The Twelfth Sunday After Trinity
A man was brought to Jesus who was deaf and therefore also had an impediment in his speech (Mark 7:31-37). In the same way, all are by nature deaf toward God and therefore also unable to confess the faith rightly. For “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:9-17). Jesus put His fingers into the man’s ears, and He spat and touched His tongue. Even so in Holy Baptism water sanctified by the words of Jesus’ mouth is applied to us; and the finger of God, that is, the life-giving Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:4-11) is put into our ears in the hearing of the baptismal Gospel. Jesus’ sighing “Ephphatha” opened the man’s ears, and his tongue was loosed to speak plainly as Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book” (Is 29:18-24) So also, He who sighed and breathed His last on the cross for us has given us to hear and believe in Him and has opened our lips that our mouths may declare His praise.
Introit: (Psalm 70:2b, 4a,5b; antiphon: Psalm 70:1-2a)
Pastor: Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
Congregation: Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!P: Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
C: May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you!P: You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
Gloria Patri
Collect Of The Day
Almighty and merciful God, by Your gift alone Your faithful people render true and laudable service. Help us steadfastly to live in this life according to Your promises and finally attain Your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
- Isaiah 29:17-24 +
Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? (18) In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. (19) The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (20) For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off, (21) who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right. (22) Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale. (23) For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. (24) And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction.”
Gradual: (Psalm 34:1-2)
I will bless the LORD at | all times; *
his praise shall continually be | in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast | in the LORD; *
let the humble hear | and be glad.
- 2 Corinthians 3:4-11+
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. (5) Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, (6) who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (7) Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, (8) will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? (9) For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. (10) Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. (11) For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
The Lutheran Confessions Responsive Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism (1529)
P: As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household. What does God say about all of these commandments?
C: He says, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6).
P: What does this mean?
C: God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore, we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore, we should also love and trust in Him and gladly do what He commands.
P:What is the fountain of all good works?
C: Everything that is to be a good work must arise and flow from and in this true fountain and channel. So apart from the Ten Commandments no work or thing can be good or pleasing to God, no matter how great or precious it is in the world’s eyes
Verse: (Psalm 81:1)
P: Alleluia. Sing aloud to God our strength;
C: shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Alleluia.
- Mark 7:31-37 +
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. (32) And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. (33) And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. (34) And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” (35) And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. (36) And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (37) And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
