Gospel: Luke 5:1- 11
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and
the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God , 2 he saw
two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fisherman had gone out
of them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats,
the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way
from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the
boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out
into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon
answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught
nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they
had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were
beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat
to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that
they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at
Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful
man!” 9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch
of fish that they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons
of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to
Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything
and followed him.
Psalm 138
1 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness
And Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
3 On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul
4 All the kings of the earth will thanks to You, O Lord,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
5 And they will sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is exalted,
Yet He regards the lowly,
But the haughty He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against
The wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your loving kindness, O Lord is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?
Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly.
Psalm cxxxviii.6.
Behold the picture painted here of God, who makes
known to us His true nature in that it shows Him as looking
downward. Upward He cannot look, for there is naught
above Him; beside Him He cannot look, for there is naught
like unto him. Therefore He can only look downward,
beneath Himself. Wherefore, the simpler and the lowlier
thou art, the brighter do God’s eyes see thee.
In short, the verse teaches us rightly to understand
God’s nature in that it shows Him as looking down upon the
lowly and despised, and he knows God aright who knows
that He looks upon the lowly. From such knowledge springs
forth love of God and faith in Him, so that we willingly
abandon ourselves to Him and follow Him.
The truly humble never think of the results of their
humility, but with a simple heart they look at what is lowly,
live gladly with it, and are never aware of their own
humility. But the hypocrites wonder what their honor
lingers so long on the way; and their hidden and deceitful
pride is not content with humble ways, but secretly they
think higher and higher of themselves. Therefore a truly
humble soul never knows of her own humility, for if she
knew, she would be proud because she is aware of that
noble virtue within her. But with her heart and mind and all of
her senses she cleaves to the lowly things, for she has them FIFTH SUNDAY
unceasingly before her eyes. They are the images which dwell
with her, and while she keeps her eyes on them, she cannot keep AFTER EPIPHANY
them on herself or be aware of herself.

Sermons from the year 1523 W.A. 12. 612.

Taken from the book:

Day by Day We Magnify Thee by Martin Luther

Page 19

PRAYER FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS:

O Father of all mercy, you have begun your work in us. 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, who enlivens the faith within us with the
same power and strength. Through him we have also risen from
the dead by 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 that which is
disagreeable, nor of the rage of the flame-hurler 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.
Almighty God, you sent your only Son as the Word of life
for our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Help us
to believe with joy what the Scriptures proclaim,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.