FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS: SECOND SUNDAY AFTER

O Father of all mercy, you have begun your work in us. PENTECOST
Continue to fill us with all dimensions of wisdom and
knowledge. May we be fully certain in our hearts and
fully aware how the Spirit, who has raised up our Lord,
also enlivens the faith within us with the same power and
strength. Through him we have also risen from the dead
to his mighty power, which works in us through your holy
word. Help us to grow in the knowledge of your dear Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to remain firm in confessing his
blessed word. Give us the love to be agreed in mind and
to serve one another in Christ. May we not be afraid of the
flame-throwers whose weapon is almost extinguished.
Dear Father, guard us so that his craftiness may not take the
place of our pure faith. Grant that our cross and sufferings
may direct us to a blessed and sure hope of the coming of our
Savior Jesus Christ, for whom we wait each day. Amen.

Lord God of all nations, you have revealed your will to your
people and promised your help to all us. Help us to hear and
to do what you command, that the darkness may be overcome
by the power of your light; through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord.
GOSPEL: Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterwards (Jesus) went to a town called Nain, and his
disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12 As he approached the
gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was
his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a
large crowd from the town. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had
compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came
forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he
said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” 15 The dead man sat up and
began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God saying, “A great
prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his
people!” 17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all
the surrounding country.
PSALM 30
1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 "What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?
Faith is the abundance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
Hebrews xi. 1.
This is the noblest and dearest virtue of faith, that it
closes its eyes and simply and joyfully leaves everything in the
hands of God. It does not desire to know why God acts as He
does, and it still holds Him to be the Highest Goodness and
Justice, although to all reason, the senses and experience, nothing
appears but wrath and injustice. That is why faith is called the
proving of things not seen, and even the very opposite in what is
seen. Therefore this is the highest honor and love towards God
and the highest degree of such honor and love, that in these
contrary things you can regard and praise Him as good and just.
Here the natural eye must be completely plucked out, and there
must be nothing but sheer faith. Otherwise there will be a grim
and fearful vexation of spirit.
Letter to Haus v. Rechenberg, 1522. W.A. 10. 323 .
Taken from the book:
Day by Day We Magnify Thee
by Martin Luther
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