Reminiscere - The Second Sunday in Lent

 Jean Germain Drouais: The Woman of Canaan at the Feet of Christ

Hymn # 145       Jesus Refuge of the Weary - Savanarola          

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving-kindnesses: for they have been ever of old.

Let not mine enemies triumph over me: God of Israel, deliver us out of all our troubles.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual

The troubles of my heart are enlarged: 

oh, bring Thou me out of my distresses.

V. Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 

and forgive all my sins.

Tract. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; f

or He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.

V. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?

Who can show forth His praise?

V. Blessed are they that keep judgment: 

and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

V. Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that 

Thou bearest unto Thy people:

Oh, visit me with Thy salvation.

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sermon Hymn #508          Thou Whose Almighty Word      

Crumbs from the Table

 

Hymn #457          What a Friend We Have in Jesus              

The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Hymn # 50      Lord Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical care - Sarah Buck, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Doc Lito family.
• Tornado damage in St. Louis, not in NW Arkansas but in NE Arkansas.
• Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM Reformation Seminary lectures, John. Zoom.
• Wednesday, 7 PM - Midweek Lenten service, Zoom.

  

Lutheran Library - Gerhardt's Biography

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God,even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Second Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that He may strengthen our hearts and confirm our faith and hope in Thy grace and mercy, so that, although we have reason to fear because of our conscience, our sin, and our unworthiness, we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan, hold fast to Thy grace, and in every trial and temptation find Thee a very present help and refuge, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

He Answered Not a Word

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

This is an important lesson for all of us, because we find ourselves in similar situations - having a great obstacle, difficulty, or anguish with nothing to help us. This woman is a pagan, which is reflected in one phrase - a woman of Canaan. She is not Jewish, not descended from Abraham the Father of Faith, but calls out to the Son of David. The disciples are not likely to be much help with Jesus silent.

Hundreds of books describe Jesus as a miracle worker (yes or no, often described today as a no, as "scientifically wrong," or a result of attitude and nothing more). But this passage is about a woman's faith, not only that - but even a person who seems to be unfit to have a miracle.

One of my students told me about the magic of rallies where the entire stadium whoops it up and buys whatever package is being offered to EVERY.SINGLE.ONE! He said he would drive to these events with just enough money to get in and a driver's license. He said, "Don't do it with anything more in your pockets. No credit cards. No extra cash. You will be so worked up that you will fall for it, and it is really a rush." This is copied by many "evangelicals" who promise similar thrills and get subsequent crashes. Denominations dredge up the miracle of the year, which they just borrowed from Schuller or Willow Creek or Fuller or "fill in the blanks." Thrivent spent a fortune on LCMS-WELS-ELCA doing this and publishing yet another flop.

The woman's daughter was suffering terribly in pain from a devil. 

23 But he answered her not a word. 

Here we have to stop and take notice. Jesus did not answer a Word. This is a miracle of faith in Him. 

This Gospel presents to us a true example of firm and perfect faith. For this woman endures and overcomes in three great and hard battles, and teaches us in a beautiful manner the true way and virtue of faith, namely, that it is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of God as experienced and revealed through his Word. For St. Mark says, she heard some news about Jesus, Mark 7:25. What kind of news? Without doubt good news, and the good report that Christ was a pious man and cheerfully helped everybody. Such news about God is a true Gospel and a word of grace, out of which sprang the faith of this woman; for had she not believed, she would not have thus run after Christ etc. In like manner we have often heard how St. Paul in Romans 10:17 says that faith cometh by hearing, that the Word must go in advance and be the beginning of our salvation. Luther's Sermons, Lenker, Reminiscere.

Luther said about the Reformation - candidly - "I did not do anything. I just preached and wrote." That statement is true and yet baffles all the great denomination leaders today. Those so-called leaders do not have a clue about this lesson on trusting in Jesus Christ. 

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

One way to look at this is the disciples ordering Jesus to give her the miracle and send her away. Yes, she was a pagan - but Jesus could quiet her and give the distant daughter the blessing of a healing. The disciples wanted some peace!

Face a serious, painful, threatening illness - and people will offer a variety of solutions. What about year after year with a host of therapies? The insta-therapy may not work at all or only work a short time. 

One of the great benefits of the Christian Faith is having a group of believers who comfort and encourage others. And that faith moves to others through the Word. Healing is not always physical. There are also blessings of peace, courage, etc. 

