obediently and faithfully for us and our salvation throughout his life even unto the cross in Golgotha. Let us not shrink from your calling either, but rather strengthen our resolve and diligence to follow you faithfully, going about our mission as you would want us to. I thank you also that you gave St. Mary a good and caring husband in St.Joseph, a good and compassionate cousin like St. Elisabeth, willing sponsors and donors like those kings from afar, supporters and givers like those shepherds from the fields of Bethlehem, faithful prayer mates like St. Hannah and St. Zachariah in the temple, more children and then also other friends and fellow believers like the holy apostles and faithful disciples of Jesus. Thank you that you have called, gathered and sanctified us in your holy community of the sacred Church – the fellowship of true believers – the cloud of witnesses – the migrant people of God on their way to our heavenly home. Let us also live faithfully this day, keep us from all sin and let us trust solely in you – our Lord God and redeemer. Amen.

“Saviour of the Nations, Come”
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1. Saviour of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Thy home! Marvel now, O heaven and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth.

2. Not by human flesh and blood, By the Spirit of our God, Was the Word of God made flesh– Woman’s Offspring, pure and fresh.

3. Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child Of the Virgin undefiled! Though by all the world disowned, Still to be in heaven enthroned.

4. From the Father forth He came And returneth to the same, Captive leading death and hell– High the song of triumph swell!

5. Thou, the Father’s only Son, Hast o’er sin the victory won. Boundless shall Thy kingdom be; When shall we its glories see?

6. Brightly doth Thy manger shine, Glorious is its light divine. Let not sin o’ercloud this light; Ever be our faith thus bright.

7. Praise to God the Father sing, Praise to God the Son, our King, Praise to God the Spirit be Ever and eternally.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn # 95  Text: John 1: 14 Author: St. Ambrose, +397
German version translated by Martin Luther, 1524
Translated by: William M. Reynolds, 1860, alt.
Titled: Veni, Redemptor gentium
Tune: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
1st Published in: Geistliches Gesangbuchlein
Town: Wittenberg, 1524, ad.

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 2nd December 2014

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

10348204_10152987370155039_755492283095612268_nCome and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. (Psalm 66,16 KJV) St Paul writes: “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.” (1.Thessalonians 2:8 KJV)

The wonder of the Christian faith and especially of God’s ways with us, is that it’s just not like a technical manual so that you can get set up and going. It’s not like that at all. It’s not just about learning the history and wondering about the future either. It’s far more than that. It’s really about God’s entire life and being being shared with each one of us and this sharing of God’s story with us lifts up our life and story from the plain banalities of things into the realm of sublime truth and profound mysteries.

Each story of God’s people is quite incredible really, very special and absolutely unique. That is why it holds true for every one of us what St. John writes about our Lord Jesus Christ at the end of his blessed gospel: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30-31) God leads his people most wonderfully and amazingly (cf Luther’s translation of Psalm 4,3)

That is why every life is of immeasurable value and should in now way be put down, discriminated or sidelined. If the almighty and everlasting God took trouble to call this life into being, create this remarkable individual in all its constituent parts – and then even went to ransom this life not just with silver and gold, but with the precious blood and most holy and divine life of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to sanctify it specifically in the baptismal washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit – then there can be no doubt in the heart of the faithful, that the triune God has done great miracles and wonders to this person. Reason enough to sing praises and give thanks every day anew!

And then I have not even gone into the specifics. The things which hold true only for this person and individual soul.  God’s love from the very beginning, his creative attention to you and all detail that is yours and makes up your delightful complexion and composition,  the unique beauty that his astonishing craftiness has installed in and fixed to you making you something truly awesome and praiseworthy. The way he leads and guides you every day, preserving you from and even in all evil, sorrow and difficulty of the day. That is why there is a reason for everyone to actually go and tell his own story. It is to glorify the Lord our maker, who has fearfully and wonderfully made us: How precious to me are your thoughts o God! How vast is the sum of them! (cf Psalm 139,14.17)

Now if you think of the holy Christian Church – and that large gathering, that nobody can overlook and count – from all nations, cultures and people, you will begin to realise the fastness of richness, diverse beauty and tremendous treasures that they represent and bring along as they stand before the throne of the lamb to worship him alone, who has done these great things for us and our salvation. He the creator alone, he our sole salvation and he the only truth, life and way +

That is why the Church truly believes that the gospel is a power to save everyone, who believes in it. The gospel is that power of God that unites him and us inseparably, overcomes the righteous condemnation of the law and grants forgiveness, salvation and eternal life in and through him our Lord and our God. It changes our dismal lives into a precious treasure of unfathomable worth – no erosion, rust, no moths or worms destroy this – and makes it worthwhile living in gratitude and joy every day.

