The Festival of Reformation
“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).
Introit: (Psalm 34:1-2, 11, 22; antiphon: Psalm 119:46)
Pastor: I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
Congregation: and shall not be put to shame.
P: I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
C: My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
P: Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
C: The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Gloria Patri – pg. 186
Collect of the Day
Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit o Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit , one God, now and forever.
- Revelation 14:6-7 +
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. (7) And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Gradual: (Psalm 48:1a, 12-14a)
Great is the Lord and greatly | to be praised *
in the city | of our God!
Walk about Zion, go around her, number her | towers, *
consider well her ramparts, go through her | citadels,
that you may tell the next gener- | ation *
that this is God, our God forever and | ever.
- Romans 3:19-28 +
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. (20) For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (27) Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. (28) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
The Lutheran Confessions Responsive Reading: The Small/Large Catechisms (1529)
P: As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household. What is The Third Petition ?
C: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
P: What does this mean?
C: The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
P: How is God’s will done?
C: God’s will is done when he breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil,
the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name
or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word
and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.
P: Where does all our shelter and protection rest against all the evil The Church faces?
C: We need to know this: all our shelter and protection rest in prayer alone. For we are far too weak to deal with the devil and all his power and followers who set themselves against us. They might easily crush us under their feet. Therefore, we must consider and take up those weapons with which Christians must be armed in order to stand against the devil [2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:11].
P: What has stopped or quelled the counsels, purposes, murder, and riot of our enemies, by which the devil thought he would crush us, together with the Gospel?
C: It was the prayer of a few godly people standing in the middle like an iron wall for our side. ……. For whenever a godly Christian prays, “Dear Father, let Your will be done” [see Matthew 6:10], God speaks from on high and says, “Yes, dear child, it shall be so, in spite of the devil and all the world.”
Verse: (Luke 12:32)
P: Alleluia. Fear not, little flock,
C: for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Alleluia.
- Matthew 11:12-19 +
(12) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (13) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, (14) and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. (15) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (16) “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, (17) “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (18) For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ (19) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”