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 

But, oh, how painful it is to nature and reason, that this woman should strip herself of self and forsake all that she experienced, and cling alone to God’s bare Word, until she experienced the contrary. May God help us in time of need and of death to possess like courage and faith! Luther, Reminiscere, Lenker.

We are all weak at times. We cannot pick up courage or humor or patience at once. That is why so many have dust-covered dreadmills, or weights, or promises to walk a mile every day, or read a book. The focus of this miracle is trust in Jesus Christ, and that too requires endurance, strength, patience, calm, and the love of the Good Shepherd. She said in midst of turmoil and thinking about her daughter, "Lord, help me."

It is a great wonder to see that take place, moving from the darkest dark to the light. My wife and I knew what was coming and we talked about it all the time. 

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

There is some confusion about dogs in the Gospels. The roaming dogs licking the wounds of Lazarus were scavengers, and that was the best he could get for his starving. In this interchange between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, the dogs are the household pets who vacuum the crumbs that fall from the master's table. This is a miracle where we go over the details in a few words and watch the Word develop those simple words across the centuries.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Unbelievers, rationalists, dabblers, and people who "lost their faith" are going to miss this miracle for various reasons.

Your faith can only belong to you. It transfers and spreads from one heart to another. It is off-course to say "I wish I had your faith." Wishes seem to be a bit fortune cookie talk. Faith in Jesus is generated only by the Gospel given through Him, which gives us access to God.

Your faith is generated by the Gospel Word 

1. hearing, 
2. reading, 
3. remembering. 

Lacking those three will diminish faith in Jesus Christ, but using them will increase faith in the Good Shepherd.

Jesus was tempted by Satan and faced His own religious leaders with the truth (John 8). 

Luther's great genius in teaching about the Savior is the Reformer's emphasis on the primary theme of the Old and New Testaments - the Creation (John 1:1ff), His Two Natures (Isaiah), His Gospel ministry of forgiveness and peace, and His compassion for each and every one of us.

Lutheran Librarian - The Missing Luther - Alec Satin - Lutheran Librarian Publishing Ministry

 

The Columbus Theological Magazine Volume 8 ed by Matthias Loy

4 Mar 2025·

Matthias Loy

·2 min read

 PDF Tips

Articles in this volume include “The Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession”, “The Necessity of Good Works”, “The Jesuits”, “Infant Baptism” and “Life Insurance”.

Matthias Loy describes the Columbus Theological Magazine by saying, “Our Magazine was designed to meet a want that existed aside from the controversy on predestination. A Lutheran periodical devoted to theological discussion has long since been needed…We have the firm conviction that a periodical faithful in all respects to the symbolical books of the Ev. Lutheran Church, setting forth the old doctrines of the Reformation, endeavoring to make English readers acquainted with the treasures of learning and thought contained in old German and Latin folios, exhibiting the solidity and symmetry of the theological edifice erected by our fathers in an age less hurried and more thorough than the present, is what the Church has long since needed and now needs in the English language.”

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some subject matter knowledge helpful.

Book Contents

• About the Lutheran Library
• Title Page
• Index to Volume 8

No. 1, February 1888

• The Necessity of Good Works, Matthias Loy
• Protestant Church Problems in Germany, G H Schodde
• The Doctrine of Creation, L H Schuh
• Transformism, A Pflueger
• The Indebtedness of the German Language to Luther, C H L Schuette

No. 2, April 1888

• The VII Article of the Augsburg Confession (First Paper)
• The Jesuits, G H Schodde
• Hermeneutical Principles, Matthias Loy
• Infant Baptism, A Pflueger

No. 3, June 1888

• The Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession (Second Paper), C H L Schuette
• Recent Research in Bible Lands, G H Schodde
• Home Mission on Sunday, J H Kuhlmann

No. 4, August 1888

• Hermeneutical Principles (Second Article), Matthias Loy
• The Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession (Second Paper), C H L Schuette
• The Position and Task of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, J H Schneider

No. 5, October 1888

• Hermeneutical Principles (Third Article), Matthias Loy
• The Church Council, C H L Schuette
• Life Insurance, A Pflueger
• The Relation of Good Works to Justification, L H Schuh

No. 6, December 1888

• Discipline Commended, c H L Schuette
• Conscience, J M Hantz
• An Essay on Baptism based on Romans 6:3-4, S Schillinger
• The Errors of Judaism in Christ’s Day

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2025

Dedicated To Pure Atheist Salesmanship

 

"I enjoy a $500,000 house!"