Lord God, heavenly Father: I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have created in this world and also that you have made me together with all creatures visible and invisible. You have given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still you take care of them. I can’t thank you enough for all of this and you do even more. You have given me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, my dear, lovely and honourable wife and my beloved children, land, animals, and all I have. How can I ever repay you for this? It’s impossible, but I thank and glorify your name for your undeserved love and kindness. Yes, you even richly and daily provide for me with all that I need to support this body and life. Thank you my dear God and Lord for all this and also that you defend me against all danger and you guard and protect me from all evil – even in the darkest night. All this you do without tiring, you do it faithfully and lovingly out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey you – now and always. Lord help me do this gladly, willingly and joyfully today and all days of my life. Amen.

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.

The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

Words: John Newton, 1779

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 1st December 2014

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Full-Size-Icon-PrayerHe will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. (Isaiah 30:19 NKJV) and “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:14b NKJV) 

God’s promise to hear our prayer is one of the pillars of the Christian faith. Here the prophet Isaiah has the task to proclaim to God’s people that he does not only hear them, but that “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry.” God’s prophet does not exaggerate. He does not use hyperbole excessively, but rather keeps his pronouncements straightforward, simple and matter-of-fact like. Yet still he proclaims that God will be very gracious. It is comforting enough that God is gracious. That he forgives sins and does not deal with us as we deserve it, but rather according to his goodness and mercy. However here it is highlighted by the prophet, that God will do this to a very high degree, yes, God is very much like this – very gracious. Heavy on goodness, exceedingly large on showing his kind favour and flowing over with divine abundance and godly power to overcome evil and sinfulness and in the same breath multiplying light, peace, love, hope and all these amazing outflows of his vital presence and life giving exuberance. Now if we should have been comforted and gladdened by God’s grace and mercy, which is new every morning, how much more should we be  uplifted and encouraged by the fact that God’s being has these positive outflows for us in excessive measure? The more trouble, the more help God has. The more sin there is on our sin, the more forgiveness on God’s – and we just can’t catch God unawares or unprepared or without the most positive and helpful answers, resources and solutions. Our weakness is counterbalanced effectively by his power, our lack by his abundance, our negatives by his positives, our evil with his goodness. 

That is why we should never keep quite, but rather call on God in all misery, sorrow and trouble on our side. We should not tire of calling him for help and deliverance in all our suffering and calamity. God wants to hear our prayer. He has command us to pray. He has promised that he will answer us and finally we do have enough reason to call upon him, don’t we? Just look at your own life, the life of your family and friends, the life of your congregation and that of the Church – locally and at large. There is plenty reason to complain, to object and to improve. Now – whereas most complaining just increases the negativity and hardly leads to a positive solution, complaining to God is not in vain. On the contrary, he has promised to hear and help us. He will answer in the most amazing way in his time and in his marvellous ways. Our calamities and impossibilities are God’s opportunities to demonstrate his unlimited resources and capabilities to create good out of evil, all out of nothing and thus overcome all our worries and anxieties. Therefore call upon the Lord. He will hear and answer you – and you shall praise him. For he is very gracious indeed!

Our Lord and God has even given us an array of prayer templates to use daily and in all places when we pray for all people, for the government and all in leadership positions, for those in special needs and trouble. There are the psalms, there are the ancient Church hymns and spiritual songs, there is the “Our Father”, the main parts of the Christian faith in the Catechism, there are the parts of the familiar liturgy. Thus the Holy Spirit addresses our incompetencies and helps us to pray aright even and especially where we are at a loss for words. So let us not neglect these wonderful promises of God. Let us not deal lightly with his invitation and admonition to pray to him always and in every situation. Rather let us pray and call upon God in continuous rhythm taught us by the ongoing breathing rhythm of the Church: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison +

The story of Cornelius is one of many in the Bible, where God shows us that his promise to hear our prayer is not empty, but that he indeed keeps it faithfully. God does not only hear the prayers of his most holy men – like Moses or Elijah – but also those of outcasts like the lepers, those possessed by evil spirits and like this pagan Cornelius. So let us not despise and block of the prayers of those calling to God from the extremities of this world, our society and even beyond the confines of the Church – but rather let us join in the prayers and call in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he will have mercy, send his Holy Spirit, who will lead and guide in all truth – the truth which is Jesus Christ personified. Amen.

Almighty God and Lord, come to us with all your power and help us who are anxious and troubled. Send us the Saviour, that he may enter our hearts, and with your light illumine our night, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1. O Lord, how shall I meet Thee, How welcome Thee aright? Thy people long to greet Thee, My Hope, my heart’s Delight! O kindle, Lord, most holy, Thy lamp within my breast To do in spirit lowly All that may please Thee best.

2. Thy Zion strews before Thee Green boughs and fairest palms, And I, too, will adore Thee With joyous songs and psalms. My heart shall bloom forever For Thee with praises new And from Thy name shall never Withhold the honor due.

