Learning from Löhe: Reminiscere

15. "And therefore finally being heard. The intercessory mother had made the whole thing to her daughter and her faithful interchange pleases the Lord. We must pray in our time of need, which can be seen here, even praying in external hardships. These are holy, heavenly souls who live as they perceive as their own, and so strange woe (153) long outlive our own distress, as they perceive external hardships. External needs are no different in the hearts of the saints, intercession and petition are distinctions which  the petitioner should not perceive, but which sees the Lord as gracious and joyfully forgets this distinction when they come to pray. So it is here. This mother's healthy body is sick because her daughter is sick. They begged for help for themselves. Thus the Lord now heals together both mother and daughter, heals the mother lying near His feet, and in the distance the daughter - and His simple help, such as the thanks and honor is doubled by the compassionate love that was doubled in need" (Löhe 152-53; Matthew 15,21-28). 

Learning from Löhe

Here is the second paragraph from Löhe's Rogate Sunday sermon on John 16,23-33:


2. ,,The entire Gospel deals with prayer and therefore we call this Sunday the Sunday of Prayer. The Lord, which the words of our text are entirely in consideration of His departure, of His ascension back to where He dwelt before His suffering, the dwelling place of perfection and eternal glory, that which exists between Him and His believers, and through Him He builds a continuous connection between His Father and His believers, when He is no longer visible to them nor walks among them. He determined prayer as the means of connection, and also as a means to always experience anew His life and memory. We should pray, and He will send glory from His throne of honor. Our prayers are our enduring love to Him, and when He hear us He will continually remember us. Prayer and answer shall be the mutual sign of life and the sign of love between the Lord and His believers."

Liturgical Calendar

While doing some research on the German liturgical day "A Day of Repentance and Prayer" I recalled the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Bavaria website. They have a well-done liturgical calendar in Adobe Flash Player. It also has some soothing atmospheric music to listen to.

Historic Liturgical Calendar

I've been having an annual Day of Repentance and Prayer for about ten years. Traditionally it is on the Wednesday prior to the Last Sunday of the Church year. I move it to the previous Sunday, using the 2nd to Last Sunday in the Church year as a Day of Repentance and Prayer. The new LSB hymnal has propers for this day, and I have used those in the past, but I usually prefer the historic readings and propers.

A Proper Evangelical Lutheran Prayer for the President

O merciful heavenly Father, from You comes all rule and authority over the nations of the world for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of all who do well. Graciously regard Your servants, those who make, administer, and judge the laws of this nation, and look in mercy upon all the rulers of the earth. We thank You for President George Bush, his staff and cabinet, the Congress, and the Supreme Court who have faithfully held office and have publically served our country. We ask You to bless President Barack Obama, his staff and cabinet, the new Congress, and the Supreme Court as they take office and publically serve our country. Grant health and prosperity to them, and grant them wisdom and understanding to rule according to Your good pleasure for the maintenance of righteousness and the hindrance and punishment of wickedness, so that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness, honesty, and prosperity; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Given the choices President-elect Obama has selected for the prayers for his inaugeration, I felt it important to offer up a proper Christian prayer for him and our government. While Rick Warren tacks Evangelical right, he is so engrossed with preaching the law as gospel that even if he mentions the name of Jesus, I wonder what the actual text of his prayer will be and whether it will truly lift up our leaders to God for wisdom and good governance. Bishop Gene Robinson tacks Episcopal left, and he has publically stated that he will not offer up a Christian prayer for Mr. Obama, but will instead say some sort of generic, non-offending prayer. Here's the video of the bishop's prayer; the text is further down in the article.

Prayer and Politics

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Deutsche Welle has a succinct article about the Leipzig pastor who organized peaceful prayer gatherings at the time. This event showcases the two kingdoms of God and how He uses both to accomplish His means. A book entitled ,,Rebuilding a House Divided" by Hans-Dietrich Genscher looks at how the U.S. Secretary of State and the European Foreign Ministers helped bring about the reunification of Germany. It's a good book; I read it about ten years ago.

Here's the DW article.