Three become one, closing two of three congregations. It's the latest fad, after promising to start 100 new churches...yuk, yuk, yuk.

More Wisdom from the WELS Death-Star

But there's more! Three more "Merge for Mission" videos available on the YouTubes, to be specific. First, we have Pastor Joel Gaertner's presentation (Archive) to the congregations of Immanuel, Shirley (WI) and surrounding congregations. Pastor Gaertner let a few things slip where Jon had been a little more tight-lipped. Joel tells us there are 24 conversations "in one phase or another." Note: these are not 24 churches discussing merger, but 24 mergers with two or more churches involved! In the case of Milwaukee it's something like 7 churches, at least five in MSP. If we assume an average of 3 churches per merger (and assuming the average merger is a consolidation) we are going from 72 churches to 24 churches, or roughly 50 churches closed. Which means the WELS is treading water. See, that "100 in 10" initiative doesn't disclose that on average prior to the stunt, we were opening five churches a year. So really, it's "50 in 10" new starts but we're actively consolidating about 72 churches to 24, so it's all smoke and mirrors. Jon Hein's "target" at the last synod convention was 200 fewer congregations in a decade. We're just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. Joel mentioned that we don't really have a pastor shortage, the synod is 120k members down from our all-time peak but only two fewer pastors today; so "it's not a pastor problem, it's a deployment problem." 

GJ - I love the numbers. Nothing displays the atheism better than Arithmetic 101. 

Silence from the Waltherians?

• The efficacy of the Word of God.
• The Means of Grace.
• The most precise (and most ignored) King James Bible.
• Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Reminiscere - "Now whoever understands here the actions of this poor woman and catches God in his own judgment, and says: Lord, it is true, I am a sinner and not worthy of thy grace; but still thou hast promised sinners forgiveness, and thou art come not to call the righteous, but, as St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15, “to save sinners.” Behold, then must God according to his own judgment have mercy upon us."

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 15:21-28.
Reminiscere. Second Sunday in Lent.

11. By this is set forth the condition of our heart in times of temptation; Christ here represents how it feels. It thinks there is nothing but no and yet that is not true. Therefore it must turn from this feeling and lay hold of and retain the deep spiritual yes under and above the no with a firm faith in God’s Word, as this poor woman does, and say God is right in his judgment which he visits upon us; then we have triumphed and caught Christ in his own words. As for example when we feel in our conscience that God rebukes us as sinners and judges us unworthy of the kingdom of heaven, then we experience hell, and we think we are lost forever. Now whoever understands here the actions of this poor woman and catches God in his own judgment, and says: Lord, it is true, I am a sinner and not worthy of thy grace; but still thou hast promised sinners forgiveness, and thou art come not to call the righteous, but, as St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15, “to save sinners.” Behold, then must God according to his own judgment have mercy upon us.

12. King Manasseh did likewise in his penitence as his prayer proves; he conceded that God was right in his judgment and accused himself as a great sinner and yet he laid hold of the promised forgiveness of sins. David also does likewise in Psalm 51:4 and says: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” For God’s disfavor in every way visits us when we cannot agree with his judgment nor say yea and amen, when he considers and judges us to be sinners. If the condemned could do this, they would that very moment be saved. We say indeed with our mouth that we are sinners; but when God himself says it in our hearts, then we are not sinners, and eagerly wish to be considered pious and free from that judgment. But it must be so; if God is to be righteous in his words that teach you are a sinner, then you may claim the rights of all sinners that God has given them, namely, the forgiveness of sins. Then you eat not only the crumbs under the table as the little dogs do; but you are also a child and have God as your portion according to the pleasure of your will.

13. This is the spiritual meaning of our Gospel and the scriptural explanation of it. For what this poor woman experienced in the bodily affliction of her daughter, whom she miraculously caused to be restored to health again by her faith, that we also experience when we wish to be healed of our sins and of our spiritual diseases, which is truly a wicked devil possessing us; here she must become a dog and we become sinners and brands of hell, and then we have already recovered from our sickness and are saved.

14. Whatever more there is in this Gospel worthy of notice, as that one can obtain grace and help through the faith of another without his own personal faith, as took place here in the daughter of this poor woman, has been sufficiently treated elsewhere. Furthermore that Christ and his disciples along with the woman in this Gospel exhibit to us an example of love, in that no one acts, prays and cares for himself but each for others, is also clear enough and worthy of consideration.