3. I lay in fetters, groaning, Thou com’st to set me free; I stood, my shame bemoaning, Thou com’st to honor me; A glory Thou dost give me, A treasure safe on high, That will not fail or leave me As earthly riches fly.

4. Love caused Thy incarnation, Love brought Thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty. O love beyond all telling, That led Thee to embrace, In love all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race!

5. Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted, Who sit in deepest gloom, Who mourn o’er joys departed And tremble at your doom. Despair not, He is near you, Yea, standing at the door, Who best can help and cheer you And bids you weep no more.

6. Ye need not toil nor languish Nor ponder day and night How in the midst of anguish Ye draw Him by your might. He comes, He comes all willing, Moved by His love alone, Your woes and troubles stilling; For all to Him are known.

7. Sin’s debt, that fearful burden, Let not your souls distress; Your guilt the Lord will pardon And cover by His grace.He comes, for men procuring The peace of sin forgiven, For all God’s sons securing Their heritage in heaven.

8. What though the foes be raging, Heed not their craft and spite; Your Lord, the battle waging, Will scatter all their might. He comes, a King most glorious, And all His earthly foes In vain His course victorious Endeavor to oppose.

9. He comes to judge the nations, A terror to His foes, A Light of consolations And blessed Hope to those Who love the Lord’s appearing. O glorious Sun, now come, Send forth Thy beams so cheering, And guide us safely home.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1613
Tune: Valet will ich dir geben

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Herrenhuter readings for the 1st Sunday in Advent, the 30th November 2014

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Bamberger_apokalypse_010vWho has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? (Isaiah 40:13 NKJV) Jesus Christ says: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelations 20:13 NJKV) 

On this first Sunday in Advent the Church begins a new Church year. In the midst of all hustle and bustle of our daily lives the new is already there and getting off to a good start – whether we know it or not. That is how it was from the very origin of all and everything. Even when the world was still dark and void – yes, when it had not even been created – God initiated his marvellous creation: “Let us make …” and so in the beginning God created heaven and earth. He’s busy with this amazing work even in these latter days even as he has already begun the new and 2nd creation in his Son Jesus Christ – the new world and the new heaven in which righteousness dwell.

Now the Prophet asks: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? (Isaiah 40:13 NKJV) It’s more or less a rhetorical question. Nobody could direct or counsel the Lord on this. Yet he has meditated over this himself and has been in deliberate counsel with himself always. So the Church understands God the heavenly Father together with eternal Word Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who was hovering over the initial chaos in divine counsel with himself: “Let us create … and he created heaven and earth, made man and woman …” Finally he concluded: “See, behold – everything is very good!” 

Martin Luther puts this divine trialogue into words and to music in his reformational “Nun freut Euch lieben Christen g’mein…” (Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice LSB 556). God speaks to his beloved Son (verse 5): “Its time to have compassion. Then go, bright jewel of My crown And bring to all salvation. From sin and sorrow set them free; Slay bitter death for them that they May live with You forever.” And the Son on his part obeys, does it, becomes my brother, leads the devil captive and assures me: “For I am yours, and you are Mine, And where I am you may remain; The foe shall not divide us.”  At his departure to the Father he promises to send the Holy Spirit – the comforter and teacher und guide in all truth. (verse 9). This divine conversation keeps all going, because as he speaks it happens, what he says is true and real – more than anything else. The blessing of this story is that he has told us about it through the apostles and prophets. We know that this is God’s story with us and that we can rely on it to keep us in all truth – for Jesus Christ himself is the truth. He says of himself: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelations 20:13 NJKV) His Father says: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased – listen to him!” And the Holy Spirit reminds us of all, that our Lord entrusted to us through his blessed apostles and prophets – starting off with Moses! 

He is coming again and is already preparing his return in glory to judge the living and the dead. The Church is waiting eagerly. It’s lamps are burning in glad anticipation. We all pray together: Come Lord Jesus – come soon! In this sense I wish you a very blessed Advent. Amen.

Come, O precious Ransom, come, Only hope for sinful mortals! Come, O Savior of the world;  Open are to you all portals. Come, your beauty let us view;  Anxiously we wait for you.

Enter now my waiting heart, Glorious King and Lord most holy. Dwell in me and never leave, Thought I am but poor and lowly. What vast riches will be mine When you are my guest divine!

My hosannas and my palms  Graciously receive, I pray you; Evermore, as best I can, Homage I will gladly pay you, And in faith I will embraceLife eternal by your grace.

Hail! Hosanna! David’s Son! Jesus, hear our supplication!Let your kingdom, scepter, crown Bring us blessing and salvation That forever we may sing: Hail! Hosanna to our king!

Hymn # 34 from Lutheran Worship

By: Johann G. Olearius
Author: Neuverfertigtes Gesangbuch
Tune: Meinen Jesum Lass Ich Night
1st Published in: 1699

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