Mary Mother of Our Lord, The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, At-Home Service for August 15th
Today we remember Mary, the Mother of God. We remember what the Bible says about her, that “all generations will call [her] blessed.” Martin Luther taught that we should, “…praise and thank God through Mary and the grace given to her. Laud and love her … as the one who, without merit, obtained such blessings from God, sheerly out of mercy,…”
In other words, she was blessed because God chose her to be the Mother of Jesus. The child of Mary was born under the law, one who redeemed us by carrying in his body the full weight of what the Law of God demands. Mary gave birth to the sinless child who, on the cross, carried God’s judgment and condemnation of our human sinfulness. We are guilty, but the blood of Jesus keeps us connected to the God he called Father, enabling us to continue doing things that are useful. So, [as I mentioned in the Children’s Sermon,] Mary is blessed because without her there would be no baby Jesus.
Click here to view the at-home version of the service.
Pastor Rike’s Sermon
She is also blessed because she has taught us how to rejoice in God. The words of the passage read today from the Gospel according to Luke were sung by Mary when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth. Even though Mary had not yet given birth to Jesus when she sang those words, nor had she yet seen the work Jesus would do, she trusted what the angel Gabriel had previously told her. Gabriel said God’s grace had come to Mary, that she would give birth to the Son of God and that the child would bring the reign of God to the people. Elizabeth recognized Mary’s belief in that message. Responding to Elizabeth, Mary exclaimed the words we have heard today: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.”
Click here to read Pastor Rike’s sermon.
Video Options
Follow along with the service on video led by Pastor Rike, with music performed by Randy Broker.
Mary, Mother of Our Lord, The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost Service for August 15th includes: Intro Hymn-My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness performed by the Randy Broker First Reading- Galations 4:4-7 Holy Gospel- Luke 1:46-55 Sermon by Pastor David Rike Hymn- What Child is This performed by Randy Broker Prayers Blessing