MALAGASY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Communion’s prayer, Sunday III after Trinity
Week from 18-23 June 2018
“THE AMAZING MERCY”
*
Introduction: Something is ”amazing” when it is impossible for human to do, something that we cannot think of or imagine. It is characteristic and symbolic of God’s nature, the One who is able to create out of nothing, as when He once said: “Let there be light’, and there was light” Gen 1:3, and to bring to nought things that are, according to Jesus’s word: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” Mt 24:35. The Gospel points to this “amazing power” when it says: “What is impossible with men is possible with God” Lk.18:27, and “with God all things are possible” Mt 19:26. For the Lord said to us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Is 55:8-9. It is in God’s nature to do marvels, consistently with the names given Him in the Holy Scripture: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Is 9:5. Accordingly, all God’s works are “wonders”, and they are countless, as declared by the Psalmist: “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” Ps 104:24. But the most wonderful of them all is his patience and mercy towards us sinners so that He does not want to abandon us to perdition, but wants to save us through the forgiveness of sins. For it is written that He “maintains love to thousands, and forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Ex 34:7). What about the forgiveness of sins? “The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” Ps 118:23. Therefore, the mercy of God leads us to repentance and reconciliation with God. To all those who accept this call, Jesus says: “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” Mt 9:2b, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” Lk 19:10
Monday 18: The mercy of God is amazing.
“You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” Mc 7 :18b.
Reading 1: Ps 103:1-11; Reading 2: Mc 7:18-20; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mc 7:18. Other references:
– “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” Hos 6:6.
– “But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them” Neh 9:17d.
Tuesday 19: The mercy of God gives life.
“God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ” Eph 2:4,5.
Reading 1: 1 Jn 5:10-12; Reading 2: Eph 2:1-9; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Eph 2:4-5. Other references:
– “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah” Is 1:9.
– “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live” Ez 33:11.
–
Wednesday 20: The mercy of God forgives sins.
“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” Mt 9:2b.
Reading 1: Is 44:21-28; Reading 2: Mt 9:1-13; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 9:1-2. Other references:
– “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon” Is 55:7.
– “Then neither do I condemn you’, Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin” Is 55:7.
Thursday 21: The mercy of God is the working of his love towards the sinners .
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness” Jer 31:3b.
Reading 1: Jn 8:1-11; Reading 2: Jer 31:1-6; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jer 31:3. Other references:
– “Jesus looked at him and loved him” Mk 10:21.
– “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” Jn 13:1b.
– “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom 5:8.
Friday 22: The mercy of God strengthens his people.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Cor 12:9a.
Reading 1: Jer 1:4-10; Reading 2: 2 Cor 12:7-10; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: 2 Cor 2:9. Other references:
– “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, … I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said: ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” Is 41:8-9.
– “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” Lk 22:31-32.
Saturday 23: The mercy of God calls to repentance.
“God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” Rom 2:4b.
Reading 1: 2 Pet 3:1-10; Reading 2: Rom 2:1-10; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Rom 2:4. Other references:
– “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” Ps 51:17b.
– “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” Acts 17:30.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and Deutsch, and can be seen on the site www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “HiFi – english”. © Madanet