Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30
[Jesus] began to say (to all in the synagogue in Nazareth), “Today
this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke
well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words that came
from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said
to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor,
cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown
the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he
said, “Truly, I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s
hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in
the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six
months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet
Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in
Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the
prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the
Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled
with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him
to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they
might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of
them and went on his way.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will
send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a
thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the
north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek
the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Amos viii. 11-12
God’s wrath is never greater than when He is silent and
does not speak to us, but leaves us to follow our own
mind and will, and do as we please.
O, dear Lord God, punish us with pestilence and with
any foul diseases rather than by Thy silence. God speaks:
‘I have stretched out My hand and cried, “Come hither
and hearken!” But you answer: “No, we will not!” I
send My servants unto you, the Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah,
and others, and I say to you: “Hearken unto them!”
“Yes”, you say, “we will strike them dead!” “There, you
have My Son.” “Yes, we will crucify Him!” ‘
We still act in the same way, as can easily be seen. We
are weary and tired of the Word of God. We do not want
to hear devout and faithful teachers who chastise us, and
preach to us the pure and unadulterated Word of God,
who keep a careful watch, earnestly condemning false
teachings and faithfully warning us against it. Therefore
God will surely chastise us.
O, heavenly Father, keep us for ever by this radiant
sun, and do not let us fall from Thy Word and stumble
into false teaching.
Table-Talk W.A. Tischreden 5. 237 f.
Taken from the book:
Day by Day We Magnify Thee by Martin Luther
Page 110
Prayer from Luther’s Prayers: FOURTH SUNDAY
Prayer on the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer
AFTER EPIPHANY
O dear Lord, God and Father, you know that the world, if it cannot
destroy your name or root out your kingdom, is busy day and night
with wicked tricks and schemes, strange conspiracies and intrigue,
huddling together in secret counsel, giving mutual encouragement
and support, raging and threatening and going about with every
evil intention to destroy your name, word, kingdom, and children.
Therefore dear Lord, God and Father, convert them and defend us.
Convert those who have yet to acknowledge your good will that
they with us and we with them may obey your will and for your
sake gladly, patiently, and joyously bear every evil, cross, and
adversity, and thereby acknowledge, test, and experience your
benign, gracious and perfect will. But defend us against those who
in their rage, fury, hate, threats, and evil desires do not cease to do
us harm. Make their wicked schemes, tricks, and devices to come
to nothing so that these may be turned against them as we sing in
Psalm 7 (:16).

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM:

The Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer:

Your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

What is this?
In fact, God’s good and gracious will comes about without
our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also come about in
and among us.

How does this come about?

Whenever God breaks and hinders every evil scheme and will of
the devil, the world, and our flesh that would not allow us to
hallow God’s name and would prevent the coming of his kingdom.
And God’s will comes about whenever God strengthens us and
keeps us steadfast in his Word and in faith until the end of our
lives. This is God’s gracious and good will.
O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers
which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so
that, with your help, we may be able to overcome the
weakness that our sin has brought upon us; through
Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord.