PRAYER FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS: FIFTH SUNDAY

OF EASTER
Lord God, I have indeed transgressed your commandments. I
have been impatient in reverses and trials. I am
unsympathetic and unmerciful. I do not help my neighbor. I
am unable to resist sin. I do not tire of doing wrong. Dear
Lord, pour out your grace to me and give me your Holy Spirit
so that I may be obedient and keep each of your
commandments. Help me to be at odds with the world and to
give my heart and soul to you. Amen.

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM:

The Close of the Ten Commandments:
What then does God say about all these commandments?
God says the following: “I the Lord your God am a jealous
God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the
third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but
showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of
those who love me and keep my commandments.”

What is this?
God threatens to punish all who break these
commandments. Therefore we are to fear his wrath and not
disobey these commandments. However, God promises
grace and every good thing to all those who keep these
commandments. Therefore we are to love and trust him
and gladly act according to his commands.

O God, form the minds of your faithful people into a single

will. Make us love what you command and desire what you
promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts
may be fixed where true joy is found; through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
GOSPEL: John 13:31-35
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been
glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been
glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will
glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little
longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say
to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34 I give you a new
commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you;
continue yet in my love.
John xv. 9.
Such is the devil’s desire and delight that he strives for
nothing else but to shatter love among the Christians and to
cause hate and envy. For he well knows that through love
Christendom is built up and restrained.
That is why Christ exhorts us so earnestly that we should
above all things hold fast to love, and mentions both the
Father and Himself as the noblest and most perfect example.
My father (He means to say) loves Me so dearly that he sets
all His power and might in Me. Now He lets Me suffer, but
all that I do and suffer He takes to Himself as if it were done
unto Him, and He will raise Me out of death into life, and
make Me a Lord over all things, and will glorify His divine
majesty in Me. So (says He) love I you. For I do not leave
you in your sins and death, but I give My body and My life
for you, to help you out of them and lay on you My purity,
My sanctity, My dying, and My resurrection, and all things
which I have in My power. Therefore continue ye in My
love towards one another. And though for My sake you are
hard pressed and sorely tempted to fall away from Me, hold
fast and endure; let My love be stronger, greater, and
mightier than the suffering and pain which you feel.
Therefore we should follow this example of Christ and
learn to practice this command among one another, each
according to his ability.
Exposition of John xv. W.A 45. 686 f.
Taken from the book:
Day by Day We Magnify Thee
by Martin Luther
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